The Jenolan Caves

After our big Blue Mountains day we decided to go native and enjoy a 'camping on the side of the road' experience on our way to the Jenolan Caves. That day we finally got around to purchasing the Camp 6 book (the campers Bible) which details every free campsite and rest stop in Australia. With the purchase price the equivalent of one night's camping in a Big4 campsite (they charge us an extra $10 each for Benny and Naomi, which is crazy for our two, who are only having two showers a week at the moment if they are lucky, the rest of the time a dip in the pool or a nearby lake is suffice;), if had paid for itself within a few hours. That night we were truly in the middle of nowhere. I can cope with no shower for a day or two, and I have actually been wearing the same shorts for four days now (hey, I don't know anyone in Australia, so it's ok:) but no service on my iPad? That is hard.

I never really understand people who love being completely alone, it always makes me just a little bit nervous. Call me old fashioned, but I like civilisation, I really do. Out there in the wild, I felt a bit exposed, you know, to the elements, to the wild...things.

But, the next day, we were still alive, we had survived - get that Bear Grylls - we survived, in our fully equipped campervan with wine and chocolate and hot and cold running water. I was so proud. If I ever go to a job interview again in my life, and they ask me to tell them of my toughest challenge, I will regale the story of our Aussie off road experience with confidence and pride (and a bit of colourful exaggeration for good measure;).

The next day we drove down a very long hill (like the Rimutakas in reverse) into a rainy valley and did not come across another vehicle all the way. It was rainy and misty and ghostly and ghouly, but at the same time as wishing life would appear, we were kind of glad there were no other vehicles, as it was an 8km road of windy one lane driving, with a mountain on one side and a sheer drop to oblivion on the other.

Eventually, after what seemed like years, we came to a large rock, which we were obviously expected to drive through...




...and on the other side, life! Crazy life! Tour groups and tour buses (?) and tickets and credit card machines and coffee and internet! Wooohoooooo!!!!





We had reached the Jenolan caves!

They have been there for millions and millions of years - and still no one has created a better way of getting there! We asked the lady at the ticket office, 'Is there another way to getting here?' 'Yes', she said brightly, 'Ahhh, is it a better road that the one we came in on?'. 'No', she said, even more brightly. What is with this place? Where do all the staff live - in the cave???

We took a guided tour in the Orient Cave, and it was spectacular. It is hard to believe that this truly natural phenomenon has been there for so long and is changing and evolving so gradually. Some of the caves are so large, they even hold concerts in them.























Don't forget, stalactites hold 'tight' to the ceiling and stalagmites 'might' reach the ceiling - you will always remember now:)

In the gift shop we overheard the the school tour bus was leaving at 2.30pm so we took the opportunity to quickly jump into the van and tailgate it back up the hill, then if we did meet any cars, the bus could deal with them rather than us, rather like following an ambulance when you're in a rush, aren't we cunning?




And it did happen, more than once!

Crazy roads, but worth the caves, and definitely worth the story;)

Love
Est xxx