Jenolan Caves

The Jenolan Caves are in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia. The cave system has been dated to 340 million years, making them the oldest known caves on Earth. The tours and the caves have won numerous awards, and are considered Australia's most outstanding cave system.

Understand
Jenolan's main attractions are the ten spectacular caves that are open to the public, filled with astonishing limestone formations. The caves are open all year. They are very popular, receiving 250,000 visitors per year. Between 2008 and 2013, Jenolan Caves won awards for their array of tours, activities and facilities. Visitors can spend a couple of hours and see only 1 cave or stay for a week and have a thorough escape at Jenolan Caves. During school holidays and on long weekends you may find Jenolan Caves crowded (and may have to park in the upper car park), but there will be many more cave tours as well, to cater for all the visitors. The Jenolan Reserve is state heritage listed.

The location and contact information for the site is as follows:

Get in
The cave staff recommend downloading their 'Jenolan' app before you arrive to help with marking your bushwalks and for audio tours.

By car
By car it will take you about 3 hours from Canberra and 2 hours and 40 minutes from Sydney. If you are arriving from the direction of Sydney, Katoomba and Lithgow, the last section of the road into the Jenolan Valley is very windy and narrow. Therefore, it is one way into Jenolan, 11:45AM-1:15PM everyday, to allow coaches to enter safely on the narrow road. Visitors can still leave Jenolan during these times - via the Oberon Road/Tourist Drive 1, which is also less windier, but takes a little bit longer.

Campervans are fine, but the road is unsuitable for caravans and trailers. There are caravan parks in Lithgow and Oberon, where you can leave your trailer.

Normally there is plenty of free parking. However, on long weekends, such as Easter, allow extra travel time and book ahead. Please do not take pets into the Jenolan Reserve, as it is a National Park.

By bus
CDC Tours in Katoomba run a single coach from Katoomba to Jenolan. Departs Katoomba daily at 10:35AM, that gives you plenty of time to get the train up from Sydney if you like. It arrives at Jenolan in time to do an 12:30PM cave tour, and you can also do one other tour in the afternoon before returning to Katoomba by 5PM. Trains run late back to Sydney, so again, you have the opportunity to return to Sydney the same day. The bus isn't part of the Sydney transportation system, so costs $90 return for Adults, and $80 return for Children.

By tour
Tours run from Sydney by several operators, including Gray Line, A.A.T. Kings and F.J Tours. Some multi-day tours for the Blue Mountains will include a trip to Jenolan.

By walking
While the route into the reserve is quite steep into the valley, the reserve area is fairly flat. Most people will be able to get around to each of the cave tours. Most tours do involve quite a bit of walking on uneven routes; if mobility is an issue, check out the Imperial Cave tour first.

Fees and permits
Visiting the reserve is free. However, cave tours do cost some amount.

See

 * Grand Arch - As you enter into the reserve area, you'll pass on your road under a nearly 130-m-long arch, giving your first taste of the show caves in the reserve.
 * Blue Lake - A man-made dam built in 1889 to provide hydroelectric power to the cave systems lighting. Its bright blue colour comes from the refraction of light that bounces off limestone deposits. Local animals can be seen at the lake, including platypuses.
 * Caves House - A heritage-listed hotel, designed in the Federation Arts & Crafts style. This is where you'll go for tickets to the caves. The house also includes accommodation (see Sleep), Chisolm's Restaurant, gift shop and cafe.
 * Underground Concerts - Every month, Georg Mertens (solo cello virtuoso) performs on the 3rd Saturday, while the Paganini Duo (wicked violin and sensual guitar) performs on the 4th Saturday, in the Cathedral Cave (followed by free wine and cheese in Caves House). Throughout the year, there are additional concerts by a variety of performers. Several times a year, there are major concerts in the Grand Arch.

Do

 * Walks in the rugged mountain bush are clearly marked and free of charge. Easier walks take you around the Blue Lake or along the Jenolan River, passed waterfalls and Australia's first hydroelectricity plant (still in operation). More strenuous walks take you to high lookouts and past natural arches. On any walk, you may encounter Australian native wildlife such as kangaroos and platypuses. Jenolan Caves is in a huge nature reserve, part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage area.


 * Discount on cave tours are available by presenting your 'Jenolan Pass' from a previous tour (up to a year old). This will give you half off most of the 'show' cave tours.
 * Tour Guides are very knowledgeable and friendly, especially on smaller tours (end of the day)
 * Cave Tour lengths and group sizes:
 * Temple of Baal Cave, 25 people, 1.5 hr - A cave known for its beauty
 * Diamond Cave, 30 people, 1.5 hr
 * Lucas Cave, 60 people, 1.5 hr - Known for its breathtaking Cathedral chamber and the Broken Column
 * Orient Cave, 25 people, 1.5 hr - Known for its visual and naturally decorated chamber
 * Chifley Cave, 40 people, 1 hr - Each chamber is filled with hidden gems and becomes more exquisite as the tour goes on
 * River Cave, 25 people, 2 hr
 * Imperial Cave, 35 people, 1 hr - The least strenuous tour of the collection, great for less mobile people and small families
 * Imperial Diamond Cave, 30 people, 1.5 hr
 * Ribbon Cave, 8 people, 1.5 hr
 * Chifley's Secret Chambers tour, 8 people, 1.5 hr
 * Plughole, 12 people, 2 hr
 * Ghost tours are available on Wednesday and Saturday nights at 8PM. You must book ahead for this serious torchlight tour, on which gimmicks, sound effects, etc., are never used. Your guide will tell you tales of the unexplained, often from their own experiences. Other night tours are available (not Sundays).
 * Children's tours are available during New South Wales school holidays only. Cave tours for kids and teens provide understanding of the unique environment, its strange life forms, fun, teamwork, leadership skills and a break for parents in school holidays.
 * Children's tours are available during New South Wales school holidays only. Cave tours for kids and teens provide understanding of the unique environment, its strange life forms, fun, teamwork, leadership skills and a break for parents in school holidays.

Eat


These facilities are not just for Caves House guests - all are welcome. Also, all visitors to Jenolan Caves are welcome to wander through the charming foyer and guest lounge (formerly the ballroom) of Caves House.

Sleep
Much of the reserve has accommodation for different types of travellers. Some are intentionally close by to Jenolan Caves House, others are a bit farther away.

Splurge


For all fully serviced rooms, you can choose a dinner, bed and breakfast package, which reduces the cost of your overall stay. A wide range of packages is available. Also, all guests get a 20% discount on their first 'show' cave tour.

Connect
In the valley & reserve, only Telstra mobile services will work. In the caves and in the National Park, there are no mobile services.

Go next

 * Oberon - A small pretty town, with gardens and a dam. Not too far out of the way when visiting the caves.
 * Katoomba - Back to the peak of the Blue Mountains.