Jenolan Caves - Tourism

Tourism

• Jenolan Caves attracts over 250,000 visitors a year, making it the most popular tourist location in rural New South Wales.
• The caves are a convenient 3 hours drive for day visitors from Sydney and Canberra.
• In 2008 and 2009, Jenolan Caves won several tourism awards, from Blue Mountains Tourism and NSW Tourism.
• Ten of the area's "dark caves" are open for regular guided tours every day (1 to 2 hours per tour). These 'show' cave tour sizes vary, for example the delicate Pool of Cerberus Cave can have only 8 on a tour, while the Lucas Cave (with its massive chambers) can have up to 65 people per tour. Tours also vary in difficulty, for example the Imperial Cave has the fewest stairs, while the River Cave is the most strenuous. However, the average tourist can tour any of these 'show' caves.
• Several undeveloped caves are available for Adventure Caving (2 hours to all-day tours). The introduction to Adventure Caving is the Plughole Tour, which runs daily and includes basic abseiling. Other even more challenging Adventure Caving tours are available.
• A self-guided tour of the huge Nettle Cave/Devils Coach House is also available - in 11 languages (including Klingon) plus an engaging commentary for children.
• During NSW School Holidays, specially developed tours are available for children and teenagers.
• Night tours run every night except Sundays, including the popular ghost tour, 'Legends, Mysteries & Ghosts'.
• The Six Foot Track is a 48 kilometre walking route from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves. Every year in March, the Six Foot Track Marathon finishes at Jenolan, outside Jenolan Caves House.
• The Cathedral Chamber, part of the "Lucas Cave" is famous for its acoustics. At least twice every month, underground concerts take place in this chamber.
• Several times a year, concerts also take place in the spectacular Grand Arch, including the annual Carols in the Caves, which raises money for charity.
• Jenolan Caves has long been a popular destination for school excursions. For instance, Normanhurst Boys High School, Sydney, has been running an annual trip to the caves every year for the past 52 years which will soon become 53 years when the students go to the caves in August. This is arguably the longest continually running excursion by one school to one place in Australia, let alone the world.
• When visiting Jenolan Caves, tourists stay at heritage-listed Jenolan Caves House, designed in 1897 by Government Architect, Walter Liberty Vernon, as a resort or retreat for the wealthy. To cater for the expectations of the well-to-do, Vernon included a ballroom and magnificent grand dining room (now Chisolm’s Restaurant). Chisolm's is open for lunch and dinner every day, serving modern Australian cuisine. Now, Caves House caters for all guests, from every walk of life, from families and backpackers to bridal couples and corporate groups.
• Facilities include an hotel/motel complex, self-contained cottages, restaurant, bar, cafe and wine cellar (inside a cave).
• The huge Jenolan Reserve is a National Park, located in the World Heritage Blue Mountains Area, where signposted bush trails often enable tourists to glimpse shy Australian birds and native wildlife, including kangaroos and platypus.
• There is no public transport to Jenolan Caves. However, there are large carparks. Also a range of coach operators bring tourists from Sydney and Katoomba every day.