When my colleague knew I was going to Sydney, she recommended that I visit Jenolan Caves. I wasn't too keen on the idea of being in a confined space, not cos I'm claustrophobic, but because I have a wild imagination and have an irrational fear of things that go bump in the night. But I ran it by Joel and he seemed cool about trying it out. So okay, to the caves we go.
Early in the morning we drove about 1 hour to the caves and this place is so cute and resort-like! If we were richer we could have stayed here. Lol.
Off to get tickets.
The tickets were about AUD 30+ each and entitled us to a guided tour of one of the main caves and two more smaller "free" caves (with audio guide). There's a list of caves to choose from for the main guided cave. And there is different timing from each tour so we had to plan ahead.
The guided tour meeting point was somewhere under this large cave entrance called the Grand Archway. It is a natural limestone bridge, part of a shallow ocean 430 million years ago. So majestic! We actually drove down this road through the cave tunnel to the other side. Which was pretty coooool.
We chose the Lucas cave tour. Overall it was supposed to be a moderate to difficult tour compared to the others due to a part where we had to climb up 252 steps. We also encountered quite a few narrow walkways with rocks that jutted out. And some steep winding stairs. So our guide said no photos while climbing! So instead I took videos hehe.
They also offer intermediate adventure cave tours where you really had to wear overalls and helmets with lamps, and get on your knees to crawl and squeeze through tight spaces, or even abseil down rock walls! I'm not so adventurous haha. I think I would really have a panic attack in those tight spaces.
Took plenty of pictures but the lighting wasn't so good down there so they turned out blur. It was my first time spending 1.5 hours in a cave - a really new experience. Especially when we were in a large chamber and the guide actually switched off all the lights for a full minute. We were in pitch darkness. Needless to say I clung on tight to Joel. >.<
Skeleton of a wombat! The guide asked us how we thought this wombat ended up here, because it couldn't have possibly waltzed in. The answer was that it actually fell through a hole into the cave. Poor wolly ):
So pretty :)
Onto the two smaller self-guided tours - Devil's Coach House Cave and Nettle Cave.
Joel looks like he is on the phone but that is the handheld audio guide, describing the features of the cave, how people used it in the past, how it was formed, etc.
There's quite a fair bit if climbing.
And of course, everything that goes up must come down. We were so high up! I hate heights.
Decided to do a bushwalk around the Blue Lake. Apparently platypus live in this lake! We didn't spot any ):
Gorgeous color!!
Shall end the post with this cutie who is always my model in photos. But he is also a very demanding model. Perfectionist! >:
xx
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