Jenolan Caves

Imperial Cave

Useful Information

Location:	182 km west of Sydney
Open:	All year Mon-Fri 11, 14:30, 17:30, Sat, Sun 11, 13:30, 14:30, 17:30. Additional tours during NSW school holidays and on some long weekends. [2009]
Fee:	Diamond Cave: Adults AUD 27, Children (6-12) AUD 18.50, Children (0-5) free, Family (2+3) AUD 65. Imperial-Diamond Cave: Adults AUD 35, Children (6-12) AUD 25, Children (0-5) free, Family (2+3) AUD 80. Groups (+): Adults AUD , Children (3-18) AUD . [2009]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	Electric.
Dimension:	L=20,000 m, VR=200 m, A=790 m asl, T=16 °C. L=490 m.
Guided tours:	Diamond Cave: D=90 min, L=1070 m, St=358. Imperial-Diamond Cave: D=90 min, L=1270 m, St=418.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust, P.O.Box 1495, Bathurst. NSW 2795. Littlebourne St, Kelso (Bathurst) NSW 2795, Tel: (063) 32 5888 (office), Fax: (063) 32 9399 Jenolan Caves, Jenolan Caves. NSW 2790, Phone: (063) 59 3311, Fax: (063) 59 3307
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1879	discovered by Jeremiah Wilson.
1975	archaeologic excavation revealed bones of Tasmanian devil and Wallaby.
2004	new light systems with energy saving lamps.

Description

This tour shows two caves, Imperial Cave and Diamond Cave. Actually there are two different tours, one showing only Imperial, and one showing both caves. Diamond Cave tour adds half an hour to the one jour Imperial Cave tour. Both caves are extremely level, with only a few steps and thus ideal for elderly or disabled people. There is also an optional branch down a 66 step spiral staircase to the northern Jenolan Underground River.

The tour follows a passage with various formation, there is no big chamber on the whole tour. Therefore, this tour focuses on speleothems, which are diverse and abundant. There are calcite crystals, shawls, rimstone pools, and more. This is expressed in names like Shawl Room, Crystal Cities, Diamond Cave, and Fairies Bower.

There is a skeleton of a Tasmanian devil on display, which has been found in this cave in 1975. It tells that this animal once lived in Australia, not only in Tasmania as today.