jenolan caves visit

A must-read guide to exploring Jenolan Caves

Lara Picone

Travel Journalist

24 January 2024

A vast and ancient network of limestone chambers, Jenolan Caves is an unmissable Blue Mountains highlight. This is everything you should know before you descend below, from Jenolan Caves tours through to the historic Caves House and camping nearby.

Whether you’re a fan of geology or mythology Jenolan caves will ignite both your scientific fascination and wild imagination. The solidified beauty of descending crystals and limestone structures is nothing short of astonishing as you wind deeper into the earth exploring this karst landform, where underground rivers pool into basins of pale-blue water and dark tunnels open out into vast theatres. There’s a lot to see, from gentle touring to adrenalin-spiking adventure, so before you fasten your head torch, be sure to read this guide on the best ways to experience this wonder that’s been hundreds of millions of years in the making.

What to expect of Jenolan Caves

Descending into the cool underworld of these limestone caves in the southern Blue Mountains  is akin to entering another dimension. Ancient, expansive and labyrinthine, this natural spectacle draws you deeper below with its enigmatic and otherworldly beauty. From cavernous stalactite-festooned chambers to crystal basins, underground rivers, sculptural limestone formations and cathedral-like caves that bring to mind the dominion of Hades, this enigmatic underworld is, astonishingly, the oldest open cave system in the world.

Step into the world’s oldest open cave system. (Image: Destination NSW)

However, don’t expect to turn up and simply wander into the caves, you’ll need to book ahead (a minimum of two weeks’ notice) for a guided tour. Or, better yet, stay onsite to make the most of this fantastical wonder. For those who prefer to admire rock formations from above ground, there are also walking tracks in and around the valley, such as the Carlotta Arch Walk, McKeown’s Valley Track, Six Foot Track and the Devil’s Coach House Lookdown.

Explore impressive stalactites inside the cave. (Image: Destination NSW)

The history of Jenolan Caves

Predating dinosaurs, the formation of the caves and their continual evolution is almost unfathomable. In 2006, scientists from the CSIRO dated their existence at 340 million years old, far older than originally thought. This long history begins with a coral reef, which eventually compressed into limestone, rose from the ocean and formed part of a mountain range. Add some volcanic action, minerals, radioactivity and many millions of years, and the Jenolan cave system is formed.

The formation of Jenolan Caves is a fascinating history lesson in geology. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Considering the Blue Mountains themselves only came into being 100 million years ago, what lies beneath them is very ancient, indeed. Of course, the history of the caves is not dormant, as water-soluble limestone continues to transform what lies beneath in an ever-evolving subterranean landscape, slowly excavating more spaces that will exist for millennia more.  

The underground waters inside the caves are truly magnificent. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

The local Gundungurra people have long been connected to the caves, which feature in their dreamtime stories and where the underground waters were deemed to have special healing powers. The Gundungurra would travel long distances carrying their sick and infirm to bathe them in the waters of what they call Binoomea, or ‘dark spaces’.

Don’t forget to look up and around while exploring inside the cave system. (Image: Destination NSW)

While the caves remain a sacred place for the Gundungurra, things changed with white settlement when the caves were found and recorded by pastoralist James Whelan in 1838. Eventually the area came under government control and in the 1880s the underground network became a tourist destination, which today, still draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Explore the majestic subterranean landscape. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Top Jenolan Caves attractions

How deep you’re willing to go will determine the attractions you unearth at the caves, but even for those hesitant to burrow down into squeezy tubes and abseil into the depths, there are plenty of easily accessible spaces to marvel.

Follow your guide through the impressive Imperial Cave. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Of the 22 known caves in the Jenolan network, 11 are open to the public as show caves, including Imperial, Chiefly, Lucas, Orient, Temple of Baal, Diamond, and the Pool of Cerebus.

Step into the elegant dining space at Chisholm’s Restaurant. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

But while you’re here, be sure to check out some aboveground attractions and local wildlife, such as platypus, rock wallabies, echidnas and bats. There’s also incredible dining at Chisholm’s Restaurant and the Caves Café, not to mention heritage accommodation at the historic Caves House.

Stop for a coffee and lunch at Caves Cafe. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Jenolan Caves Tours

With nine different tours to choose from, you’ll find one to suit your appetite for subterrestrial adventure. If you’re ready for deep-down thrills, opt for the 2.5-hour Plughole Tour, which calls for abseiling, squeezing and climbing. You’ll need to be 10 years or older with average fitness, but there’s no experience necessary.

Take your pick from nine different tours. (Image: Destination NSW)

For a lighter approach, go for the Imperial, the easiest of the tours, which is open to kids aged four and up and follows a riverbed to ‘Crystal Cities’ and the magnetic blue waters of the underground river. For budding fossil fans, send them to the deep on the Fossil Hunters Tour that runs during the school holidays for kids aged 5–12.

Find an underground labyrinth of caves to explore. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Grand Tour takes guests through two spectacular caves, from Orient, then along the Crystal Basin and down Mud Tunnels to ascend to Temple of Baal and out into the bright light of day. Check the Jenolan Caves website  for all the tours, including prices and minimum ages. Remember, you’ll need to arrive at the Jenolan Caves car park one hour ahead of your tour.

Enter the breathtaking cavern at the Temple of Baal. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Jenolan Caves accommodation

Caves house hotel.

Built in 1897 as a wilderness retreat, this historic hotel has long attracted visitors looking to revive in the fresh mountain air and spend time dwelling below ground.

Check into the iconic Caves House. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Elegant in its Federation, Arts and Crafts architectural style, iconic Caves House  is a grand yet cosy escape that’s beautifully furnished with sensitivity to its original aesthetic.

Caves House is a wilderness retreat nestled in the mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Dine at the onsite Chisholm’s Restaurant and enjoy a post-exploratory drink in Jeremiah’s Bar. If you’re a guest of the hotel on a Saturday evening, your stay unlocks the opportunity to visit the caves at night – just be sure to book ahead.

Have a tipple at Jeremiah’s Bar. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Binda Bush Cabins

These refurbished, two-bedroom abodes are perfect for families visiting Jenolan Caves. Self-contained and set in a eucalypt forest, Bind Bush Cabins  allow guests to immerse in their bushland surroundings and make friends with local fauna. While the road between the cabins and caves is currently closed, you can reach the Jenolan Caves car park for your tour via a 50-minute drive through stunning high-country scenery.

Cosy up to the fireplace at Binda Bush Cabins. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Mountain Lodge

Recently renovated in a contemporary but classic style, Mountain Lodge looks as though it could be set in an Austrian village, but here it sits in the Blue Mountains. Located just a five-minute walk to Caves House, Caves Cafe and the caves themselves, its easy access makes it a good choice for exploring Jenolan. With king and family rooms available, the motel-style hotel has all the necessary comforts for a relaxed stay.

Settle into the Mountain Lodge for a cosy stay. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Camping around the caves

If you’re keen to pitch your tent or pop the top of your camper trailer, book a site or a cabin at Jenolan Holiday Park  in Oberon. A 30-minute drive to the caves, it’s a good option for low-key accommodation and is also close by to Mayfield Gardens , Bathurst  and other Blue Mountains attractions.

Stay near Mayfield Gardens for an easy drive to the caves. (Image: Destination NSW)

Jenolan Caves tickets

Given its enduring popularity, be sure to book at least two weeks ahead for your Jenolan Caves tour, and preferably earlier for holiday periods. Prices for the nine different tours vary but start from $46 for adults and $33 for children, infants are free. Book online in advance .

It’s easy to find your way around the village when visiting Jenolan Caves. (Image: Jenolan Caves)

Getting to Jenolan Caves

Jenolan Caves is a three-hour drive from Sydney or you can hop a train to Katoomba, and then catch a bus to the Jenolan Caves Carpark. If you prefer, you can join a guided tour that takes you to the caves. If driving, once you arrive at the gate at the top of the steep valley, you’ll need to follow the escort vehicle, which runs every 20 minutes, down to the car park. From there, you can catch a free shuttle or walk 500 metres downhill to the caves and hotel.

Follow the signs leading to Jenolan Caves. (Image: Destination NSW)

Roaming local and far-flung shores to write about the people and places she encounters is endlessly captivating for writer Lara Picone. From exploring food, built environments and nature to engaging meaningfully with diverse cultures, Lara enjoys sharing stories that ignite wanderlust in readers.

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Jenolan Caves

Feel a world away.

Jenolan Caves is one of the great natural spectacles in Australia: the most ancient open caves in the world with arguably the most beautiful limestone formations. Tucked into a remote valley in the southern Blue Mountains National Park, this labyrinth of stalactite-lined chasms carved by pure underground rivers is a must-do extension for any visit to the Blue Mountains.

Visiting the caves

Guided tours of the show caves  –   Temple of Baal, Lucas, Chifley, Imperial & Diamond, Plughole and Orient  – are available on weekends. Private tours can be arranged if you book ahead and give a minimum of two weeks' notice.  You must arrive in the car park at least 45 minutes before your first activity, to give yourself plenty of time to catch the shuttle bus.

Jenolan Caves , Blue Mountains

Meanwhile, other features such as Carlotta Arch Walk, the McKeown’s Valley Track, the Devils Coach House and the Six Foot Track are free to experience. Spot wildlife such as wallabies and lyrebirds, and keep an eye out for the resident platypus who regularly make an appearance in the Blue Lake, accessed via the scenic Jenolan River Track , a gorgeous riverside amble through pristine wilderness.

However, t o gain admission to the valley (even to the free bushwalks), you must have a pre-booked ticket for either a cave tour, dining or accommodation. For more information, visit the official website . 

The Blue Lake, accessed via the scenic Jenolan River Track

Make a weekend of it

The historic  Jenolan Caves House   is one of the icons of the Blue Mountains, built in 1897 in the spacious, gracious Federation style of the time. The historic ambience is heightened by period furniture, creaky floors – and some say a resident ghost or two! You can also book modern motel-style accommodation at the Mountain Lodge . Staying overnight? Enjoy lunch, dinner or high tea at the on-site Chisolm's Restaurant .

If you are thinking of lingering longer in the area, take a scenic drive to Bilpin, check out the sandstone buildings of Hartley Historic Village , walk among the pretty Mayfield Gardens in Oberon, meet the endangered native animals at Secret Creek Sanctuary and much more.

Classic guestroom at the Jenolan Caves House - Credit: Keith Maxwell, Jenolan Caves Trust

Getting there

Jenolan Caves is a three-hour drive from Sydney along a winding road that passes through Katoomba. Tours to the caves are available from the Blue Mountains, or you can tackle the three-day walk to the caves via the Six Foot Track, utilising the services of the Megalong Valley Shuttle . 

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Jenolan Caves Blue Mountains hidden treasure

Just over a hour from Katoomba are the spectacular Jenolan Caves with dazzling formations and pure underground rivers. These are limestone caves that occupy more than three kilometers of the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve, located in the western region of the Blue Mountains.

Scientists estimate that the cave system is 340 million years old. If the estimate is correct, these limestone caves in the Blue Mountains could be the world’s oldest caves.

Australia has many limestone caves located in different parts of the country. However, Jenolan Caves attract the highest number of tourists because of their beautiful features, pure underground rivers, spectacular show caves and adventurous activities.

The cave network has more than 400 caves with more than 300 entrances. Jenolan Caves are among the protected areas in Australian with scientific and historic significance. Tourists and scientists began exploring caves in the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in the 19th century. The caves have been a leading tourist destination since that time. Many people who visit NSW, often visit the Blue Mountains and the caves, especially during the NSW school holidays.

Although the caves network has many caves and entrance, only eleven show caves are open to the public for a cave tour. Other caves in this national park are undeveloped caves that are too dangerous to explore. However, visitors need a guide and experience to explore some of the open caves.

The caves in the Blue Mountains that visitors can explore include the River, Imperial (and Diamond Branch), Ribbon, Temple of Baal, The Grand Arch, and Jubilees caves. Other caverns in the network include Jersey, Arch, Chifley Cave, Orient Cave, Pool of Cerberus, Nettle, Elder, and Alladin caves.

Visitors to the caves in the Blue Mountains can explore the caverns at thier own pace during the day, evening tours or at night (if you have an overnight stay).

However, night cave tours are unavailable on Sundays. Some caves are easier to explore and navigate than others. Challenge seekers can explore less strenuous caverns without local guides.

What To Do At Jenolan Caves?

Some of the features that tourists can view at Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains include crystal formations, underground rivers, and caves.

Best things to do at Jenolan Caves

• Self explore the caves with a self guided tour
• Take guided cave tours (and night tours and ghosts tour)
• Visit the Blue Lake and discover the native wildlife
• Scout the village and enjoy a light lunch
• Walk the Jenolan River Walking Track

Visitors can test their fitness levels by exploring strenuous caves such as the Imperial cave. In addition to ghost and guided tours, tourists can enjoy bushwalks and adventure caving . Tour companies offer kids’ tours during holidays for recreation and educational purposes.

The caves in the Blue Mountains provide an adventurous holiday for the whole family and are a popular attraction during the NSW school holidays. Many visitors choose an overnight stay, to see even more.

Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve

Outside the caves, tourists enjoy a beautiful view of the Blue Lake, Carlotta’s arch, and the Jenolan River. The caves are located near the National Park. Visitors can do a little bird watching, have a look at the native wildlife like the brush tailed rock wallaby, and examine plant cover while visiting the caves in the Blue Mountains.

Other adventurous activities near the cave system include bushwalks in the national parks, which are free to locals and tourists.

Visitors can also enjoy live performances, underground concerts and acoustics in the enclosed spaces of Cathedral Chambers in the Lucas Cave.

Are there glow worms in Jenolan Caves?

While guided tours of the awe inspiring Jenolan Caves is spectacular in it’s own right, Jenolan Caves are not known for glow worms. You can see glow worms in the Blue Mountains however. Horseshoe falls near the town of Hazelbrook are the most accessible and one of the most spectacular glow worm venues in Blue Mountains, and well worth a visit.

Near the cave is a picturesque watering hole known as the Blue Lake, and it boasts incredibly smooth waters.

The man-made lake sits below the impressive Grand Arch and was originally created in 1908 to help generate electricity. This lake is fed by the River Styx and the Jenolan River where the scenery surrounding the lake is beautiful.

Where is Jenolan Caves?

The Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in New South Wales is about 30km south west from Katoomba , however, the drive from Katoomba is about 75km taking just over an hour. And if Jenolan Caves Road is closed, the drive is around 98km and takes around 1.5 hours from Katoomba. But while you might come for the cave at Jenolan, you can also enjoy the scenic country drive.

Driving Distances to Jenolan Caves

• Sydney to Jenolan – 110km
• Oberon to Jenolan – 29km
• Katoomba to Jenolan – 74km
• Bathurst to Jenolan – 60km

How to get to Jenolan Caves

Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains are located about 175 kilometers from Sydney and 30 kilometers from Katoomba town center (but its more like 75km driving the winding roads). Visitors can drive through the M4 motorway from Sydney through the Blue Mountains to the caves. Many tour services in Sydney offer direct trips and guides to the caves network.

The number of people that can traverse a cave at a time varies depending on the features in them. Some of them can only take a maximum of 8 people per trip.

Visitors are advised to book their trips to the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve early to inspect as many caverns as they can in a day. And with prior notice, there is even limited wheelchair access.

Jenolan Caves entry fee

Is Jenolan Caves free entry? The Grand Arch may be walked through for free, however the intriguing caverns need cave tour tickets, that cost $42 for adults. Each tour or package has a different price.

At Jenolan, you may take a self-guided cave tour of the extensive cave system. The Devil’s Coach House Cave and Nettle Cave are two of the caves it visits.

For the first time in 74 years, the operators reopened Nettle Cave and presented a new digital audio tour for guests to explore on their own.

The new tour is Jenolan’s first cave opening since 1931’s Ribbon Cave, and it gives an opportunity to witness stromatolites, rare prehistoric living forms.

Using Acoustiguide’s digital handset, visitors may navigate the Nettle Cave and the nearby Devils Coach House on a route. In addition to providing information on geological and historical factors, the gadget allows visitors to explore at their own leisure and in as much depth as they like.

Stalactites and stalagmites abound in the Nettle Cave, which is also home to Sooty Owls. By studying prey bones, scientists have learned a great deal about the evolution of life on Earth over many thousands of years.

Stromatolites only develop in this cave, and it’s one of the few places in the world where they can be found.

Early adventure caving visitors to award winning Jenolan Caves saw the stromatolites and referred to them as “craybacks” because of their shape, and they are among the oldest forms of life on the planet, created by cyanobacteria and crystal layers.

The Devil’s Coach House is a mountaintop cavern called after a spooky sighting of the devil riding a horse-drawn coach reported by a camper just outside the cave. The awe inspiring arch roof rises to a height of 57 metres.

These two caves have been equipped for self-guided audio tours with a network of paths, boardwalks, and railings that are meant to minimise the underground environment and safeguard it.

Relics from previous tours of the Nettle Cave, including ancient ladders and early electric lights, have been kept for historical curiosity. Before 1932, visitors could take a tour of the cave, but it was shut down to make way for newly found caverns.

Getting access, on the other hand, comes with certain caveats. To coincide with the inauguration of Nettle Cave, the NSW National Parks and Jenolan launched a new entrance fee scheme.

In order to take the self-guided tour for free, visitors must purchase a Jenolan Pass that gives them access to another cave tour, a souvenir guide, as well as a 12-month discount on other cave excursions at Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve.

Jenolan admission starts at $42 (adult), $28 (age 6 to 17), $0 (age 0 to 5), however there are various caverns to delve into, and different packages available.

There are also other guided tours, such as the night-time Legends, Mystery and Ghosts Tour and the Adventure Caving Tour. Contact the tour operator for further information.

When are the caves open?

Typically, the world heritage show caves in Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve are open on weekends, however they’re also open daily during school holidays. Cave tours, cafe, high tea and lunch at the award winning Chisolms restaurant are available on weekends only.

Where to stay?

After spending the day exploring this amazing underground world, treat yourself to dinner and overnight stay in the local atmospheric hotel – Jenolan Caves House.

The historic Caves House with its range of accommodation – like the grand historic guesthouse, modern Mountain Lodge rooms, budget Gate House backpacker rooms or self-contained cottages.

The popular Jenolan caves house is an ideal base to experience the mountains, caves and broader Oberon area.

Caves House is a grand historic guesthouse and just a short walk from the entrance to this underground world, and all the highlights of the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve are easily accessible.

Jenolan Caves House features the kind of country hospitality that you would expect, along with grand dining, modern mountain lodge rooms and log fires. Relax at Jeremiah’s Bar and dine at award-winning Chisolms Restaurant upstairs. There’s also al fresco dining throughout the day in the bistro downstairs.

Oberon area and the surrounding Blue Mountains region also offer more accommodation and superb self contained cottages from large properties to small country cabins.

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Jenolan Caves

Top ways to experience Jenolan Caves and nearby attractions

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Jenolan Caves - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Blue Mountains Private Tour from Sydney with Jenolan Caves (From $430.80)
• Private Tour: Jenolan Caves & Blue Mountains in a day (From $594.51)
• Inside the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage - A Private Wildlife Safari Overnight (From $2,346.59)
• Inside the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage - A Wildlife Safari Overnight (From $949.39)
• Jenolan Caves Blue Mountains Day Tour + River cruise (From $298.25)
• (0.03 mi) Jenolan Caves House
• (0.05 mi) The Mountain Lodge
• (1.53 mi) Mckeown's Rest Farmstay At Kenzell Farm
• (1.75 mi) Jenolan Cabins
• (8.17 mi) Melaleuca Mountain Retreat

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Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve

Regarded as Australia's most outstanding cave system, Jenolan Caves is the oldest cave system in the world.

About this location

Jenolan NSW 2790

• Welcomes people with access needs, contact venue/organiser for details
• Caravan / Camper Trailer / Campervan Sites / Campsites
• Non-Smoking

Contact details

Image gallery.

Two visitors exploring the caves at Jenolan. Photo: Jenolan Caves/DPE.

Visitors walk past Jenolan Caves House, Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Photo: Jenolan Caves/DPE

The rocky face of Carlotta Arch, Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Photo: Jenolan Caves/DPE.

A comfortable room at Jenolan Mountain Lodge, Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Photo: Jenolan

A group of visitors admire a pool of water in a limestone cave at Jenolan Caves. Photo: Jenolan

A brush-tailed rock wallaby spotted in the caves at Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Photo:

A delicious meal at Chisholm's Restaurant, Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Photo: Jenolan

Impressive cave formations, Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Photo: Jenolan Caves/DPE

An aerial view of Binda Bush cabins, Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Photo: Jenolan Caves/DPE

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Experience the Jenolan Caves tours and Walks

By Author Toni Broome

Posted on Published: March 1, 2019  - Last updated: February 10, 2023

The Jenolan Caves tours explore 340 million-year-old caves, they are believed to be the oldest open caves in the world. These are our top tips for planning your visit and getting the most from your time above and below ground.

The concept of exploring deep into the centre of a mountain has fascinated me since well before Lara Croft and the Tomb Raider series made it look seriously cool back in 2001.  This trip to the Jenolan Caves, the best known of Australia’s 20-odd cave systems, has literally been on my life list for decades.

If you want to see caves then these have to be among the best.  They are one of the eight protected areas that make up the World Heritage Listed Greater Blue Mountains Area and clay within the caves has been scientifically dated back 340 million years making it the oldest known cave system in the world.

The tours we joined on this adventure took us into some dramatic and beautiful caves to appreciate natures architecture and art.  There are many options to choose from that explore hidden chambers and tunnels highlighting the many types of crystal growth, fossils and the river network that carved out the ancient cave system. 

For the more adventurous you may choose the Elder cave, put on a headlamp and journey underground where you’ll climb, squeeze and crawl through the narrow gaps in an introduction to caving.

Table of Contents

Update: Some things to know before you go

How were the jenolan caves formed, which jenolan cave tours to choose, the temple of baal cave, the orient cave, the blue lake and river walk, getting to the jenolan caves, where to stay around the jenolan caves.

A series of weather events in 2021 and subsequently have hit the Jenolan area hard. Access roads into the caves became impassable, caves were flooded, infrastructure was damaged and they were forced to close for several years. At the end of January 2023, the caves reopened to visitors, they are excited to welcome people back onto cave tours but all is not as it was before, there are a few changes to be aware of.

• Access into the Jenolan Caves has changed, you must now arrive and leave via Edith Road, the one-way road is actively managed so you will need to wait for the next escort vehicle or shuttle bus in your direction. The detour adds about 30 minutes to your trip coming from Sydney / Blue Mountains.
• Many of the caves, tours and walks that you may have been on in the past or heard about can’t currently be offered due to damage, ongoing rock falls, remediation works or staff levels available to conduct tours. That said the 5 caves currently being toured are incredible and still well worth the trip out for.
• In the article below I’ve made updates to show the changes we are aware of that will impact visitors but also retained information on the entire complex for completeness. Please check the official website or give them a call to ensure the tour you want is available before you make the trip out there.

The caves at Jenolan are formed from limestone, layers of coral and shells that were deposited there 450 million years ago when this was coastal ‘Australia’ and still beneath the sea.  As the tectonic plates moved they were flipped up and over, rising into mountains, inverting the layers of fossils and pushing the coast back hundreds of kilometres to the east. 

The groundwater absorbed carbon dioxide from the air making it acidic and as that is pushed up against the limestone rock over thousands of years it gradually erodes it.  As one of our guides simplified it, the formation of a cave involves two rocks, one stays and one goes.

We arrived at the caves early, about 20 minutes before opening time and spent a bit of time watching a lyrebird scratching up a storm at the edge of the car park before heading down to find the booking office and taking a look around. 

There’s a board that shows the various cave tours available with a difficulty level based mostly on the number of steps inside the cave.  Unless you have a lot of difficulty with steps, that number won’t matter too much as you’ll stop often to see the cave so you aren’t doing them all in one go. 

Another board shows the tours and times they are running that day.  If a tour disappears from the board don’t worry, that just means it’s fully booked, not that it’s no longer running.

The Jenolan Cave complex follows the underground river and is made up of hundreds of entrances and tunnels throughout the mountain and underground.  The area that’s open to tourists comprises eleven stunning caves that are lit and open to explore on scheduled tours throughout the day.  These currently include:

• Lucas Cave – this one has several large chambers, the largest is 50 metres high with fantastic acoustics in the Cathedral Chamber.  The broken column formation in the Exhibition Chamber is also a highlight. 
• Imperial Cave – One of the easiest caves for visitors with reduced mobility or fitness and with great fossil deposits including the bones of Tasmanian Devils.
• Chiefly Cave – In 1880 this was the first cave in the world to be lit by electric lights and for nostalgia two of the chambers are still lit with coloured lights.
• Temple of Baal – this wet cave is still growing and evolving, there are two main chambers and they are spectacular.  The Angels Wing shawl formation is 9 metres tall and one of the best examples in the world.
• Orient Cave – Not discovered until 1904 this cave has the most intricate and complex formations.  It’s hard to pick one ‘must-see’ from the list as they are each unique and fascinating but this would be mine.  

Other caves in the complex that are not currently available to tour or access are:

• The Grand Arch – coming in from Sydney you’ll actually drive through the arch, it’s a massive cave and the meeting point for some of the cave tours.
• R iver Cave – this one houses some of the most famous features, including the Minaret, the Grand Column and the Queen’s Canopy, you’ll also see part of the underground River Styx that is responsible for the cave network on this tour.
• The Pool of Cerberus – In this lower branch of the River Cave, you’ll see unusual aragonite formations, the Bath of Venus and a section of the river that forms the Pool of Cerberus.
• Nettle Cave – is located between the Grand Arch and the Devils’ Coach House.  The cave is open and free to access,  you can make your way up here without a guide.
• Ribbon Cave –  Named for its excellent display of ‘ribbon’ helictites along the 60-metre cave.
• Diamond Cave – this is a branch of the Imperial Cave and is lined with white crystal formations tinted with pink.  The highlight is the ‘Gem of the West’ a crystal formation comprising helictites, stalactites, stalagmites, shawls and wave crystals.  You can also access a section of the underground river on this tour via a spiral staircase.
• Jubilee Cave – Discovered in 1893 it is the longest cave and a small group tour but as it’s a distance away from the others it’s a longer tour.
• Elder Cave – This was the first cave in Jenolan opened to tourists after it was discovered in 1848.  It’s trickier to access than the others and is used for adventure caving.  The Plughole tour will take you in here.  You’ll need a headlamp (provided), no fear of enclosed spaces and a good level of fitness for this tour.

You can find more detail on each cave tour and other visitor information on the Jenolan Caves official site .

The main caves at Jenolan must be visited as part of a guided tour, this ensures the safety of visitors and prevents damage to the cave interiors.  Part of the protocol that protects the fragile natural heritage is the airlock doors and low-emission lighting that is only left on for the minimum time while the tours are in progress.

In the past, there has been one tour you could do on your own and with free access, the Devil’s Coach House and Nettle Cave. The Devil’s Coach House is the largest chamber at Jenolan and when the river runs in flood it passes through the cave. Floods and bushfires in the past few years have damaged this track and cave and access is not currently permitted.

The Nettle Cave is the upper level and is open to air movement unlike most of the other caves in the complex.  It’s a dry cave making the formations appear quite different from others but still very interesting. 

We found it really hard to decide which cave tours to book out of the extensive choice available.  I thought I had made my choice well before we left Brisbane but talking to the staff on the ticket desk when we arrived I still ended up making a last-minute change. 

On the positive side, every person we spoke to during the day, and they came from a variety of fitness levels, age groups and interests, everyone loved the caves they’d seen so it would be difficult to make a wrong choice.

The tour times run back to back but you really can’t book consecutive tours as you need to get from one endpoint to the next start point and for obvious reasons they can’t wait for you.  We decided to do one tour in the morning and another in the afternoon with lunch and fitting in some of the walking tracks and free caves into any free time we had. 

We knew as soon as we walked into the first cave that we would be coming back to do some more.  We both love nature and are fascinated by natural history and this place had us both in our element. 

In hindsight, you could fit in a third cave if you have the full day here perhaps even 4 if you were staying overnight and not wanting to drive out before dark but we also enjoyed having enough time to take it all in and also looking around the blue lake and waterfall.  I’d highly recommend staying overnight if you can possibly fit it in.

We settled on the Temple of Baal and Orient Cave tours and then explored the rest of the complex in the available time between and after.

The first cave we entered on the 9.30 am tour was the Temple of Baal.  One of the advantages of getting there early was that there were only 10 of us on the tour rather than the max group of 25. 

Originally this cave was discovered and accessed off the Grand Arch and River Cave but in the 1950s a man-made tunnel was cut above Jenolan House to make for easier access. 

The 120-metre-long corridor is called the Binoomea Cut which in the local Aboriginal dialect means ‘dark place in the mountain’ which is pretty descriptive of the path they blasted through solid rock.  It was opened in 1954 providing access through the corridor with heavy airlock doors at either end to protect the temperature and moisture levels within the cave.

The cave is not a temple or consecrated space but gets its name from the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in the Old Testament.  The Temple of Bel (also known as Baal) was one of the best-preserved ancient temples in what is now Syria but it was destroyed by Islamic State militants in August 2015.  

Once inside the cave, the lights are turned on and you can appreciate the size of the first chamber and the beauty of the crystal structures before heading down the spiral staircase known as the dragon’s throat.  This is one of the easier caves with 288 stairs to climb down and back up.   

The caves are all giant caverns inside a mountain so some step and ladder climbing can’t be avoided if you want to see them but you won’t need more than average fitness and mobility to be comfortable in the Temple of Baal.   

The Temple of Baal is a wet cave, which simply means it still has a natural water flow seeping through it and therefore it is still developing, evolving and growing.  This was fascinating to see and our guide pointed out a few points where you could see both flowstone and tiny crystal structures starting to form.

Flowstone is one of the fastest-growing crystalline structures and you can see in the 60-year-old Binoomea cut that a significant patch has already begun to form where water flows through the rock that was exposed during the tunnelling process and now drips down the wall.

Inside the cave, high up in the second chamber, you see a natural structure that represents Baal who the cave is named for.  If you look closely you can see the features of his face in the formation. 

Baal was an ancient deity responsible for fertility, both the ability of the earth to produce crops and of the growth of its population.  In this chamber, the lights play over the crystal and rock features and the guide sets chamber music playing which is both eerie and magical in the space.

The most recognised feature of this cave is the angel’s wing shawl formation, at 9 metres tall this is one of the largest cave shawls in the world and is truly stunning.  The photos below see it from 2 different angles.

The Orient Cave is also entered through the Binoomea Cut tunnel.  Our group on this afternoon tour was larger, there were 20 of us and they can take up to 25 people in a group.  As you enter the cave there are dim lights on, once everyone is settled and comfortable you are asked to turn off watch faces, phones, cameras or anything else that emits a light source and the cave lighting is turned off. 

You are deep inside the mountain which is pitch dark, of course, probably the darkest you have ever experienced, you literally can’t see your hand an inch in front of your face.  This is incredible as of course when this cave was first discovered and explored it was by candlelight or maybe a lantern, how they ever appreciated the wonder that was inside and moved through them without damaging the fragile structures is impressive in itself.

The Orient Cave has 358 steps and is classed as an easy cave, suited to most visitors.  In some parts, you are moving through narrower spaces that are a bit more restricted but you comfortably walk the whole way, there is no climbing or squeezing through gaps. 

We walked wearing our cameras on cross-body straps and camera packs with no problems so it’s not a tight space but Drew did note that just once or twice his shoulders touched the rock walls on either side so I guess they were a bit narrower up higher on the wall, not a problem at my height.

The lighting level is optimal to observe with the eye and to preserve the fragile structures but photography is difficult.  Normally in low light, you’d use a tripod but that is too risky in the space. These images give an idea of the intricate formations inside of the cave but honestly, it is so much more beautiful to see it in person.

Sadly access to this area is currently not possible due to rock fall and ongoing remediation work. The Jenolan River Walk is one of the beautiful and popular walks from the Jenolan Caves.  It is accessed through the damaged Grand Arch and you then veer off to the right around the lake.  This is an easy 2.1 km circuit through the bush, past lakes and waterfalls and over a swing bridge, one to keep on your wish list for the future. 

Along the way keep watch for the platypus that live in the lake, wallabies came down the hillside beside us, water dragons and lizards were basking in the sun, Superb Lyrebirds scratched away looking for food and this is considered generally a good bird-watching track for Bellbirds with their distinctive call and Rock Warblers.

The stunning blue-green tones of the Blue Lake come from the limestone particles dissolved in the water.  It’s very clean and clear making it the perfect spot to watch for platypus especially in the spring when their natural mating season behaviour makes them easier to spot.

Just past the swing bridge you are these gorgeous small falls that flow into a crystal clear pond.  While you can’t swim in the upper lake to protect it as a habitat for wildlife you were able to cool off in this pool and picnic nearby.

We flew into Sydney to spend a few days in the Great Blue Mountains area and collected our rental car at the airport before heading out to our base for the week at the Fairmont Resort in Leura .   

The Blue Mountains are the ideal base for a day trip out to the Jenolan Caves taking around 90 minutes to get there, or 3 hours if you make the trip direct from Sydney Airport.  The Great Western Highway is a good quality road most of the way and the small towns you’ll pass along the way offer some great cafes.  A notable shout out to Kickaboom in Glenbrook and Anonymous in Blackheath but we had some great foodie experiences throughout our stay. (Note as mentioned above current access restrictions require a detour from the road we took and add around 30 minutes to your trip).

I had read some horror stories about the roads directly into the caves but while the last section is windy through the hills and single lane in places there is very little traffic and the few times we met vehicles going the other way it was a smooth give way process.  In general, if you do meet traffic on the one-way section, uphill gives way to downhill and common sense prevails.  If you’re still on 2 lanes and a vehicle is coming through the single-lane section, wait for it to pass or pull to the left to let it through.

One thing we did notice through this section was wildlife on the side of the road, wallabies are common and we pulled over at a rest stop to watch them for a while.  Another surprise was to see a superb Lyrebird run across the road in front of us, while these aren’t as rare as the Alberts Lyrebird in Queensland it was something very different and we weren’t expecting to see one on the roadside.

We were chatting later in the day with a woman from the USA on one of the walking trails.  She was in Australia with her son and they’d picked up a vehicle in central Sydney, her first time driving on the left and although she found leaving the city a bit nerve-wracking she wasn’t phased by the country roads coming in. 

If single lanes are a big issue for you there is an alternative.  The road from Oberon is 2 lanes the whole way but it is a bit steeper and makes for a long drive if coming in from the direction of Sydney or the Blue Mountains.

Most people visit the Jenolan Caves on a day trip as we did but with 13 cave tours plus a range of walking tracks in the surrounding hills, it would take much longer to really ‘see’ the Jenolan Caves.  For those that can spend a night or two here, there is accommodation on-site at the historic Caves House Hotel.  

The hotel was built in 1897 as a wilderness retreat for wealthy guests.  It has maintained its character as a beautiful heritage hotel decorated in the style of the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras.  Don’t expect to find TVs and phones in the rooms but those who were staying there seemed genuinely taken by its heritage charm and welcoming staff.

See accommodation options at Jenolan Caves

Interested?  Save these images to Pinterest.

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Kathy@DavesTravelCorner

Thursday 21st of March 2019

I never knew that the world's oldest cave is located at Australia. Nice :)

Jenolan Caves

• 1 Understand
• 2.3 By tour
• 3.1 By walking
• 4 Fees and permits
• 10.1 Budget
• 10.2 Mid-Range
• 10.3 Splurge

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 [ edit ]

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: -33.820238 150.021498 1 Jenolan Caves , 4655 Jenolan Caves Road Jenolan Caves , ☏ +61 2 6359 3911 , toll-free: 1300 76 33 11 , [email protected] . ( updated Mar 2021 )

Get in [ edit ]

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

By car [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

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.

Get around [ edit ]

By walking [ edit ].

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 [ edit ]

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

See [ edit ]

• 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 [ edit ]

• 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)
• 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.
• Adventure Cave Tour . The Plughole Adventure Tour runs once daily, it is an intro to Adventure Caving. Instead of a typical guided tour where you walk along lit pathways, an Adventure Tour is a challenge, requiring climbing, crawling, and squeezing through tight holes. Overalls, helmet, and a headlight are provided, for those tours through 'wild', undeveloped caves. The Plughole begins with a 10-metre abseil (rappel) and takes about 2 hours. There are other Adventure Tours that are longer, more demanding (physically and mentally) and run less frequently.  

Buy [ edit ]

• -33.820349 150.021279 1 Things Jenolan ( in Jenolan Caves House ), [email protected] . This is a tourist friendly Gift Shop. ( updated Dec 2019 )

Eat [ edit ]

• -33.820247 150.021528 1 Chisolm's Restaurant , [email protected] . Lunch: Sa Su noon-2PM. Dinner: 6PM-9PM daily . Completed in the Edwardian era, this huge, magnificent restaurant is the traditional grand dining room. Upstairs in Caves House, Chisolm's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, serving modern Australian cuisine. For a small saving, you can purchase a cave tour/lunch package, and receive a bit of a discount in Chisolm's. At dinner, you can even order wine from the wine cellar which is hidden inside one of the caves. Atmospheric Chisolm's offers a wood fire in winter. $30-40 . ( updated Dec 2019 )
• -33.820629 150.021222 2 Caves Cafe ( downstairs from the restaurant ). 9AM-5PM daily . A cafe serving light meals, snacks and drinks. There is a warm fire in winter and a vine covered verandah in summer. Up to $17 for a full meal with soft drink . ( updated Mar 2021 )

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.

Drink [ edit ]

• Jeremiah's Bar ( next to Chisolm's Restaurant ). from 4PM till late . cosy area next to Chisolm's, where you can relax in the late afternoon and evening with a drink. up to $9 for a beer/cider, average $15 for a glass of wine, $6-15 for spirits, average $17.50 for a Cocktail . ( updated Mar 2021 )

Sleep [ edit ]

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.

Budget [ edit ]

• -33.82108 150.021488 1 Gate House , [email protected] . Gate House is backpacker-style accommodation with 4 or 6 person shared rooms and communal kitchens and bathrooms. From $70 . ( updated Dec 2019 )

Mid-Range [ edit ]

• -33.820466 150.021354 2 Jenolan Caves House , 4655 Jenolan Caves Rd, Jenolan , ☏ +61 2 6359 3322 , fax : +61 2 6359 3227 , [email protected] . Caves House huge historic guesthouse, built in 1898 - one of few remaining guesthouses from the Victorian Era in Australia. It contains a wide range of accommodation, from small rooms with shared bathrooms to large suites with private rooms and spas. Atmospheric Caves House rooms are heritage-listed and feature period furnishings. There are three offerings; 'Traditional', 'Classic' and 'Grand Classic.' Most guests choose 'Classic' rooms which fall in between. These rooms intentionally do not have phones or TVs, and are favoured by guests who really want to get away or enjoy a romantic interlude.; "Low Season" rates apply if you book Sunday to Thursday night and the "High season" rates apply if you book Friday or Saturday night, New South Wales school holidays or any night of a long weekend. From $91 (low) and $131 (high) for 'traditional' rooms to $205 (low) and $255 (high) for 'Grand Classic' suites . ( updated Dec 2019 )
• -33.78989 150.023651 3 Jenolan Caves Cottages , Jenolan Caves Rd ( Near Six Mile Trail ), ☏ +61 2 6359 3311 , [email protected] . 8 fully equipped, self-contained, 2-bedroom cottages in huge nature reserve, 5 km from the caves, surrounded by many kangaroos and other native wildlife. For any cottage, there is a minimum 2-night stay, so you pay a bit more if you only want one night. No Mobile Coverage. Rates are $180 (low season) and $210 (high season). Min 2 night stay . ( updated Dec 2019 )
• -33.82106 150.02144 4 Mountain Lodge ( Behind Caves House. Shares same reception ), [email protected] . The Lodge has spacious, modern, motel-style units with phones, TVs and kitchenettes. Great for families. From $133 for a King room, $174 for a Family studio . ( updated Dec 2019 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• Bellbird Cottage . This cottage fully equipped, self-contained bush hideaway cottage – double bedrooms and magnificent view over pristine wilderness. From $400 p night. Min 2 night stay . ( updated Dec 2019 )
• -33.822498 150.021516 5 Binoomea Cottage . Binoomea Cottage is a 2-storey cottage, with 2 extra large, serviced, modern apartments and each with a fully equipped kitchen. Each apartment sleeps up to 12! From $500 p night. Min 2 night stay . ( updated Dec 2019 )

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 [ edit ]

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 [ edit ]

• 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.

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Jenolan Caves

Top choice in Blue Mountains

Far from other Blue Mountains attractions, the limestone Jenolan Caves is one of the most extensive, accessible and complex systems in the world – a vast network that’s still being explored. The numerous caverns are a spectacular sight with vast subterranean spaces, otherworldly limestone formations and an underground river. Cave visits run throughout the day but book up fast, so it's worth reserving in advance online. If you don't, you may face a substantial wait at busy periods, especially if you're a group.

Named Binoomea (Dark Places) by the Gundungurra tribe, the caves took shape 400 million years ago. White explorers first passed through in 1836 and the caves were a major attraction by the 1860s.

Cave tours cycle between different spaces. There are three standard tours: Chifley Cave , suitable for everyone, with spectacular formations and lots of crystal; Imperial Cave , the easiest on the legs; and Lucas Cave , which has more steps but lots of visual highlights. All three are suitable for children. Guides are informative and humorous, pointing out the inevitable nicknames of unusual formations.

Less frequent tours head to Orient Cave , Temple of Baal and Diamond Cave , while small group visits head to the River Cave , Ribbon Cave and the Off the Track Tour . Beyond this, there are numerous packages and other special visits available, including adventure caving catering to three levels. The daily Plughole Adventure Tour ($130, two hours), with no experience necessary, is a good introduction to caving and includes a bit of abseiling.

The caves are about 1½ hours' drive from Katoomba and the road is not suitable for caravans. On arrival, you pass through the Grand Arch, a spectacular rock tunnel from which the principal caves are accessed. Most car parking is a long walk from the caves, so you might want to let off some passengers just beyond the tunnel by the main Caves House complex, which includes a hotel, a restaurant serving breakfast and dinner daily and the ticket office. The return road through the tunnel is closed from 11.45am to 1.15pm, but you can make your way back by continuing past the caves towards Oberon. The closest fuel to the caves is in Oberon or Mount Victoria.

There are various accommodation options, including the dated but characterful, heritage-listed Caves House – check the website for details – but there are good choices not far away that offer more peace and quiet, such as Jenolan Cabins .

There is no public transport to the caves, but several tour companies offer trips. Otherwise you could walk here from Katoomba via the Megalong Valley along the 46km Six Foot Track, normally undertaken as a three-day hike.

4655 Jenolan Caves Rd. Jenolan

Get In Touch

02-6359 3911

https://www.jenolancaves.org.au

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6 . Three Sisters

7 . Blue Mountains Cultural Centre

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8 . Katoomba

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Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve

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Explore the caves at Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve, near Oberon. It’s a great daytrip from Sydney, or enjoy a weekend away staying in heritage accommodation.

Read more about Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve

Regarded as Australia's most outstanding cave system, Jenolan Caves is the oldest cave system in the world, and forms part of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property .

The main attraction is the vast network of caves with their amazing limestone formations and pure underground rivers. Book a guided tour  to explore the caves. There are also some caves that you can walk through on your own.

Make the most of your visit and stay at the heritage-listed Caves House hotel . You can also book a leisurely lunch or a delicious dinner at  Chisholm’s restaurant , or a decadent high tea. Any of these treats can be combined with a guided tour of one of our spectacular caves if you book in advance. For a more casual visit, enjoy the spacious cafe, which offers light lunch, drinks and snacks.

The reserve offers wonderful opportunities for bird watching and wildlife spotting. You might catch a glimpse of a brush-tailed rock wallaby, eastern water dragon, or a platypus. Enjoy the reserve's scenic walking tracks, all leaving from historic Caves House. Take the McKeown Valley walk upstream from Devils Coach House.

Highlights in this park

Carlotta Arch walking track

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Jenolan Caves House

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Jenolan Caves guided tours

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McKeown's Valley walking track

Binda Bush cabins

Jenolan Mountain Lodge

Jenolan River walking track

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Accommodation:

Enjoy old world charm at iconic Jenolan Caves House, in the heart of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Stay at this historic grand hotel as you explore the spectacular caves and walks, near Oberon.

General enquiries

• National Parks Contact Centre
• 7am to 7pm daily
• 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
• [email protected]
• in the Sydney and surrounds region

This reserve is open every day from 7am to 7pm. Check the Jenolan Caves website for information about guided tours, restaurants and events.

• Jenolan Caves 1300 76 33 11 or 02 6359 3911 within Australia +61 2 6359 3911 International
• 4655 Jenolan Caves Road, Jenolan Caves NSW 2790
• Email: [email protected]
• Australia's National Landscapes website
• Greater Blue Mountains drive
• Greater Blue Mountains website
• Jenolan Caves website
• Visit NSW website

In this park:

Things to do (6).

• Birdwatching and wildlife encounters (2)
• Historic heritage (1)
• Show cave tours (3)
• Sightseeing (2)
• Walking (5)
• Waterfalls (2)

Camping and accommodation (3)

• Accommodation (3)

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Jenolan Caves

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• : Visitor Information
• : Things to See & Do
• : Jenolan Caves

Just 30km from Oberon, Jenolan has the most spectacular and best-known Limestone caves in Australia. They are world renowned and have been open to the public for over 150 years. These caves are believed to have been first explored by European settlers in 1838. There are 11 richly decorated show caves open for public viewing every day of the year. The duration of the guided tour of each show cave is from 1 to 2 hours.

Open daily, award-winning Jenolan Caves are the world’s oldest caves (340 million years), and are considered Australia’s most outstanding. Friendly guides will show you through your choice of 11 spectacular show caves, for all ages and fitness levels. Plus there are night tours, ghost tours, Adventure Caving, multi-lingual self-guided tour, bush walks, underground concerts, and kids tours (in NSW school holidays). There is a wide range of food and accommodation - something for everyone!

Guided Tours of Spectacular Show Caves

‘Show’ caves feature paths, handrails and subtle lighting, designed to highlight the most outstanding cave features and enhance your experience of the amazing underworld. You can tour any of 11 show caves, each one different. Tours are 1 to 2 hours in duration. Although all the show caves include stairs, some are easier than others and there is a cave tour to suit most people.  With prior notice, there is even limited wheelchair access.

Adventure Tours

The Jenolan Caves and their amazing formations were explored by men slithering up and down muddy slopes and through small openings with only candlelight to guide them. Today, challenge seekers can also enjoy an exhilarating experience crawling, squeezing and climbing in undeveloped caves.  There are 4 levels of adventure caving experiences, to suit novices to veterans, from 2 hours to a full day. Bookings for these adventure tours are essential.

More Underground Activities and Concerts

Jenolan Caves also offers evening tours.  Some of these, such as the intriguing ‘Off the Track’ tour, allow you to see underground areas that are no longer on the ‘show’ cave itinerary.  Then, on Saturday evenings, there is the popular ‘Legends, Mysteries & Ghosts’ tour (not for young children).

The caves are set in a 2,416 hectare reserve which has beautiful bush trails with lookouts and restful spots to enjoy the scenery. Colourful birds and native animals, wallabies, kangaroos, possums, echidna and wombats make their homes in this habitat. Almost any day, shy platypus can be spotted in Jenolan’s Blue Lake.

Visit Jenolan Caves >>

The 6 Foot Track

The 46km, 6 foot track from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves has become a popular walking track for self-planned groups or guided walks. The 6 foot track follows the route of the original horse track marked out in 1884. It winds down through Nellie's Glen, through the Megalong Valley, over Mini Mini Range to Little River, then up Black Range (the steepest section of the walk where the climb is 230 metres over 3km). This walk is suitable for anyone reasonably fit and can be traveled comfortably in 2 and a half days.

The annual 6 Foot Track Marathon takes place on the second weekend in March. This marathon is Australia’s biggest off-road marathon, attracting over 850 competitors. The starting line is at Katoomba and the finish is at Jenolan Caves.

Jenolan Caves House

Heritage-listed Caves House is an imposing hotel complex, only a quick stroll from the caves. Built in 1896, it is one of few remaining guesthouses of the Victorian era. After spending the day exploring the magical underworld, treat yourself to dinner and overnight stay in atmospheric Caves House. You can choose from a range of accommodation - grand historic guesthouse, modern Mountain Lodge rooms, budget Gate House backpacker rooms or self-contained cottages.

Upstairs, relax at Jeremiah's Bar and dine at award-winning Chisolms Restaurant. Downstairs, the bistro offers al fresco dining throughout the day. The Caves House is known for its romantic ambiance and warm country hospitality. It is a unique conference and function venue, plus many couples choose it for their romantic reception (following their unique underground wedding).

More information: Jenolan Caves House

Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve

The Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve is 2422 hectares in size and preserves these magnificent limestone caves and the surrounding wilderness.

Jenolan Caves are the oldest known open cave system in the world, and is a special place for the Wiradjuri, Pejar and Gundungurra Aboriginal people.

Exposed at the Caves is upper Silurian limestone rocks, dating from 500 million years old, when the area was submerged under the sea. The limestone deposit is composed of the skeletal remains of marine organisms such as shells and corals. The extensive cave system has at least 320 entrances, and an abundance of stalactites, stalagmites and dripstone formations.

The soil derived from the surrounding limestone rock supports a special part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

The Reserve is also the home of many different native bird and animal life, including echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies and platypus.

There is so much for visitors to enjoy while in the Jenolan Karst area. As well as of course exploring the amazing 11 show caves, including adventure caving, go for a bushwalk on one of the scenic bush tracks, including around the beautiful Blue Lake. Enjoy bird watching and picnicking.

For more information on the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve visit National Parks

Flora and Fauna

No matter where you are in the Oberon area, whether strolling one of our tree-lined streets in the middle of town or out in the depths of the national parks, you will always encounter some lovely native wildlife.

Our area is the home of many different varieties of birds and it is very common to see large flocks of white cockatoos sweeping across the sky, a family of choughs waddling together or the friendly laughter of kookaburras in the branches of gum trees.

Wherever you are in the area you can see parrots, magpies, kookaburras, wrens, eagles, ducks, thrush and owls.

When you visit Jenolan Caves, make sure you keep an eye out for Rockwarblers, Spotted Quail-Thrush, Flame and Scarlet Robin, Satin Fly-Catcher,  Superb Lyrebird, White-earned Honeyeater, and the Wedge-tailed Eagle.

The Gang-gang Cockatoo is a distinctive bird in the area. The Gang-gang likes the alpine bushland of the Oberon area, and is mostly mild grey in colour with some lighter scalloping. The male has a red head and crest and the female has a small fluffy grey crest. Unlike most other cockatoos, Gang-gangs nest in young solid trees and the female use their strong beaks to excavate nesting cavities. The Gang-gangs are most distinctive for their unusual call, which has been described as being like a creaky gate.

There are many insects in the Oberon area, from dragonflies, spiders, moths and butterflies, but the most famous is the rare Purple Copper Butterfly. This butterfly is a tiny multi-coloured butterfly which is only found in the Bathurst, Oberon and Hartley areas. The butterfly has a wingspan of only 2 to 3 centimetres and is very unique as the upper sides of their wings are copper-coloured and display a purple, blue, and green iridescence when sunning. The butterfly only lives in areas with an altitude greater than 850 metres above sea level, and lives only in the plant Bursaria spinosa . It also only lives where there is the presence on the attendant ant Anonychomyrma itinerans .

Eucalypt forests are a feature of the Oberon area, and there are many kinds of native trees in the area, from large towering gums to native shrubs and vines. One very common tree in the area is the Snow Gum. The Snow Gum is a very pretty tree which can grow up to 20 metres in height, with smooth generally light-coloured bark which sheds in patches. The Snow Gum is very unique to its alpine climate as it adapts to the weight of the snow by slowly bending its branches over time so that the branches grow to extend vertically down so it can shed the snow from its leaves.

There are many native plants in the area, including Sundews, several varieties of banksias, Conesticks, Flannel Flowers, and Sweet Sarsparilla. Some have very beautiful flowers, and one of the most stunning is the Silver Banksia. The banksia can grow from a small shrub to a large tree depending where it grows. This plant is most distinctive for its yellow flower spikes in late summer and early winter. Many species of bird, particularly Honeyeaters, forage on the flower spikes, as do native bees.

Native wildlife is a favourite for many visitors to the Oberon area, with many opportunities to catch a glimpse of kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, platypus, possums, koalas as well as frogs and snakes. The Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallaby is an endangered local wallaby, with distinctive facial markings, black paws and a thick furred tail. It is a very agile small wallaby and lives around Jenolan and Wombeyan Caves. Another special and endangered animal in the area is the Stuttering Frog. This large highly camouflaged frog, which can grow up to eight centimetres in size, lives in the wet leaf-littered floor of forests. It lives on insects and smaller frogs and can be found in national parks and forests in the Oberon area. The Spotted-tailed Quoll is another unusual animal that makes the Oberon area its home. It is a medium-sized marsupial carnivore with dark brown fur with white spots. The Quoll is an agile climber and feeds on birds, reptiles and mammals, and is listed as being a vulnerable species.

For more information on local flora and fauna visit National Parks.

Because Oberon is the home of so many native animals, they are often crossing local roadways. If you accidently hit an animal on the road or see an animal injured or dead on the road, please call WIRES.

• Kanangra-Boyd National Park
• Mayfield Garden
• Evans Crown - Tarana
• Abercrombie Caves
• Winter is Truffle Time
• Wombeyan Caves
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• Cemetery Trail
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• Oberon Military Museum
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• The Beautiful Jenolan Caves – A Must when Traveling to the Blue Mountains

• Australia Travel Blog

By far the best caves in Australia, The Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains should be one of the top ten natural wonders of the world.

The vast cave network has over 40 km (25 Miles) of multi-level passages offering easy site seeing walks, educational and historical tours to active adventure caving. The question is, what cave is right for you …

By far the best caves in Australia, The Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains should be one of the top ten natural wonders of the world.  

1) The Aladdin’s Cave Adventure: This cave allows you to squeeze and climb your way through the winding, ancient passageways with only your headlamp to light the way. Emerge into massive chambers as you follow your guide into the depths of the earth. Enhance your understanding of this ancient environment as you explore the lower chambers of this cave that shows some of the most beautiful formations of any of the Jenolan Caves adventure tours, extraordinary in color and decoration.

Age: Minimum - 12 years

Fitness: You need to be fit and the tour requires some flexibility and agility.

Note: This tour is a challenge, contact us for further details. 

2) The Lucus Cave:  Probably the most popular cave because it is the best general cave, offering the highest and widest chambers as well as a glimpse of the underground river. It is home to the famous Broken Column and boasts a wide range of the beautiful cave formations. The highest chamber is the Cathedral (54 meters/177 feet) This cave is also the scene of many weddings and Concerts as the Cathedral Chamber has arguably the best acoustics of any performance space in the world. The acoustical properties of this massive chamber have been utilized by The Vienna Boys Choir and Dame Joan Sutherland. You will need to walk several flights of stairs to get to the Lucas cave but less strenuous inside.

Duration:  1½ hours

Steps:  910

Fitness level:  Average

Note:  You walk several flights of stairs to get to the Lucas cave but once you are inside, the walk becomes less strenuous.

3) The Orient Cave (Show Cave):  The Orient Cave is said by many to be the most beautiful cave in the world. As you move through one breathtaking chamber to one even more highly decorated, you will be awestruck. Recently the Orient Cave was fitted out with the latest lighting technology enabling you to see areas and dimensions as you have never seen them before. The system uses minimal power and also minimizes heat output thus conserving the sensitive cave environment.

Steps:  358

4) The Temple of Baal (Show Cave):  A beautiful caves, recently transformed with a state-of-the-art light and sound show highlighting the cave's features while eliminating environment damage to the caves fragile structure. The cave reveals two massive chambers, one 42 metres high (45 ft) and is filled with breathtaking formations such as the 9 meter (10 foot) long Angel's Wing shawl - one of the largest in the world with arguably one of the best displays of gravity-defying helictites (have a curving or angular form that looks as if they were grown in zero gravity)

Steps:  288

Minimum Age:  6 years

5) River Cave – An Underworld Labyrinth:  This exciting cave rewards you with a sense of achievement as its many astonishing formations and features make the effort worthwhile. The underground Styx River, which appears as pools of clear blue water, also includes the ‘Pool of Reflections’ , this is a deep, illuminated underground lake, whose almost motionless surface produces spectacular reflections. You will see the massive 'Queen Esther's Chamber', the magnificent shawls such as the ‘Giant Shawl’, and many famous formations, including the ‘Minaret’ (a spectacular stalagmite), ‘Grand Column’ (biggest column in the system) and the ‘Queen's Canopy’.

Fitness level:  Strenuous

Steps: 1298

Duration:  2 Hours

6) Mammoth Adventure - An Adrenalin Experience:  Mammoth Cave is the most extensive in Jenolan complex and you will be underground for 6 hours and it involves extensive climbing, crawling, squeezes scrambling, and cave ladder work. Muddy, wet and slippery are the keywords but the beautiful large caverns and the underground Lower River make it worthwhile. This Adventure is about leaving commercial well lit show cave route and following your experienced guide to the depths of the earth. These wild, untouched areas will enhance your understanding of this magnificence of this ancient environment. Absolute breathtaking beauty is the reward because concealed deep underground is a labyrinth of caverns decorated in beautiful calcite crystals - stalactites, stalagmites, columns and shawls, underground river system. You will be blown away.

Age:  Minimum age - 16 years.

Fitness:  Very and requires flexibility, agility, and previous caving experience.

Note:  Not suitable for claustrophobics.

Have a look at the First Light Travel page dedicated to all inclusive Australia Vacation Packages .

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Explore the Spectacular and Amazing Jenolan Caves

• Features:  Troglodytic limestone cave system
• Opening Times:  9:30am to 5:30pm, daily
• Best Time to Visit:  Any time
• Duration:  1 to 3 hours
• Travelled By:  Car
• Cost:  $32 to $38 per cave
• Address:  Jenolan Caves Road, Jenolan, NSW, Australia
• Type:  Natural wonder

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Located southwest of Katoomba on the western fringes of the Kanangra Boyd National Park in New South Wales, Australia, the Jenolan Caves is considered to be one of the best cave systems in the world.

Read about interesting facts on the Jenolan Caves as well as all the information you need to know to plan your visit to the amazing and spectacular Jenolan Caves.

Interesting Jenolan Caves Facts

• The Jenolan Caves is one of the most extensive and complex limestone cave systems in the world
• It is known as Binoomea or ‘Dark Places’ by the Gundungurra tribes of Australia
• Formed over 300 million years ago, the caves were discovered in 1838 and have been open to the public since 1866
• The Jenolan Caves is made up of more than 300 subterranean chambers formed in a limestone belt
• There are nine caves open to the public which can be viewed only on a tour
• Popular tours include the 2 ½-hr ghost tour and adventure tour
• Classical concerts are also held in the caves which are a sonic revelation
• The caves are an impressive amalgamation of stalactites, stalagmites, and underground rivers and pools
• Hikers can undertake the 42km Six Foot Track from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves over two to three days

Jenolan Caves Concerts

To truly appreciate the beauty of the Jenolan Caves, it is worth scheduling your visit to coincide with a Classical concert that is held in the caves twice a month at 4pm on Saturdays. These classical concerts are a sonic revelation and showcase the fantastic acoustics provided by the caves. See Jenolan Caves concerts for more details.

Where is Jenolan Caves?

The Jenolan Caves is located 175 km west of Sydney and 74 km southwest of Katoomba on the western fringe of the Kanangra Boyd National Park in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

How to get to Jenolan Caves? See below for details from Katoomba or Sydney.

Katoomba to Jenolan Caves

The Jenolan Caves is situated very close to the Blue Mountains and can be visited on a day trip from the Blue Mountains. You can either drive or hike from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves.

If you’re driving from Katoomba, the caves are 30km from the Great Western Highway. The narrow Jenolan Caves becomes a one-way system between 11:45am and 1:15pm daily, running clockwise from the caves out through Oberon.

For hikers, the 42km Six Foot Track from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves is a fairly challenging three-day hike. Built as a bridle track to compete with the railways, ‘Six Foot’ refers to its width – wide enough for two horses to pass. Consult the Echo Point visitors centre in Katoomba before you attempt anything.

Sydney to Jenolan Caves

You can choose to drive from Sydney to Jenolan Caves or take a day tour with one of the tour agencies from Sydney. The Great Western Highway is the most direct route from Sydney to Jenolan Caves which are 30km from the Great Western Highway on Jenolan Caves Road.

See below for Jenolan Caves map.

Jenolan Caves Map

Jenolan caves weather.

The Jenolan Caves weather is different to the weather above ground. While the weather in the Blue Mountains is cool year round, and the weather is variable in Sydney, underground, the limestone caves are a constant 15-16 degrees Celsius.

As the caves can be slippery sometimes, it is advisable to wear non-slip walking shoes.

Jenolan Caves Prices

Jenolan Caves tickets can be purchased online in advance from the official Jenolan Caves website. See Jenolan Caves prices for more information on tour prices.

Jenolan Caves Tour Times

Jenolan Caves tours run daily including public holidays (as well as on Christmas Day). Tour times depend on the time of the year, with separate tour timetables available for off-peak season, NSW school holidays and long weekends.

See Jenolan Caves tour times for more information.

Accommodation near Jenolan Caves

There are a few options available for accommodation near the Jenolan Caves including Jenolan Caves House, Jenolan Caves Cottages as well as camping.

Jenolan Caves House

The most popular accommodation option is the Jenolan Caves House ( www.jenolancaves.house.com.au ) which caters to all wallets and tastes. From motel rooms to dorm rooms, the fabulously eerie Jenolan Caves House has it all. Gatehouse dorm sleeps six, Mountain Lodge motel doubles are modern, Caves House guestrooms range from traditional to opulent. The restaurant at the House serves traditional English fare for breakfast and dinner.

Jenolan Caves Camping

Jenolan Caves used to have a camping ground but this facility was closed in 2005. There are other camping grounds in the area but they are not within easy walking distance of Jenolan Caves and would require a car for access.

State Forest Camping Ground – located about 10km from Jenolan Caves on the road from Lithgow. The camping ground is situated on the edge of the forest with many campers opting to camp a short way into the forest.

Kanangra Boyd – Boyd River Crossing – located about 40 minutes drive from Jenolan within the Kanangra Boyd National Park. There are limited camping spaces here (about 30 spaces).

Glenroy – is very easy for find as this camping ground is right on the road to Jenolan, 5 minutes drive off the Great Western Highway. It is a very popular spot with families and get crowded during Christmas and Easter.

Jenolan Caves Address

4655 Jenolan Caves Road

Jenolan NSW 2790

Visit the official website of the Jenolan Caves for more information.

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