Newdegate Cave

Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs


Useful Information

Location: 2 km from Hastings.
125 km south of Hobart on the Huon Highway (A6). Just after the Southport turnoff on the C636, take the Hastings Cave Road (C635), a well-maintained gravel road which will take you to the Visitor Centre. 5 min walk from car park.
(-43.380661, 146.843164)
Open: 26-DEC to JAN 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
FEB to APR daily 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
MAY to SEP daily 11:30, 12:30, 14, 15.
OCT to 24-DEC daily 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
Visitor Centre and thermal pool:
26-DEC to JAN 9-17.
FEB to APR daily 10-16.
MAY to SEP daily 10:30-16.
OCT to 24-DEC daily 10-16.
Booking strongly recommended up to 14 days prior.
Arrive at the Visitor Centre 45 minutes before allocated time.
[2021]
Fee: Cave: Adults AUD 24, Children (4-17) AUD 12, Children (0-3) free, Seniors AUD 19.20, Family (2+3) AUD 60.
Thermal spring: Adults AUD 5, Children (4-17) AUD 2.50, Children (0-3) free, Seniors AUD 4, Family (2+3) AUD 12.
[2021]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:  
Guided tours: D=45 min, St=500.
Photography:  
Accessibility:  
Bibliography: (2004): Newgate Cave, a new show cave, Chelsea Speleological Society Newsletter, Vol 46 (10) 87, Oct 2004.
Address: Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs, 754 Hastings Caves Road, Hastings TAS 7109, Tel: +61-3-6298-3209. E-mail:
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

1850 Hastings came into existence as timber workers pushed further into forests.
1917 a group of timber workers discovered three limestone caves.
1939 opened to the public.

Description

Named after Sir Francis Newdegate, the Governor of Tasmania from 1917-1920, Newdegate Cave is the largest tourist cave in Australia which occurs in dolomite, rather than limestone.

On one level Newdegate Cave is not particularly special, however there is one area of the cave (Titania's Palace) which is simply breathtaking. Located at the end of a large, and fairly ordinary, cavern, Titania's Palace is a genuine wonderland of stalagmites and stalactites which has earned Newdegate Cave a reputation as one of the most beautiful caves in the country.


Text by Tony Oldham (2004). With kind permission.

The cave is generally known as Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs, although the name of the cave is actually namey Newdegate Cave. Guided tours of Newdegate Cave are led by Parks and Wildlife Service staff. The cave is known for beautiful speleothems, especially helictites. The cave is spacious and there are no narrow passages, but the light level is low. Nearby is a thermal springs pool which is open all day. The mineral rich natural thermal spring water has 28 °C.