Jenolan Caves - Jubilee Cave Tour
Tour Length : 2.0 hour
Number of steps : 679 steps
Tour Size : 16 people
Click here for a map of the Jubilee Cave
Difficulty : For many people this is probably the hardest of the standard tours. There are lots of steps and many areas where you have to walk in a crouched position. On the other hand, the hardship is worth it
General Tips : Go on this tour after you have seen one or two other caves. Do this and it is very hard to do another tour which measures up to the quality of decoration. Not a good tour if you don't enjoy confined spaces
Summary
The Jubilee Cave is a real treasure trove of formation. Delicately tinted flowstones cover the walls whilst fine helictites decorate the walls. The approach is through the Imperial Cave although little time is spent inspecting this cave due to the amount of cave seen in the Jubilee. The cave was found in 1893 by Jeremiah Wilson and is the longest of all the Jenolan Cave tours. It was named the Jubilee as it was found in the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria's reign.
Points of Inspection
Ridleys Shortcut - The entrance to the Jubilee Cave is through the Imperial Cave. Ridleys Shortcut is the passageway down which the first explorers made their way to discover this cave system.
Cooks Cavern - The first chamber that is inspected in the Jubilee, it is named after Joseph Cook who was member for Hartley, in which Jenolan is situated and who went on to become Prime Minister. The cave instantly branches into two sections from this chamber. The right branch is usually inspected first.
The Pincushion - A very delicate cluster of helictites. The Jubilee Cave is the best cave tour at Jenolan to see helictites at close proximity.
Victoria Bower - A steep steel staircase brings one to Victoria Bower, named after Queen Victoria. By this point in the tour the visitor is starting to become overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of cave decoration. A return is made to Cooks Cavern from this point.
Marble Arch - The left branch soon leads to the marble arch. This is a cave passage which leads away from the path that is fringed in white stalactites.
Whales Throat - The tunnel continues winding its way through the mountain to a point known as the Whales Throat. This is a small tunnel with a row of stalactites running directly down the centre, conjuring up an image of gazing directly down the throat of a whale.
Alabaster Hall - The tunnel becomes quite small at times, requiring the tour group to crouch down and almost waddle its way to the end of the cave, an area known as Alabaster Hall. This area boasts not just white formations but brilliant orange crystal as well. A return is started back to Cooks Cavern.
Water Cavern - halfway back to Cooks Cavern a detour is made down a steep flight of steps into the Water Cavern. This is the northernmost part of the show cave system. If there has been a lot of rain there is the chance the creek will be seen flowing through this area, otherwise it is rare to see water in this area.
Number of steps : 679 steps
Tour Size : 16 people
Click here for a map of the Jubilee Cave
Difficulty : For many people this is probably the hardest of the standard tours. There are lots of steps and many areas where you have to walk in a crouched position. On the other hand, the hardship is worth it
General Tips : Go on this tour after you have seen one or two other caves. Do this and it is very hard to do another tour which measures up to the quality of decoration. Not a good tour if you don't enjoy confined spaces
Summary
The Jubilee Cave is a real treasure trove of formation. Delicately tinted flowstones cover the walls whilst fine helictites decorate the walls. The approach is through the Imperial Cave although little time is spent inspecting this cave due to the amount of cave seen in the Jubilee. The cave was found in 1893 by Jeremiah Wilson and is the longest of all the Jenolan Cave tours. It was named the Jubilee as it was found in the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria's reign.
Points of Inspection
Ridleys Shortcut - The entrance to the Jubilee Cave is through the Imperial Cave. Ridleys Shortcut is the passageway down which the first explorers made their way to discover this cave system.
Cooks Cavern - The first chamber that is inspected in the Jubilee, it is named after Joseph Cook who was member for Hartley, in which Jenolan is situated and who went on to become Prime Minister. The cave instantly branches into two sections from this chamber. The right branch is usually inspected first.
The Pincushion - A very delicate cluster of helictites. The Jubilee Cave is the best cave tour at Jenolan to see helictites at close proximity.
Victoria Bower - A steep steel staircase brings one to Victoria Bower, named after Queen Victoria. By this point in the tour the visitor is starting to become overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of cave decoration. A return is made to Cooks Cavern from this point.
Marble Arch - The left branch soon leads to the marble arch. This is a cave passage which leads away from the path that is fringed in white stalactites.
Whales Throat - The tunnel continues winding its way through the mountain to a point known as the Whales Throat. This is a small tunnel with a row of stalactites running directly down the centre, conjuring up an image of gazing directly down the throat of a whale.
Alabaster Hall - The tunnel becomes quite small at times, requiring the tour group to crouch down and almost waddle its way to the end of the cave, an area known as Alabaster Hall. This area boasts not just white formations but brilliant orange crystal as well. A return is started back to Cooks Cavern.
Water Cavern - halfway back to Cooks Cavern a detour is made down a steep flight of steps into the Water Cavern. This is the northernmost part of the show cave system. If there has been a lot of rain there is the chance the creek will be seen flowing through this area, otherwise it is rare to see water in this area.
