Jenolan Caves

Facts: Jenolan Caves were known to the local Aboriginal population for many thousands of years as Binoomea, "Dark places". European involvement in the area began in 1838 with the first recorded discovery by a local pastoralist James Whalan. According to legend however, Whalan was not the first European to set eyes on the caves, with that honour going to James McKeown, an ex-convict and possibly an outlaw, reputed to have been using the caves as a hideout.

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Jenolan is what an 'impounded' karst, as the limestone receives most of its water from the surrounding insoluble rocks. Caves, and other karst features, are produced because limestone is soluble in water containing dissolved carbon dioxide and organic acids. Rain picks up atmospheric carbon dioxide as it falls. On passing through the soil more carbon dioxide, from plant roots and decaying vegetable matter becomes dissolved in the water, along with complex organic acids called humic acids. This ground water is easily able to dissolve limestone.


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So Bronwyn drove Caique and I to these amazing caves! It took ages in car to get there, we drove over the mountains which were full of fog, almost like a fairytale land. We had a little  stop at one of the many lookouts in the BlueMountains, and then continued out to the mittle of nowhere. I mean nowhere! we passed this 'town' which basically consisted of 3 houses. Drove on the longest and smallest road ever, -down hill and really steep. and then we where there.

First we went on a guided tour into one of the big caves. You almost walk in your own dream world in the dark, small lights and these amazing limestones, the glitter, water running, so BEAUTIFUL!

First trip took around 1½hrs with around 910+252 steps
Then lunch where I met my little naughty parrot friend so cute! -btw it was not me how fed it!!!

after lunch Caique and I went (only the 2 of us) on another guided tour -2hrs and 1298 steps! Working on the leg muscles haha

anyhow my conclusion is that the many caves just fasinates me, and Im so thankful Bronwyn took us on this adventure. Afterwards we had ice-cream and then headed home where a thicker layer of fog had arrived! Sad weather and impossible to understand that on the other side of the mountains (Jenolan Caves) It was an amazing blue sky and hot as! :)