On Thursday, well rested after our long hike the day before, we left Katoomba and traveled north west, heading for the Jenolan State Forest. It was a roundabout route to get there because the Blue Mountain National Park stretched far west and we had to drive up and around it. This leg of our Journey was by-far the most beautiful and scenic drive.
Fields connected rolling mountains in an amazing landscape reminiscent, according to my European friends, to the landscape of France. We pulled over to the side of the road to admire the Kanimbla Valley, snapping these photos:
Making good time, we decided to do a bit of off-roading with our rented vehicle after seeing a promising dirt road off the highway. Cameras ready, eyes open, we searched the forests for wildlife.
A Wallaby ran across the road up ahead too quick for me to snap a photo; the search continued. The road went deeper and deeper into the forest and some hills were a little tough for our little vehicle to handle. Then suddenly, there it was - a Kangaroo! No, two Kangaroos in the woods! I jumped out of the car to snap these photos:
Reaching the Jenolan Caves was quite an adventure. Very secluded, the road twists around steep cliffs and can barely fit two cars! No photos were taken of this because I was driving while bitting a hole in my lip.
It was worth the danger when we finally arrived. To get to the ticket booth we had to drive through part of the cave!
The Jenolan Caves are made of Limestone, with numerous calcite formations existing throughout. They are the oldest open cave system in the world - 340 million years old; that means these caves existed over 100 million years before the Dinosaurs roamed the earth!
Our first excursion into the caves began with a guided tour of the Lucas Cave System.
The Jenolan Caves were called "Binoomia" by the Aboriginals, or "Dark Places." They were first discovered by white settlers in the 1840's, the Lucas cave in 1860; and they are still actively discovering new cave systems in Jenolan to this day.
Inside the Lucas Cave system there is a giant cathedral-size room where weddings, concerts and private parties take place. The acoustics are great; given the 50 meter( 164 feet) high ceiling, I'm not surprised:
The tour continued into another, smaller chamber with a broken column formation.
At one time this column was one structure, but, overtime the forces of water split them as the bottom piece was shifted by running water.
Here's a video of this chamber:
Nettle Cave, named for the Stinging Nettle plant that grows around its entrance, was our next stop in Jenolan. A self guided tour, this cave system was very large and open, easily accessible.
Inside the Nettle Cave are Crayfish Back Stromatolites estimated to be over 20,000 years old! Here's a picture of one:
Exiting Nettle we noticed the cave was smiling at us:
Outside by the man-made body of water called "Blue Lake" were numerous Eastern Water Dragons.
After two great days in the Blue Mountains we ended our Road Trip with a drive up to Bouddi National Park in the central coast.
The best way to end a trip is on the beach; and that's just what we did. We had the whole of "Little Beach" to ourselves for the afternoon before our drive back to Sydney.
What a trip!
Fields connected rolling mountains in an amazing landscape reminiscent, according to my European friends, to the landscape of France. We pulled over to the side of the road to admire the Kanimbla Valley, snapping these photos:
Making good time, we decided to do a bit of off-roading with our rented vehicle after seeing a promising dirt road off the highway. Cameras ready, eyes open, we searched the forests for wildlife.
A Wallaby ran across the road up ahead too quick for me to snap a photo; the search continued. The road went deeper and deeper into the forest and some hills were a little tough for our little vehicle to handle. Then suddenly, there it was - a Kangaroo! No, two Kangaroos in the woods! I jumped out of the car to snap these photos:
 |
| We scared them off |
It was worth the danger when we finally arrived. To get to the ticket booth we had to drive through part of the cave!
The Jenolan Caves are made of Limestone, with numerous calcite formations existing throughout. They are the oldest open cave system in the world - 340 million years old; that means these caves existed over 100 million years before the Dinosaurs roamed the earth!
Our first excursion into the caves began with a guided tour of the Lucas Cave System.
 | |||
| Tour Guide |
The Jenolan Caves were called "Binoomia" by the Aboriginals, or "Dark Places." They were first discovered by white settlers in the 1840's, the Lucas cave in 1860; and they are still actively discovering new cave systems in Jenolan to this day.
 |
| like a mushroom? |
 |
| Water was dripping from this calcite deposit; this is how they are form over hundreds to thousands of years. |
Inside the Lucas Cave system there is a giant cathedral-size room where weddings, concerts and private parties take place. The acoustics are great; given the 50 meter( 164 feet) high ceiling, I'm not surprised:
The tour continued into another, smaller chamber with a broken column formation.
At one time this column was one structure, but, overtime the forces of water split them as the bottom piece was shifted by running water.
Here's a video of this chamber:
Nettle Cave, named for the Stinging Nettle plant that grows around its entrance, was our next stop in Jenolan. A self guided tour, this cave system was very large and open, easily accessible.
Inside the Nettle Cave are Crayfish Back Stromatolites estimated to be over 20,000 years old! Here's a picture of one:
 |
| Crayfish Back |
Outside by the man-made body of water called "Blue Lake" were numerous Eastern Water Dragons.
After two great days in the Blue Mountains we ended our Road Trip with a drive up to Bouddi National Park in the central coast.
The best way to end a trip is on the beach; and that's just what we did. We had the whole of "Little Beach" to ourselves for the afternoon before our drive back to Sydney.
What a trip!
amazing photos of the cave, charles. puts our Widow Jane's cave to shame. also like your informative commentary. thanks.
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