Lithgow to Canberra! 29^th November 2014

Lithgow to Canberra

We were aiming on going to the Jenolan Caves about 50km away from Lithgow, on the edge of the Blue Mountains, and then planned on travelling to Canberra.  There was a range of cave tours and the first started at 9:30am. To be sure we got on the first tour we left Lithgow at 8am. Lithgow is quite high and the road to the caves travels along a ridge adjacent to the Blue Mountains at about 1250m, with a steep drop off on either side, and with dramatic views. 

Route along ridge to Jenolan Caves

A small kangaroo or wallaby came out of the woods and ran along the side of the road, parallel to the car direction, and then dashed across the road behind the car. At one point I thought we were going to hit it. Throughout the day we saw a number of road kills.  On the route we saw an emu, the second we have seen on the trip.

The road eventually descended steeply over a few hundred metres, for a distance of 8km, with a continuous series of tight bends and with parts of the road limited to a single track.  We never met a single car so were more than pleased. We eventually emerged at the base of the valley and passed through a narrow rock tunnel, only wide enough for a single car,.

Jenolan car tunnel

We emerged to see a stunning alpine looking building bathed in sun shine, the Caves House, a heritage listed building.  

Jenolan Cave House

This was the centre for the Jenolan Caves with a ticket office on the other side of the road. The Caves House provides accommodation, a restaurant and café. A few parrots were flying around seeking food from the visitors.

Eastern Rosella Parrot

We took a trip down the caves for about 1½hr and saw stalagmites and stalactites as well as a form, helictites, which were random in orientation. The caves extend underground for some 9km with multiples levels and an underground water courses.  The complete cave system has still to be explored. 

Janolan Stalagtites

In the ticket office they have a 3D model of the cave system. This was made by the person who explored and opened up the caves early last century. They also have a modern 3D printed version. Apparently the latter was built up using a laser scanner, not quite the plan and elevation sectioning approach that was used back in the 60s when I used to go pot-holing in Somerset and Yorkshire.

Sheila holding 3D printed model of the cave system

After a quick cup of café latte we headed up the other side of the valley and along a road with even tighter corners but shorter in extent. We left the caves behind and headed through Oberon and Goulburn and eventually on the road to Canberra. 

Much of the trip was over the Tablelands and the views on either side of the road confirmed that it was a high flat plane stretching as far as the eyes could see.  

Tablelands landscape

We travelled for miles without seeing any cars and convinced us that only the keen venture off to see the caves.