Jenolan Caves tours, Blue Mountains: Which is the best cave?

The Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains are thought to be the oldest caves in the world. Tours of several caves are available. The best Jenolan Caves tours are Chifley Cave and Lucas Cave if on limited time.

The Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains are significantly older than any other cave system in the world. They’ve been a tourist draw pretty much since they were discovered in the 19^th century. There are several caves to explore on guided Jenolan Caves tours, each offering something a little different.

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If you don’t have your own wheels, it’s possible to book a Jenolan Caves day tour from Sydney. These tours also include 4WDing through lesser-visited parts of the Blue Mountains and a Parramatta River cruise. Find out more information here.

The Jenolan Caves are still being mapped out, and over 350 cave entrances have been recorded within the complex. It is believed the cave system is interconnected. But not all the connections have been located and the exact configuration of the caves is not yet known.

7 Blue Mountains experiences you should pre-book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

Scenic World tickets – combine dramatic train rides, cable cars & forest walks.
The Blue Mountains hop-on, hop-off bus – get around Katoomba and Leura’s top sites hassle-free.
Guided stargazing with an astrophysicist – learn how to read the clear night skies.
Give canyoning a try – jumping, climbing and sliding through Empress Canyon.
Take a half day abseiling adventure – in the Blue Mountains National Park.
Indulge in a local produce tasting experience – with beers, wines & meats.
Get adventurous – on a 4WD tour to the world’s second largest canyon.

Jenolan Caves: The oldest caves in the world

These massive limestone caverns have been carved out by rivers over millions of years. But research conducted in 2006 shocked scientists. They found that the caverns of Jenolan are a lot older than anyone had previously imagined. When you step inside the Jenolan Caves, you are going 340 million years into the past.

Arrival at the cave complex comes via come through a massive limestone arc that gives way to what looks like a little Swiss Alpine village. This is the starting point for exploring the many caves in the area. All day, tours run through them – they’re graded in difficulty. In real terms, this is measured in how many steps you have to walk up and down – this is hardly strenuous exploration.

The limestone arch entrance to Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Jenolan Caves tours: Chifley Cave

The Chifley Cave, discovered in 1880, makes for an excellent all-rounder. The first explorers came in by candlelight, but it was later the first cave in the world to get electricity. A garish array of coloured lighting once lit up the cave, but now much of it has been taken out. The theory is that it’s better to let the unusual majesty of the cave speak for itself.

The deeper into the cave you go on this Jenolan Caves tour, the more beautiful the crystal formations get. There are big shawls, and chunks that look like dragons hanging above the stairs. Much of the fun comes from working out what the formations remind you of, whether tortured faces or human noses.

The quirks have formed over thousands of years, with slow-dripping water gradually depositing slivers of stone. Untouched, they will continue to grow until gravity or earthquakes take their toll.

5 fab ways to explore: Which Blue Mountains tour should I book?

There are dozens of Blue Mountains day tours leaving Sydney every day. The best choice will come down to personal preference and what’s included. Almost all include Echo Point and the Three Sisters – it’s just the rest of the itinerary that varies. These tours are the best bets.

Good value tour including Featherdale Wildlife Park, Scenic World & Parramatta River cruise.
Similar itinerary, but with small group and lunch included.
Wildlife-focused tour including Calmsley Hill City Farm, Govetts Leap lookout & Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
Small group tour including bushwalks, Featherdale, Glenbrook lookouts and Govetts Leap.
Crowd-avoiding sunset tour including Euroka campground kangaroos & Wentworth Falls bushwalk.

Jenolan Caves tours: Lucas Cave

Lucas Cave is the most visited of the Jenolan Caves, and it is for a good reason. Amongst the stalagmites and stalactites are sparkling crystals, massive columns and shawls.

Walking through, your jaw permanently sets to gawp. The lighting is now electric, but set up in a way that highlights the best bits. It complements the formations rather than just blinding everyone, movie-set style.

One chamber of the cave is called the cathedral, largely because it looks a bit like one. It has been the scene of many a wedding and, bizarrely, classical music recital. The acoustics are amazing, as you’ll find out when the tour guide blasts out an orchestral version of Metallica through the sound system.

Best tours at Jenolan Caves

Lucas Cave and Chifley Cave are probably the two tours you should pick at Jenolan Caves if you’re not a cave obsessive. If you want to see more, then you can add on Orient Cave, the Temple of Baal or Imperial Cave. The latter is the easiest tour.

The tour of Lucas Cave takes around an hour and a half. It’s fairly strenuous, with 910 stair steps over 860 metres. The Lucas Cave tour cost $42.

The tour of Chifley Cave is suitable for those of average fitness. There are 421 stair steps over 690 metres. The Chifley Cave tour takes about an hour, and costs $42. Two and three cave packages are available via the Jenolan Caves website.

How to get to the Jenolan Caves

The Jenolan Caves are further away from Sydney than other Blue Mountains hotspots such as walking hub Katoomba and Breenhold Gardens. They’re nearer Oberon, the RedGround truffle-hunting experience and Mayfield Garden. Practically, you’ll need a car to get there, and the Sydney to Oberon drive takes around three hours.