A TOUR OF TASMANIA VIA ITS MAGICAL CAVES

After an absence of many years, my partner Rob and I returned to Tasmania, where we both grew up. While we were staying on the North West Coast we went to see Gunns Plains caves. My first visit was in 1958; the climax of a painfully slow Sunday drive in my father’s old Dodge utility. Located approximately 20 km inland from the coastal town of Ulverstone, the fertile plains were originally cleared by local Aborigines, to assist in hunting. Co-incidently, the caves themselves were discovered by a shooting party in 1906, after a possum vanished down a hole like Alice’s White Rabbit.

As we purchased our tickets a small boy gave me a smug smile and said; ‘Well I know the difference between stalagmites and stalactites and I know how to spell them, too’. I told him I didn’t, and with great glee he explained; ‘ There’s ag’ in stalagmites because they grow up from the ground and there’s a ‘c’ in stalactites because they hold tight to the ceiling.’   We intended visiting a number of caves during our stay, and I told him his information would be very helpful.  

I have since heard another way of remembering. If the mites go up my ‘tites’ come down. 😍

The limestone caves at Gunns Plains are slightly off the normal tourist route, but those who make the effort will be rewarded by superb formations, viewed at extremely close quarters. Highlights include the world’s largest ribbon stalactite and a dramatic flowstone known as the Golden Fleece. There is also a giant, multi-tiered ‘wedding cake’, its silver frosting created by a build-up of calcite crystals. The lower tiers of the ‘cake’ form what have been dubbed the organ pipes. Shamefully, every visitor was once allowed to  ‘play’ the pipes with a stick, producing a vaguely melodic sound. I confessed to having done so myself, and the child I had met at the ticket office was delighted when our guide pointed out the damage I helped cause! It was something of a relief when attention shifted to the underground stream running through the caves; home to eels, platypus and freshwater lobsters.

caves Tasmania limestone
The Glory of Gunns Plains Caves

Several days later we drove through the small town of Deloraine to visit Mole Creek Caves, which have long since gained the fame John West felt they deserved when he wrote The History of Tasmania, published in 1852; ‘About 15 miles from Deloraine, in the Western Mountains, are situated the great caves, which, in extent and beauty, perhaps equal subterranean wonders of more celebrity…’

Deloraine sits astride the trout filled Meander River, and was named for Sir William Deloraine, a romantic figure from the ballad Lady of the Last Minstrel by Sir Walter Scott. However, some locals prefer the suggestion that the name is a contraction of ‘great deal of rain’.

The ‘great caves’ John West spoke of are King Solomon’s and Marakoopa. We chose to visit the latter, for its stunning display of glow-worms; the largest in a public access cave anywhere in Australia. The glow-worms live in such a vast chamber that when the lights are turned out all sense of being underground vanishes. It is like standing in the outback looking at a star filled night sky. The experience is unforgettable, and quite moving.

glow-worms caves
The magic of glow-worms.

Marakoopa has two underground streams, hence the glowworms, which need moisture to survive. As a wet cave, it also features magical rim pools. One of the most outstanding features is a combination of pools and limestone formations which create a fantasy landscape. A stooped ‘human figure’ gives a sense of scale. The  King Solomon cave system is also very beautiful, featuring richly coloured formations. It was named for the quality and quantity of its reflective calcite crystals, which are said to sparkle like the diamonds of the fabled mine.

Dairy cows dot the surrounding hills at Mole Creek, which are honeycombed with caves; including one with an underground lake of around seven hectares. A rabbit burrowing too deeply here could find itself in very deep water.

Continuing south, we detoured to a very different cave at Chauncy Vale, 4km east of Bagdad. The community was named by explorer Hugh Germaine, who carried a copy of The Bible and Arabian Nights wherever he went. His exotic legacy includes names such as Jericho, Dromedary, Lake Tiberias, and the Jordan River.

Secluded Chauncy Vale was the home of well known Tasmanian children’s writer, Nan Chauncy (1900-1970), who wrote They Found a Cave (1948).

The adventure story was inspired by a sandstone cave on her land in which a bushranger once hid from his pursuers. After Chauncy’s death the 380 hectare property became a wildlife sanctuary. Birdlife is prolific, and wallabies casually hopped across our path through the unspoiled bush . Twenty minutes later we clambered up a series of rocky outcrops and were able to shelter in the cave during a sudden downpour. I was delighted to find fragrant, wild boronia flowering in crevices nearby. Even the most sophisticated, world weary children love secret places and discovering this cave will delight them, especially if they have read the book .

We were now quite close to Hobart, from where we made a 104km drive south to Hastings Caves. Timber  workers were sworn to secrecy when they stumbled upon the underground chambers in 1917. They were trespassing, and had to ‘rediscover’ the caves legitimately a few months later. The main public access cave is called Newdegate.  There is a real sense of history here, as along the path to the cave entrance are the fossil like stumps of the giant trees felled almost a century ago. They are covered in luminous green moss, and the deep notches cut to insert spars  are still clearly visible.

Hastings Caves formed in dolomite rock some 40 million years ago. In response to a question about the age of the formations, our guide told us that some are about two million years old. More graphically, she showed us an almost imperceptible smudge on the floor and explained that it was a twelve year old stalagmite. The chambers here are generally larger than those at Gunns plains and Mole Creek. Two of the most amazing features are the aptly named Titania’s Palace and a lofty, vaulted chamber known as the cathedral.

Tickets for Hastings Caves include access to a thermal springs nature walk. Where spring water enters the main creek a dabble of the fingers proves that hot and cold water flow side by side. Kids will be intrigued by hot and cold taps installed on a nearby railing. The spring waters have been channeled into a swimming pool where the temperature is a constant and comfortable 28º celsius. In chilly weather swimmers can dry off by an open fire in a massive stone fireplace.

The bliss of the thermal baths.

Finally, our subterranean tour took us to Remarkable Cave, located on remote Tasman Peninsula. 150 wooden steps lead to a tunnel shaped sea-cave, which is also a spectacular blowhole. It is an awesome place. The savagery of nature is a poignant reminder of the human suffering endured by prisoners at the harsh penal colony of Port Arthur, just 7 km north. Remarkable Cave made an appropriate finale to our journey from the north to the south of the State; the outline of rock at the cave mouth forms a heart-shaped  silhouette of Tasmania.


Deb Hunter is a caver and conservationist who runs adventure caving tours at Mole Creek. CLICK HERE for a link to her website.

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16 Comments
  1. That was magical, Pauline. I felt like I was there with you. Did you tell the little show off about the cave monsters that eat supercilious children?

  2. What a lovely journey, Pauline! I was at Rocky Whelan’s cave today – much less impressive than those you’ve been visiting, but still a fun place to break while wandering the Mountain. I know Rocky was quite notorious, but I like to think he was perhaps just misunderstood. Hopefully he doesn’t mind me borrowing his old homestead for my water breaks.

    Next time you’re in Tassie you’ll have to let me know so I can track you down and visit a cave with you! xxx

    • Pauline

      I am about to Google Rocky Whelan, Holly! Would be great to wander the mountain with you and find his cave.

  3. I have just spent a happy warm afternoon reading your fascinating article about Tasmanian caves. As someone born in Tasmania (!) I was completely ignorant about these gems. I googled every name, including that of Nan Chauncy who was born in Northwood where we now live. How spooky… I LOVE caves and mean to visit every one, especially those near Deloraine. Bushrangers, authors and glow worms, wow.

    • That is strange about Nan Chauncy being born In Northwood, I had no idea! You would love the Mole Creek Caves, especially the glow worm cavern. The blossom from around there is used to make leatherwood honey.

  4. How wonderful. You conjured up some incredible images for me whilst reading your article about the Tasmanian caves. And although I knew the difference between stalagmites and stalactites I was never able to remember which was which… and now you have made it easy for me to do so.
    You drew me in to your story so much that I now will research these caves to see if I can find any pictures. ( Especially of the glow-worms )

    • Thanks for your message Susan. I was very upset that I couldn’t find my photographs. I have seen a good one of the glow-worm cavern, but of course no pics really do it justice. I’ve never forgotten that child’s memory trick re the stalagmites and tights!

  5. love all these places. Last year our local cinema had a screening of the 1962 movie They Found a Cave, it was wonderful and i have since bought the book and will reread it

    • Pauline

      Thanks for your comment, Jenny. As a child I thought it was quite magical that someone had written about Tasmania.

  6. Wow, fabulous to have seen so many caves. If you had to recommend just one cave from Hastings, Gunn’s Plain, king Solimon or Marakoopa, which would it be? I have limited time and a strict budget so have to settle for just one. I accept that likes are subjective but your advice would be very helpful and much appreciated.

  7. Dear Pauline,
    Thanks for your interesting story! Yes, at Mole Creek Marakoopa is the finest of the show caves at Mole Creek.
    However there are “adventure” tours available as well.
    Mole Creek hosts caving club group every year that come to enjoy some of the 400+ undeveloped caves here.
    Your story is much more informative than the link:
    For information on adventure caving in Tasmania, CLICK HERE
    This page doesn’t give info on adventure tours available to the public. The video on the page is about our most famous Limited Access cave, which is not open to the public.
    However, conservationists and caving leaders from our club, the Mole Creek Caving Club, have been offering fully licensed tours in ‘wild” caves since 1990. These tours are not mentioned in official tourism promos.
    Will you include our tours?
    http://www.wildcavetours.com
    http://www.molecreekcavingclub.org
    [email protected]
    Kind regards,
    Deb

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