Yarrangobilly Caves

Yarrangobilly Caves are a series of independent limestone caves located in a 12-kilometre-long karst region along the Yarrangobilly River valley in the north of Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales, Australia.

Discovered by British colonists, the caves have been formed over different time periods, ranging from several million to a few hundred thousand years old. The older caves are located in higher strata and have more speleothem decoration.

The Yarrangobilly Caves were formed in 440-million-year-old limestone, and were discovered by Europeans in 1834 when a stockman named John Bowman came across the complex. Leo James Hoad was associated with the caves from 1904 to 1950, serving as the official caretaker of the caves from 1919 until 1946. He discovered the Jillabenan Cave in 1910. The largest building on the site is Caves House, which was built in 1901 when the caves were the most popular resort in New South Wales. It can be booked as accommodation for groups of visitors.

Three lit show caves are regularly open to visitors in the Yarrangobilly Caves complex. The first cave, South Glory Cave, is a self-guided cave with a path length of 470 metres, including 206 steps plus ramps. Jersey Cave is noted for its rare displays of black and grey flowstone, coloured by ash from ancient bushfires. The path length is 185 metres and includes 217 steps. Jillabenan Cave features soda straw stalactites, flowstone shawls, cave coral and helictites. The path length is 73 metres with 15 stairs