Chillagoe Caves tours, Queensland: Cost & location

The three Chillagoe Caves tours in the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, Queensland, take in spectacular limestone formations and some unexpected wildlife.

The Chillagoe Caves are the centrepiece of the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park in far north Queensland. Near the small town of Chillagoe, these caves were once coral reefs. But over 400 million years, they have eroded, tilted and folded into what we see today.

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And what we see today is a series of spectacular caves, packed with eye candy rock formations.

Three of the Chillagoe Caves are accessible to the public. The Donna, Trezkinn and Royal Arch caves can be explored on ranger-guided tours. Each of these far north Queensland caves has something slightly different to offer.

Chillagoe Caves in Far North Queensland. Photo courtesy of Destination and Events Queensland.

Chillagoe Caves, Queensland: Donna Cave tour

The Donna Cave tour is one hour long, and involves walking for around 830 metres from the car park. Within that 830 metres are lots of steps, some of them ladder-style. You’ll also have to walk crouched or bent over for about 12 metres. The rewards include calcite crystals, stunning columns, and a cave decoration that looks like the Madonna.

Trezkinn Cave has a similar level of difficulty, with similar numbers of awkward steps. Once inside, there’s a steel catwalk around a massive central chunk of limestone. The big chandelier formation is the star attraction, however.

Chillagoe Caves: Royal Arch Cave tour

The third cave tour at Chillagoe Caves visits the Royal Arch Cave. This is an easier, but longer tour. The total walk is about 1.3km long. There are just under 400 steps, but they’re not ladder-style. There are also some low overhangs to negotiate.

The Royal Arch Cave Tour passes through eleven chambers, punctuated by flitting bats, shafts of light, marine fossils dating back millions of years and big limestone formations.

Chillagoe Caves tour costs

The Chillagoe Caves tours run at different times of the day, meaning you can do all three in a row if you wish. To do all three tours costs $59.63. Otherwise, it’s $29.70 for one tour or $47.40 for two.

The Chillagoe Caves are to the west of the Atherton Tableland, in Queensland’s Mareeba Shire. Expect a 149km drive from Mareeba to the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park. It takes just under two hours. From Cairns, it’s 211km or two hours and 48 minutes. You can book a day tour if you don’t want to drive, and the tour also stops at Granite Gorge on the way.