Nestled in the northern part of the Snowy Mountains is one of the most unique attractions in New South Wales, Yarrangobilly Caves.
These are the most beautiful limestone caves in all of Australia, and are known for their unique formations, lofty chambers, and thermal underground pools.
A visit to Yarrangobilly Caves isn’t just about seeing caves though, there is much more to see and explore here.
If you’re thinking of visiting Yarrangobilly Caves, here is a complete guide to everything you need to know.
About Yarrangobilly Caves
The Yarrangobilly Caves are a belt of limestone karst caves with awesome chambers, impressive stalagmites and stalagtites, and a thermal river running through them.
They were made over 440 million years ago, and are unique to the Yarrangobilly area. They are roughly 12 kilometres long, and were discovered by European settlers in 1834, by a stockman called John Bowman.
To visit this string of limestone caves, you need to pay park entry fees at the Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor’s Centre.
The Kosciuszko National Park day pass and annual pass is also valid for Yarrangobilly Caves.
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What to do at Yarrangobilly Caves
Now you know a little bit about the caves, here’s some of the exciting things you can do there!
Tour the Yarrangobilly Caves
There are several show caves you can see at Yarrangobilly, but most of them are only accessible by guided tour.
We only had time to view the self-guided and South Glory Cave, the largest cave in the area, which is accessible by a 470 metre long path and 206 steps.
We also visited the Jersey Cave, which at the time was self-guided but is now only accessible with a guided tour.
Both of which offered something so unique, but both exquisitely beautiful and pristine. Jersey Cave is famous for its black and grey flowstone, which was caused by ancient bushfires, and South Glory cave is famous for its unique formations.
North Glory cave shares an entrance with South Glory Cave, but this can only be entered on a guided tour, and since it’s famous for its impressive opening, we decided to just peek at it from the outside rather than pay to enter.
I’d given up visiting limestone caves, because most seemed to have traded their sparkles for drab, sad looking tourist traps. Not Yarrangobilly Caves.
They are quite active caves, so the formations are waxy and moist, you feel as if you’re walking through a pottery studio, with wet clay hard at work forming art masterpieces.
South Glory Cave is ice age looking with small corridors that open up to vast caverns. Jersey is an explosion of reds, oranges and pinks and intricately designed stalagmites and stalactites.
Kalyra was blown away by how fairy magical it all was. I was expecting pixies to come flying out myself.
Jillabenan Cave is a little further away from North and South Glory Cave, and is the smallest and most accessible cave. It’s only accessible on a guided tour and is known for its incredibly delicate formations, such as cave corals, soda straw stalactites, helictites and flowstone shawls.
Castle Cave tours are also available from the Visitor’s Centre and is ideal for birdwatchers.
Swim in the Yarrangobilly Thermal Pools
At 27 degrees temperature year round, the natural thermal pool nestled in the Rules Creek Valley, is the perfect place for a refreshing swim during the hot summer months.
The main pool is fed by a warm natural spring, which is surrounded by eucalypts and grassy areas, perfect for keen swimmers to enjoy year round.
There’s also a children’s wading pool.
I was not game enough to swim during our visit, as it was about 15 degrees on the outside and not the warmest weather, the water was just not hot enough to entice me down to a bikini.
Kalyra and Craig braved it, albeit shivering uncontrollably. They did feel very refreshed after.
The thermal pools are in a beautiful setting by the river and the perfect place to have a picnic, especially during the summer.
There are change rooms, toilets and a picnic area next to the pool, but remember to bring your own towels.
Yarrangobilly River Walk
The Yarrangobilly River Walk is an easy 3km loop road. Though the trail is natural surface to walking shoes are recommended.
Start from the Caves House and walk to the thermal pools, enjoy a little swim, and then follow the River Walk signs.
Look for the native wildlife, platypus, in the river as you can sometimes spot these shy creatures.
The walk will take you to the South Glory Cave, which in its ice age splendour will amaze you. The path takes you up to the top of the limestone cave, which spits you out back near Caves House.
Savannah had so much fun she walked, almost 1 km on her own, and took every step herself through the cave.
Aboriginal Discovery Tours
This tour is especially great with children. The guides, Shane and Tahlia, share the traditions of the local Aboriginal people and their way of life.
Kalyra loved learning to throw a boomerang and having her face painted with ochre.
Savannah wasn’t quite sure what to make of the kangaroo bouncing around within the didgeridoo.
