Tropical North Queensland boasts a range of stunning limestone caves that offer visitors a unique and captivating experience. Some of the notable caves in the region include Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park, featuring spectacular limestone caves, Aboriginal rock art galleries, jagged limestone outcrops, and a historically significant mining site. Visitors can explore Donna, Trezkinn, and Royal Arch caves on ranger-guided tours, encountering spotted pythons and various insects and spiders.
The Atherton Tablelands house a remarkable cave system formed by ancient coral reefs, with the Chillagoe Caves showcasing more than 700 caves formed from a vast reef system, some stretching over 10 km. The Archways, lined with maidenhair ferns, are open for self-guided exploration, while Pompeii Cave offers opportunities to spot rock wallabies. The Royal Arch Cave presents a 90-minute guided tour through its 11 chambers, providing hand-held lamps for exploration.
Local Indigenous people have utilized the caves for over 35,000 years, with some still containing chipping rocks, quartz knives, and cave paintings. Guided tours offer the best way to delve into these fascinating systems, offering an immersive experience of the region's natural and cultural heritage.