More than Just Caves: Jenolan, NSW Australia

Waterfall on the Jenolan River, NSW Australia

Waterfalls on the Jenolan River
The Jenolan Caves area is as interesting above-ground as it is below.

I lived within easy reach of Australia’s Blue Mountains for many years, and while I’d take visitors up there regularly for day-trips and hikes, I guess I rather took them for granted. I knew some of the stories of the hardships the early explorers (Blaxland, Wentworth, Lawson, and their unnamed servants) faced trying to find a path through the rugged terrain that seems to extend forever (1813), but the current road is a vast improvement over the one forged a year later (1814) by William Cox.

What I didn’t realise was that the Greater Blue Mountains Area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage area of Outstanding Universal Value in 2000 for (among other things) “its exceptional expression of the structural and ecological diversity of the eucalypts associated with its wide range of habitats.” The post-Gondwana isolation of the Australian continent has lead to a unique diversification of plant life.

Just west of the Blue Mountains – but still within the Greater Blue Mountains UNESCO Area, there is a honeycomb of limestone caves considered by many to be one of the world’s most spectacular cave formations. Created about 340 million years ago, the complex is certainly the oldest known and dated open cave system in the world. The network of caverns, set aside as the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve, is still being explored, with more than 40 kilometres (25 mi) of multi-level passages identified.

For thousands of years, the waters in some of the caves were used by local indigenous peoples for their healing powers. The first Europeans known to visit and explore the caves were brothers Charles and James Whalan around 1838, and visitors have toured the caves from the 1840s. Today, eleven of the cave systems are open to the public, under the guidance and management of the Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust and the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.

I first visited Jenolan Caves back in the early 1980s. Last year, while my husband and I were making plans for a road-trip up-country, Jenolan Caves House advertised some special over-night deals. 

The opportunity to go back was too good to pass up!

Jenolan Cave House, NSW Australia

Jenolan Cave House
Built in 1896, Jenolan Caves House was added to the NSW State Heritage Register in 2004. The rooms have been renovated to include en-suites and modern bedding, but otherwise are little changed from earlier days. Dinner in Chisolm’s Restaurant – in what used to be the Grand Dining Room – overlooking the blue-green mountainside, is a real treat.

Red Flowers, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia

Pink-Purple Wildflowers

De Burgh

De Burgh’s Bridge
Entry to the Grand Arch and Caves House is over an old stone bridge, called Limestone Bridge or De Burgh’s Bridge, built in 1895.

Low-light Portrait: Female Jenolan Caves Guide, NSW Australia

Cave Guide
The light disappears under the Grand Arch where we meet our Cave Guide. She had led the Imperial Cave Tour many times before, and was extremely knowledgable. But, she was as excited as if it was her first time and her enthusiasm was infectious.

Entrance to the Imperial Cave, Jenolan Caves, NSW Australia

Entrance to the Imperial Cave
The easiest cave for visitors because it has the fewest steps, Imperial Cave was first seen by Europeans in 1879.

The Underground River, Imperial Cave, Jenolan NSW Australia

Jenolan’s Underground River
Down a long spiral staircase in Imperial Cave, we come to an underground river so clear that we can see the limestone-coated rocks on the bottom.

Ceiling in the Imperial Cave, Jenolan, NSW Australia

Ceiling in the Imperial
The Imperial Cave tour spends about an hour wandering through the 1070 metres of tunnels and caverns.

Stalactites, Stalagmites, and Columns in Imperial Cave, Jenolan NSW Australia

Stalactites, Stalagmites, and Columns
The Imperial Cave features the usual beautiful speleothems (crystallised structures made from mineral deposits); … 

Waves of Crystal near the entrance to Imperial Cave, Jenolan NSW Australia

Waves of Crystal
… these deposits are built on a basis of limestone embedded with ancient marine fossils. More recently, bones of a Tasmanian devil – long extinct on the Australian mainland – and a wallaby have also been found.

Ceiling in Imperial Cave, Jenolan NSW Australia

Delicate Stalactites
The speleothems are still growing – albeit ever so slowly.

Curtains and Shawls in Imperial Cave, Jenolan NSW Australia

Curtains and Shawls

Rain on De Burgh

Rain on De Burgh’s Bridge
When we came out of the Imperial Cave, the rains had set in. 

Jenolan Cave House, NSW Australia

Rain on Cave House
We called it a day, made a dash for Caves House, and dressed for dinner.

Purple Flowers, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia

Purple Wildflowers

Jenolan Caves House from the back, NSW Australia

Caves House
The next day dawned bright and clear. We walked up the hill to the Binoomea Cut, 

Jenolan Caves Guide at the entrance to Binoomea Cut, NSW Australia

Guide at the Binoomea Cut
… the man-made tunnel entrance leading into the Temple of Baal Cave.

Crystal stalactites Temple of Baal , Jenolan Caves NSW Australia

Crystal Stalactites
The two large chambers that make up the Temple of Baal Cave are known for their beauty.

Angel Wings in the Temple of Baal, Jenolan Caves NSW Australia

Angel’s Wing in the Temple of Baal
The 9-metre formation known as the Angel’s Wing is one of the largest cave shawls in the world.

Delicate crystal Designs in the Temple of Baal, Jenolan Caves NSW Australia

Delicate Flowstones
The Temple of Baal was named by early cave explorers after the biblical story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal.

Light Behind short curtain crystals in the Temple of Baal, Jenolan Caves NSW Australia

The Light Behind

Curtains in the Temple of Baal, Jenolan Caves NSW Australia

Curtains in the Temple of Baal

Rivers of Crystal in the Temple of Baal, Jenolan Caves NSW Australia

Rivers of Crystal in the Temple of Baal

Starting point of The River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Jenolan River Walk
We had just enough time after our cave tour to complete the Jenolan River Walk – a 3 km trip, out and back.

Water Dragon on the River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Water Dragon
Plenty of little water dragons …

Skink on the River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Skink on the Path
… and skinks were out enjoying the beautiful sunny day.

Tree Fern on Blue Lake, River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Tree Fern on Blue Lake
The Jenolan River Walk starts out alongside the beautiful aqua-marine Blue Lake.

Wier on Blue Lake, River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Wier on Blue Lake
Blue Lake is man-made; the water from the weir, built in 1908, generated electricity to light the caves and Cave House.

Rock Orchid - Dendrobium Speciosum , River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Rock Orchid – Dendrobium Speciosum

Waterfall on the Jenolan River, NSW Australia

Waterfall on the Jenolan River

Leaves in the Light, River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Leaves in the Light

Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum Aethiopicum, River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Maidenhair Fern – Adiantum Aethiopicum
I’m always amazed when plants I used to coax along in my apartment thrive in the wild!

Red Belly Black Snake, River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Red Belly Black Snake – Pseudechis Porphyriacus
In the undergrowth below us – well out of harm’s way – a red-bellied black snake suns itself.

Suspension Bridge, River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Suspension Bridge
The path, while short, has plenty of interest and variety.

Blueberry Flax-Lilies – Dianella Revoluta, River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Blueberry Flax-Lilies – Dianella Revoluta

Waterfall on the Jenolan River, NSW Australia

Waterfalls on the Jenolan River
The track ends at a picnic area next to the old Jenolan Caves Hydro Electric plant, and some very pretty waterfalls.

Tree Fern on Blue Lake, River Walk, Jenolan Caves Reserve, NSW Australia.

Back at Blue Lake
We retrace our steps …

Crimson Rosella - Platycercus Elegans, Jenolan Caves NSW Australia

Crimson Rosella – Platycercus Elegans
… and share our lunch at the coffee-shop with a cheeky rosella before driving back over De Burgh’s Bridge towards home. (iPhone6)

Text: Take only Pictures

We could have easily spent a lot more time there – there were many more caves we could have explored, and more walks we could have taken…

I hope it’s not another thirty years before I get back!

Until next time…

Pictures: 20-21November2016

  • Gabe - March 10, 2017 - 2:23 am

    It was a lovely caving experienceReplyCancel

  • Carolyn Melbourne - March 13, 2017 - 1:30 am

    I love your post, especially the images. I always love cave images that contain people, to show the scale of the caverns. Kacy and Stu will be very pleased to see the nice pics of themselves!ReplyCancel

    • Ursula - March 13, 2017 - 2:02 am

      So pleased you enjoyed the post, Carolyn. We sure enjoyed our weekend. ?ReplyCancel

  • sidran - March 21, 2017 - 7:33 am

    Lovely post.No wonder this is a UNESCO site.Amazing patterns and I like the bridges too.ReplyCancel

    • Ursula - March 23, 2017 - 8:20 am

      Thanks so much, Sidran! I’m so glad to have your visit. ?ReplyCancel

  • Tricia Bates - October 29, 2017 - 7:04 am

    I really enjoyed that Ursula, I wasn’t able to go on any cave tours but your Photos almost made it seem like I had. We spent part of our honeymoon at Jenolan and 35 years later took our kids, their partners and our granddaughters back to enjoy it all again.ReplyCancel

    • Ursula - October 29, 2017 - 8:03 am

      Hi Tricia,
      I’m glad you enjoyed the blog – and your stay at Caves House. It really is a special place, isn’t it?
      It might be a big country, but it is a Small World!! Fancy running into you and your family in the Blue Mountains! Always good to see you.:DReplyCancel

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