What are the Jenolan Caves?
The Jenolan Caves are a spectacular limestone cave system in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, about 175 kilometres west of Sydney. They are among the oldest known open caves.
Scientific studies published in 2006 dated clay in the caves to around 340 million years old, making Jenolan one of the oldest discovered open cave systems in the world. The caves are filled with stalactites, stalagmites, shawls and underground rivers.
Europeans began exploring the caves in the 1830s and 1840s, and tourist visits began soon after. The Gundungurra people know the area as Binoomea and have stories connecting it to the creation of the landscape.
Visiting the caves
Guided tours explore show caves such as Lucas Cave, Chifley Cave, the Orient Cave and the Temple of Baal, many lit to highlight their formations. Adventure caving tours take fitter visitors into tight passages.
The historic Caves House hotel, built in 1898, stands near the entrance. The surrounding Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Did You Know?
Lucas Cave's Cathedral Chamber is used for concerts because of its natural acoustics.