Jenolan Caves

Orient Cave

Useful Information

Location:	182 km west of Sydney
Open:	All year Mon-Fri 9:30, 13:30, Sat, Sun 9:30, 11:15, 13:30. Additional tours during NSW school holidays and on some long weekends. [2009]
Fee:	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:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=20,000 m, VR=200 m, A=790 m asl, T=16 °C.
Guided tours:	D=90 min, L=450 m, St=358.
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

1904	discovered by James Carvosso Wiburd, Jack Edwards, and Robert Bailey.
28-DEC-1917	opened to the public.
1954	Binoomea Cut built.
2009	reopened after renovation.

Description

Orient Cave is entered through Binoomea Cut, an artificial tunnel built in 1954. Binoomea is a word of the local aborigines meaning dark hole in the ground. The highlight is the Persian Chamber, virtually every square centimetre covered by stalactites, stalagmites, and shalws in all shades of brown and orange. The 30 m high chamber contains the Pillar of Hercules, the tallest stalagmite at Jenolan, 10 m tall. The nearby Indian Chamber hosts the Indian Canopy, which is the logo of the Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust.

The cave was first explored and named by James Carvosso Wiburd and Jack Edwards. They were educated men and named the cave after things they knew from books. The three main chambers were called Persian Chamber, Egyptian Chamber and Indian Chamber because of The Voyages Of Sinbad.

The cave was completely renovated in 2008 and 2009 with new walkways and lighting. The new light uses LEDs to reduce the radiation of heat, which damages the cave. The renovation cost AUD 580,000 and was funded by the State Government.