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Recently we shared with you our relaxing retreat at Yarrangobilly Caves House in the northern part of the Snowy Mountains.
I could have easily stayed in the Yarrangobilly Caves House for the entire stay, I was so happy and comfortable there, but this area of the Snowy Mountains region is stunning and begs to be explored.
So we went out and did just that.
What to do at Yarrangobilly Caves
Tour the Yarrangobilly Caves
We only had time to view the self-guided Glory Hole Cave, and the Jersey Cave. Both of which offered something so unique, but both exquisitely beautiful and pristine.
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.
Glory Hole 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.
Cave tours:
- Glory Hole – $15 adult
- Guided tours of Jersey and Jillebenean – $20
Swim in the Thermal Pools
At 27 degrees temperature year round, the thermal pools are the perfect place for a refreshing swim during the hot summer months.
I was not game enough to swim during our visit, as it was about 15 degrees on the outside and 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.
Yarrangobilly River Walk
The Yarrangobilly River Walk is an easy 3km loop road.
Start from the Caves House and walk to the thermal pools. Enjoy a little swim and then follow the River Walk signs. Look for platypus in the river as you can sometimes spot these shy creatures.
The walk will take you to the Glory Hole 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. Craig loved chatting with Shane about his bush tours and learning how to sharpen stones and make rope.
We definitely want to return to this area to experience more of the traditional Aboriginal culture, which as Shane says, is for everyone to share.
The Long Plain Drive
When I heard wild brumbies were in the area, I booked us in for a drive.
The Long Plain drive is only opened during the summer months. We saw mobs of brumbies, many with foals. It felt as if we were driving through the American prairies, not in Australia – I love how my country keeps surprising me.
Along the drive you can stop to see a small babbling brook, which is actually the beginnings of the Murrumbidgee River, Australia’s 3rd biggest. And there are old homesteads, the most impressive being Coolamine Homestead, to visit for an historical look into isolated ranch life.
And we saw kangaroos.
The Clarke Gorge Walk.
The Snowy Mountains will surprise you with diversity around every corner. The Clark Gorge is a pretty gorge found at the end of the 2.5km return walk.
Yarrangobilly Caves is such a treasure hidden in the valley in the northern part of Mt Kosciusko National Park.
As we were driving out the one way road, I was already planning when we can come back. This time, I’m staying for at least a week. And then maybe the next time, I might come back during the winter to see it in a different snow covered light.
My only question is, Why had I never heard of Yarrangobilly Caves before?
[ybox_title] The Facts: [/ybox_title]
Places to Stay: Yarrangobilly Caves House
- 1901 section – From $180 per wing
- 1917 section – From $90 per room
Getting There
Yarrangobilly Caves House is located within northern Kosciuszko National Park, 5km down a one-way gravel road off the Snowy Mountains Highway, 88km from Tumut and 114km from Cooma.
The park entrance fee to access Yarrangobilly Caves House is $3 per day per vehicle. Purchase your entrance fee at the Visitor Centre upon arrival.
