Today we went for a drive to Yarrangobilly Caves. We had planned to leave our campsite early, but Toby slept in, and in, and in. He had had a bit of a fever overnight so I wasn’t suprised that he slept late, particularly given his exhausting day yesterday. He was still hot when he woke up, but he didn’t seem unwell so we went ahead with our plans.
We made it to the caves at around 11:30 after a couple of stops for a motion sick Toby and another stop for a play at the playground in Adaminaby. We bought tickets for the 1:45 tour of Jillabenan cave. Tickets were $20 per adult and kids less than school age free. We ate our lunch in a picnic area that had a big shelter complete with free electric BBQs, kitchen for washing and even power points.
The cave was small, but the formations were beautiful. There were lots of delicate little stalactites hanging from the ceiling, some water pools with formations happening at their edges, stalagmites and columns and even a shawl or two. The tour went for about 45 minutes, and we were shown stones with fossils of sea creatures, a sign of the coral reef that the area used to be. There was also a column that had been cut in half, and it was so interesting because you could see the original stalagmite that was engulfed when the stalactite met it to form the column. The cave was said to be 2 million years old.
When the cave tour was over we drove to the carpark for the thermal springs and walked the 700 metres down a steep track to the swimming pools which are a constant 27 degrees celcius. I only had to carry Toby the last bit, but was already dreading the walk back up to the car! Nathan and Andrew had a great swim in the deep pool (2.5 metres maximum depth) while I dangled my legs in the water and held a very tired Toby who dozed. We saw a little water dragon and Nathan told me he’d seen it swim across a corner of the pool! I had a little swim with Nathan after Andrew got out, and it was really nice. There was a lot of algae growing on the edges of the pool and weeds growing in the bottom.
It was an exhausting trip back to the car carrying Toby the entire way. But we made it, of course. We drove back to our tent site, stopping at Adaminaby for dinner at the pub and a photo with the giant trout.
Wow, I have always meant to go there, but never gotten around to it. Now I have to go. Would it be a good place to get a camp site near-by?
andrew answering (logged in as christine) yes, lots of camp spots (tent / etc in national parks) and caravan parks just north in/near tummit. blue waters?? i cant seem to find it, its in the national park..