Nature Guide

Jenolan Caves

The Jenolan Caves are located in New South Wales. Take a look at the map below.

The Jenolan Caves

Natural Features

The natural features of a place or the natural environment includes everything that occurs naturally. All living things, climate, weather and natural resources (such as water) are all part of the natural environment.

The Jenolan caves are the oldest caves that are open to visit and explore in the world. Within the caves are many marine fossils.

The Caves were formed by water rising or flooding and dissolving the rocks away. Once the water drained back out to the lakes it has left beautiful, open caves that can now be explored. The Jenolan Caves consist of more than 40 kilometres of multi-level passage ways with over 300 entrances.

In 2000, the Greater Blue Mountains Area which included the Jenolan Caves was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage area. This means it is a landmark that has a cultural, historical or scientifical significance that is important and should be protected.

Native Animals

The Jenolan Caves itself are so dark that they have barely any wildlife living in them, this is because it is too dark for any food sources to grow. The Jenolan native bushland area has many wildlife species that live there.

Take a read below to find out more about some of these animals.

BATS

Bats are the only animal that ever comes in or out of the Jenolan Caves. They are the only animal that likes the environment of dark and empty. There are 16 species of bat that live in the Jenolan Caves for short periods at a time. Unfortunately, 5 of these species are endangered. The Eastern bentwing-bat is one of the most commonly found bats in the Jenolan Caves.

The Eastern Bentwing bat lives in families up to 150,000 bats. This bat is normally a chocolate to reddish brown colour with slightly lighter stomach. They are very small at only 6cm tall with their wings stretching out to 30cm (the length of a ruler). The eastern bentwing-bat can reach speeds up to 50km per hour when fling. They use their very clever eyesight and hearing ability to direct them and catch insects in the air.

The eastern bentwing-bat lives in the Jenolan Caves. They are nocturnal animals, this makes spotting the bat very difficult. Bats do not like much noise either, it is unlikely to see them in the open caves due to the amount of people coming through. If you look out for one and are lucky you might see one!

PLATYPUS

A platypus is an Australian animal that lives in lakes at streams. It has a bill similar to a duck and has sharp claws. A platypus is often a hard animal to spot, they tend to hide in small rock caves in lakes.

At the entrance of the Jenolan Caves is a beautiful, clear lake called Blue Lake. Blue Lake is the home to a very friendly platypus.

If you are patient, quiet and very lucky, you might even see him swim right on by.

LYRE BIRD

During the day in the areas surrounding the Jenolan Caves. One of the most popular birds to see here is the Lyre Bird. The lyre bird has a spectacular tail of fanned feathers.

A lyre bird can grow up to 100cm long with more than half of that being their tail. They are dark brown in colour with some lighter brown and red feathers. A lyre bird will not grow its beautiful tails until they are three or four years old.

Lyre birds eat insects, frogs, spiders and others they might find in the ground. They have powerful legs and claws to dig and scratch through leaves and the soil. Around the caves there are plenty of lyre birds around, you might see them digging up some of the gardens.

BLUE TONGUE LIZARD

There are many lizards living in the surrounds of the Jenolan Caves. The blue tongue lizard is a native Australian animal.

Blue tongue lizards eat grass, berries, flowers and insects. The largest lizards reach up to 60cm long. They have short legs and a thick head that looks like a snakes. The lizards are often grey and pale brown, their stomach is normally cream or white.

The blue tongue lizard lives in grasslands. You might seem the lying in the sun on rocks in the areas outside the caves. While blue tongue lizards are not aggressive, they can inflict a painful bite if they feel like they are in danger.

Native Plants

The Jenolan Caves have many native plants and crystals. No matter where you look outside the caves you can see lovely native Australia trees such as Eucalyptus trees, Banksias and Snow Gums. Inside the caves is a different type of plant.

Continue reading to find out more.

SCRIBBLY GUM TREES

Thousands of eucalyptus trees fill the forests surrounding the Jenolan Caves. There are more than 700 species of eucalyptus trees. One of these species is named the scribbly gum. The scribbly gum tree is small to medium sized with white or grey bark.

The bark of a scribbly gum is very smooth, under this bark is where the tree gets its name from. It is named after the scribbles on the trunk of the tree. It is made by the Scribbly gum moth. This moth lays its eggs between the new and the old bark. When the eggs hatch they make tunnels between the layers of bark. Once this old bark falls away the trails are revealed, the trails are in a scribbly pattern.

These trees can be found throughout the national park surrounding the Jenolan Caves. There are many walking tracks throughout this area and many scribbly gum trees to find.

BANKSIAS

Many of the native plants in the area have beautiful flowers. One of the most popular is the Silver Banksia. Banksias can grow from a small shrub to a large tree up to about 12 metres tall. Many species of birds, especially the Honeyeater, love to eat the Banksia flowers.

Banksia flowers grow throughout the whole year especially late Summer and early Winter. While named the silver banksia, the flowers are a golden yellow but can come in orange and red. The flowers are made up of individual soft spikes.

Similar to the scribbly gum trees, Silver Banksia trees can be found throughout the national park surrounding the Jenolan Caves.

WARATAH

The waratah is a native Australian flower that can be found surrounding the Jenolan Caves. The waratah has been found throughout New South Wales and is now used as the symbol for the state. The waratah was named by the local Aboriginal people from the Eora tribes.

The waratah flowers range between 6 and 15 cm long. They are a large round flower with hundreds of small florets. The waratah flowers can come in a variety of colours including red, pink and yellow.

Take a walk around the National park and spot the beautiful bright flowers of the waratah trees.

CRYSTALS

The Jenolan Caves are filled with crystal walls and structures. The Jenolan Caves are formed of limestone and therefore both stalactite and stalagmite formations are created. When water flows through the ground and soaks into the cave it collects a mineral called calcite. The water drips away from the calcite. Once the calcite builds up crystals form.

Stalactite formations grow from the roof ('c' for ceiling), theses look like icicles hanging down. Stalagmites form from the ground ('g' for ground) and look like cones sticking up from the floor.

The Jenolan caves crystal formations have become a tourist attraction for the caves.

Stagactite crystal formation

Stagalmite crystal formation

For more fun facts and photos

Click here

Jenolan Caves

Nature Guide

The Jenolan Caves are located in New South Wales. Take a look at the map below.

The Jenolan Caves

Natural Features

The natural features of a place or the natural environment includes everything that occurs naturally. All living things, climate, weather and natural resources (such as water) are all part of the natural environment.

The Jenolan caves are the oldest caves that are open to visit and explore in the world. Within the caves are many marine fossils.

​

The Caves were formed by water rising or flooding and dissolving the rocks away. Once the water drained back out to the lakes it has left beautiful, open caves that can now be explored. The Jenolan Caves consist of more than 40 kilometres of multi-level passage ways with over 300 entrances.

​

In 2000, the Greater Blue Mountains Area which included the Jenolan Caves was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage area. This means it is a landmark that has a cultural, historical or scientifical significance that is important and should be protected.

​

​

Native Animals

The Jenolan Caves itself are so dark that they have barely any wildlife living in them, this is because it is too dark for any food sources to grow. The Jenolan native bushland area has many wildlife species that live there.

Take a read below to find out more about some of these animals.

​

BATS

​

​

PLATYPUS

A platypus is an Australian animal that lives in lakes at streams. It has a bill similar to a duck and has sharp claws. A platypus is often a hard animal to spot, they tend to hide in small rock caves in lakes.

At the entrance of the Jenolan Caves is a beautiful, clear lake called Blue Lake. Blue Lake is the home to a very friendly platypus.

​

If you are patient, quiet and very lucky, you might even see him swim right on by.

LYRE BIRD

During the day in the areas surrounding the Jenolan Caves. One of the most popular birds to see here is the Lyre Bird. The lyre bird has a spectacular tail of fanned feathers.

A lyre bird can grow up to 100cm long with more than half of that being their tail. They are dark brown in colour with some lighter brown and red feathers. A lyre bird will not grow its beautiful tails until they are three or four years old.

​

Lyre birds eat insects, frogs, spiders and others they might find in the ground. They have powerful legs and claws to dig and scratch through leaves and the soil. Around the caves there are plenty of lyre birds around, you might see them digging up some of the gardens.

​

​

BLUE TONGUE LIZARD

There are many lizards living in the surrounds of the Jenolan Caves. The blue tongue lizard is a native Australian animal.

​

Blue tongue lizards eat grass, berries, flowers and insects. The largest lizards reach up to 60cm long. They have short legs and a thick head that looks like a snakes. The lizards are often grey and pale brown, their stomach is normally cream or white.

​

The blue tongue lizard lives in grasslands. You might seem the lying in the sun on rocks in the areas outside the caves. While blue tongue lizards are not aggressive, they can inflict a painful bite if they feel like they are in danger.

​

Native Plants

The Jenolan Caves have many native plants and crystals. No matter where you look outside the caves you can see lovely native Australia trees such as Eucalyptus trees, Banksias and Snow Gums. Inside the caves is a different type of plant.

Continue reading to find out more.

​

SCRIBBLY GUM TREES

Thousands of eucalyptus trees fill the forests surrounding the Jenolan Caves. There are more than 700 species of eucalyptus trees. One of these species is named the scribbly gum. The scribbly gum tree is small to medium sized with white or grey bark.

​

​

These trees can be found throughout the national park surrounding the Jenolan Caves. There are many walking tracks throughout this area and many scribbly gum trees to find.

BANKSIAS

Many of the native plants in the area have beautiful flowers. One of the most popular is the Silver Banksia. Banksias can grow from a small shrub to a large tree up to about 12 metres tall. Many species of birds, especially the Honeyeater, love to eat the Banksia flowers.

​

Banksia flowers grow throughout the whole year especially late Summer and early Winter. While named the silver banksia, the flowers are a golden yellow but can come in orange and red. The flowers are made up of individual soft spikes.

Similar to the scribbly gum trees, Silver Banksia trees can be found throughout the national park surrounding the Jenolan Caves.

WARATAH

The waratah is a native Australian flower that can be found surrounding the Jenolan Caves. The waratah has been found throughout New South Wales and is now used as the symbol for the state. The waratah was named by the local Aboriginal people from the Eora tribes.

​

The waratah flowers range between 6 and 15 cm long. They are a large round flower with hundreds of small florets. The waratah flowers can come in a variety of colours including red, pink and yellow.

​

Take a walk around the National park and spot the beautiful bright flowers of the waratah trees.

​

​

CRYSTALS

​

Stalactite formations grow from the roof ('c' for ceiling), theses look like icicles hanging down. Stalagmites form from the ground ('g' for ground) and look like cones sticking up from the floor.

The Jenolan caves crystal formations have become a tourist attraction for the caves.

​

Stagactite crystal formation

Stagalmite crystal formation

For more fun facts and photos