Tasmania is home to thousands of caves, but a few “show caves” are available through organised tours. There is another-world feel to venturing into caves, a humbling sense of history, and the awe of mother natures patience.
King Solomon Cave
On this roadtrip, I managed to visit the beautiful Hastings Caves in Tasmania’s south, and three Mole Creek Caves in the north, missing out on Gunns Plains Caves, closed for maintenance during Covid.
On the roadtrip home, I stopped in South Australia for Fossil Caves at Naracoorte, and the open caves of Umpherston Sinkhole and Cave Garden at Mt Gambier,
I also intended to overnight at the old-world Jenolan Caves House Grand Classic room and do an afternoon & evening cave tour. Unfortunately, as travel happens, significant rain had destroyed the access roads to Jenolan Caves, so it remains a return on the Bucket List.
Hastings Caves outside of Geeveston Tasmania, were well worth the out-of-the-way trek. Their Newdegate Cave Tour was a memorable 45 min. Dramatic lighting helped showcase this naturally beautiful cave.
Mole Creek Caves encompass 3 in the area, and it you organise your time, you can book and attend 1 straight after the other. Ideally, start with Marakoopa Cave, then the Great Cathedral Cave at the same site, before taking a short drive to the nearby King Solomon Cave. Each with their own unique appeal.
Marakoopa Cave has 2 tours, The Underground Rivers & Glow Worms Tour followed by
Great Cathedral Cave which also passes through the Glow Worms entrance
and in my opinion the most interesting, King Solomon Cave, accessed via a short & spectacular rainforest walk. A narrower cave, squeezing you through an interesting passage
Heading home I detoured to the Barossa Valley via Mt Gambier & then Naracoorte. Naracoorte Caves uniquely have many fossils and some re-constructed fauna of the past. I booked the Victoria Fossil Cave for the afternoon my arrival, but was early enough to do a self-explore of their Stick Tomato Cave as well.
Next morning at Naracoorte, I toured the beautiful Alexandra Cave
Bringing me to the surprising open caves in Mt Gambier, Cave Garden in the heart of the town,
and the spectacular Umpherston Sinkhole (cenote) just a short drive away
There are so many facets to this wonderful world, so much variety to explore and experiences to enjoy. Whilst the world is throwing challenges at travelers, stay safe, however
Almost all travel requires some calculated risks, so make plans !
I hope my adventures entertain and inspire, as I enjoy your DM’s and travel shares.
WILT – What I am listening to ?
Don’t try to read too much into these WILT’s, it’s often just that earworm from my music library