The Ten Best Caves to Visit Near Sydney
Crawl out of your living room cave and into these awe-inspiring ones.
Within a couple of hours' drive of Sydney, there are hidden caves for cooling off in, huge sandstone caves for camping (with 50 or so of your closest mates), beachside caves for picnicking, tunnel caves for meeting glow worms in and river caves for swimming.
In short, there are a lot of caves, even if you won't run into them when tucked up in town. However, these primeval landmarks are ripe for adventure – and often closer than you'd think. Here are the ten best caves near Sydney we think you should visit.
Recommended reads:
The Best Swimming Holes in Sydney
The Best Hikes in Sydney
The Best Coastal Walks in Sydney
The Best Rivers for Swimming in Sydney
Caves Beach, Lake Macquarie
Caves Beach is no misnomer. This magical shoreline is famous for the labyrinth of caves found at its southern end. They're only explorable at low tide, so be sure to time your visit according to the charts. Whether the sun gets a little hot or the wind picks up, you can find a serene refuge inside these monumental lairs.
You'll find Caves Beach 130 kilometres north of Sydney, just south of Swansea Heads, which is where Lake Macquarie joins the sea. Plus, a handful of charming restaurants and cafes are just up the beach. Bring some camping supplies — and a good book — and camp out until the tide starts to change.
Dee Kramer for Destination NSW
Cave Beach, Jervis Bay
Not to be confused with the aforementioned Caves Beach, Cave Beach is located on the other side of Sydney in Booderee National Park — about a three-hour drive south of Sydney. As well as its namesake cave at the western end of the beach, it is known for its turquoise waters, primed for snorkelling, surfing and swimming.
If planning on spending the night there, you'll find a secluded campsite 300 metres from the beach. While waking up to the sound of the ocean is already idyllic, this break is a choice destination for beginner surfers, thanks to its soft rolling waves. Meanwhile, a friendly kangaroo troupe regularly wanders through to graze on the grass.
Pindar Cave, Brisbane Water
Contemplating a cave party? Pindar Cave might well be your first choice. It's an enormous overhang made of sandstone that can accommodate as many as 50 explorers at once. And you're perfectly welcome to stay the night, with this vast sheltered space helping to keep you dry and warm if the weather turns south.
To reach Pindar, jump on a Central Coast or Newcastle-bound train to Wondabyne Station. From there, the cave is located about two hours on foot. If you're driving up, there are several places to park your car before venturing into the national park. While a little more effort than others on this list, Pindar Cave certainly won't disappoint.
Daniel Tran via Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Glow Worm Tunnel, Wollemi National Park
Strictly speaking, this isn't a cave. It's a 400-metre-long, disused train tunnel that used to form part of the Wolgan Valley Railway. Glow Worm Tunnel may be rocky and dark, but there are stacks of glow worms hidden within. So we could hardly be expected to leave it off the list. You'll find it about 30 kilometres northeast of Lithgow. The best way to arrive is via a five-kilometre stroll along what used to be the railway, which you can even work into an overnight hike. But if you're short on time, drive further and reduce the walk to just one kilometre.
While you're there, please avoid flashing torches, smoking, lighting fires, making a racket and, most importantly, touching the glow worms — they're fragile creatures and easily killed. And if you want to explore the area over a few days, we recommend staying at this local treehouse accommodation – it offers the ideal base amongst the gum trees when off making bioluminescent discoveries.
Aidan Casey via Flickr
Palona Cave, Royal National Park
Made of limestone, Palona Cave stands out in the mostly sandstone Royal National Park as it comes with exotic furnishings like stalagmites and stalactites. That also means it's a lovely place to cool off, made even more refreshing by a nearby waterfall cascading through the rainforest (to find it, follow the track another 20 metres).
Getting to Palona Cave involves walking or cycling a couple of kilometres along the relatively flat Lady Carrington Drive (rom the crossroads with Sir Bertram Stevens Drive), just an hour's drive from Sydney.
Steve via Flickr
Fig Tree Cave, Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve
The Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve's caves are a dazzling series of natural limestone structures. The most visited is Fig Tree Cave, which can be explored via a self-guided tour, and is crowded with all kinds of striking 'cave furniture', from stalagmites and stalactites to helictites and cave coral.
Leave yourself enough time to swim in the stunning Wombeyan Gorge, and pay attention to your surroundings, as this part of the world is a haven for endangered creatures. You can always stay the night too, as there's a campground, cabins and private accommodation. The Wombeyan Caves are in the Southern Highlands, about 250 kilometres southwest of Sydney.
River Caves Canyon, Newnes Plateau
Even though River Caves is a canyon, you don't need abseiling skills to visit. All you have to do is walk in. That said, you can expect to get your knees – and maybe even your thighs – wet, as most of the trail is more of a creek. But chances are you'll be so awed by the towering sandstone walls surrounding you that you'll hardly notice.
River Caves Canyon is on the Newnes Plateau in the Gardens of Stone National Park, about 180 kilometres northwest of Sydney. Navigating your way there can be tricky, but there are some helpful instructions over here. Pack a dry change of clothes and some water shoes if you happen to have some handy.
Adam J.W.C. via Wikimedia Commons
Wind Cave, Blue Mountains
This extraordinary structure is the creation of wind erosion. As a result, the walls are covered in tiny, intricate formations that have the colour and look of honeycomb. Being far taller than it is deep, it feels a bit like a giant's picnic spot. The views are beautiful, incorporating the Grose Valley and Mount Banks.
To reach Wind Cave, head to Blackheath and take Hat Hill Road all the way to the end, before following the signs leading to Anvil Rock. From there, it's only a 200-metre walk from the carpark. If you have the option, timing your visit with sunset means catching the vast landscape as it bursts to life in golden hues.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Red Hands Cave, Ku-Ring-Gai National Park
The Red Hands Cave is one of Ku-ring-gai National Park's most well-known sites for Indigenous heritage, not to mention one of the best preserved. On the walls, you'll see colourful ochre handprints that were pressed onto the rocky surface as far back as 1,600 years ago. According to local historians, the ancient artists would chew a mixture of ochre and water, then blow it over their resting hand to form a stencil.
Red Hands Cave is a short walk from Resolute Picnic Area in Ku-ring-gai's West Head section. For a longer journey, continue along the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, a nearly five-kilometre loop featuring more art, engravings and a historic shelter that culminates with the enchanting Resolute Beach.
Note: Red Hands Cave is temporarily closed for works, with no scheduled reopening date confirmed.
Destination NSW
Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains
Needless to say, we couldn't exclude this classic. In Jenolan Caves, 175 kilometres west of Sydney, you'll discover some of the most ridiculously beautiful rocks on the planet. There are nine caves altogether, filled with limestone formations, pristine underground rivers and secret chambers.
The only way to visit is by tour. Choose the cave that most appeals to you — take it easy with a one-hour Imperial Cave Tour or get an adrenaline hit on an abseiling escapade. Either way, impressive lighting and walkways make it easier to get a clear and up-close experience with the cave's millennia-old features.
Note: Jenolan Caves are currently closed due to flooding and major road repairs, with a reopening date yet to be confirmed.
Top image: Andrew Harvey via Flickr.
