jenolancaves

Jenolan Caves, NSW
January 4th and 5th, 2000

The ride to Jenolan Caves took us along a very winding mountain road. It was a beautiful ride from the passenger seat but I think the driver was relieved when we arrived at Jenolan Caves. Here is the Cave House where I knew a room was waiting. This was a comfort with the weather having a great desire to change and rain a bit for us. We went down to get tickets for the different cave tours. I had no idea the caves were so huge and the tours so varied. Luckily they listed the tours by difficulty, size of group as well as length of time they lasted so we were able to choose exactly what we wanted.

While waiting for the tour to start we explored the area a bit on our own. Brian remembered how blue the river was as the water was fed from an underground cave stream. The minerals from the cave gives it the deep blue colour he explained as my unbelieving eyes drank in the beauty before me.

The following morning we went hiking again as we waited for the tours to begin. The sky was the deepest blue as the sun shone so brightly. These pictures are both the same arch taken from both sides. I was amazed to see stalagtites hanging from the top in the wonder of nature. I had never seen an arch outside with cave qualities before. I was loving it as I have always appreciated a good cave since I was little and my family would visit caves in the US while traveling on vacation. The outer beauty of this area was only surpassed by the inner beauty as I was in awe of all I saw.

Inside the Caves...

The caves here had names and descriptions to match the spectacular formations as most caves do. The picture to the left I thought represented the natural formations nicely. It was named 3 Sisters and so much looked like the 3 Sisters in the Blue Mountains I had recently visited. While the picture to the right show the Broken Column which was formed as the column broke as a result of the ceiling of the cave below collasping. This reminded me the truth of the nature of things in so much as no matter how sturdy and solid things appear it can change in the blink of an eye. But once changed it doesn't ruin the beauty of the object... just makes it different.

These caves seemed to have more of the curtain type formations than anyplace I had ever been. The delicate looking drapes of crystal in some places had iron flowing through it giving it a look of bacon. I was a picture taking maniac as I went thru the caves but I believe the tour guide was use to it as I hung to the back of the pack of people with Brian, taking pictures as the crowd left in front of me. This left me with the most spectacular views. Some of the formations of the curtain style were a single curtain with its length barely ruffled appearing as a angel wings that was outstretched to protect the visitors from harm.

These caves also had soda straw formations I found it funny as Brian explained to me they looked like veggie worms. Later in the tour guides comments he stated the straws reminded him of veggie worms... Brians face lit up with a smile as he found another that saw things like he did. I love seeing Brian smile.

After climbing a huge bunch of stairs Brian had asked me if I was buggered. Not real familiar with all the applications of buggered I replied I was fine and enjoying myself and asked why he asked. He said well with all the steps I thought you might be buggered. I reaffirmed I was fine. Then he said buggered means tired... was I tired is what he was asking. Smiling I repeated I was good still and was confused by the phrase. A bit later I heard an older woman state in a clear matter of fact voice. "whew! I'm buggered!" I looked at Brian and saw the" there I told you so look" and had to smile. I still have so much to learn.

There were so many things to see and formations that impressed me. The tour guides were friendly and knew and told so many stories with their presentations I was constantly amazed or amused. It was a learning experience as well as I learned more about the effects of air and smoke in a cave and the dark crystals that result. Some areas had graffiti on the ceilings as early visitors had taken time to write names initials and dates with their candle smoke. I am glad that the caves are protected now and care is made so every cave visitor can see the beauty of clean crystal that is still alive and growing.