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Temporary Road Closure,
from Mon 13 July, for 3-5 Weeks
February's damaging floods significantly impacted our Blue Lake. So, starting on Monday, 13 July 2020, we will work to restore the lake to its former pristine condition. The project is being funded by Infrastructure NSW’s Restart NSW Fund.

We apologise for any inconvenience during this critical work, which is likely to take from three to five weeks. The work requires Jenolan Caves Road (also known as the Five Mile) to be closed from 6 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday (inclusive) from Duckmaloi Road to the Grand Arch at Jenolan Caves. See up-to-date information on Live Traffic NSW. We will provide further updates also.

Unfortunately, the Blue Lake and River Walks and pedestrian access to the Grand Arch will also be closed.

Restoring the Blue Lake has many benefits, most importantly to protect and improve the habitat for our local population of platypus, as well as to enable the construction of the Blue Lake Boardwalk, planned for early to mid-2021.

Alternative Access Via Edith Road

Alternative access to Jenolan Caves is via Edith Road (also known as the Two Mile Road). Unfortunately, coaches and buses greater than 12-seat capacity cannot use this road to reach Jenolan Caves. Also, if you are driving from the direction of Sydney, this detour (Duckmaloi Rd, Titania Rd and then Edith Rd) will add approximately 30 minutes to your trip.  Please check road conditions prior to travel. The Live Traffic NSW website provides up-to-date information on road conditions, which are especially important during winter.

Although Cave Tours are Not Yet Running,
There Are Many Reasons to Love Jenolan!

We reopened Caves House hotel and Chisolm’s Restaurant in early June, for pre-booked guests. We are happy to say that the Queen's Birthday long weekend was particularly busy, and now guests are arriving for Yulefest.

Our cave tours are not yet running, due to the COVID-19 restrictions. But if you come for an overnight stay, you can purchase a cave tour gift voucher for half price. You can use it when our tours are running again. 

We are monitoring advice from the NSW Government, with regard to safely reopening our cave tours. We greatly appreciate everyone’s patience, while we continue to prioritise the health and safety of our staff and visitors.

Meanwhile, we are offering a couple of great accommodation deals - our More the Merrier deal and our No Tab No Wallet deal.  Elegant Chisolm's Restaurant is open for dinner every evening, with wonderful Yulefest (Christmas in July) on Friday and Saturday evenings, plus a-la-carte lunch on weekends and decadent high tea every day. Jeremiah's Bar is open, offering a mind-boggling range of wine, beer, spirits and cocktails. And, as usual, our Caves Cafe is open for light lunch, drinks and snacks. 

Due to our Blue Lake restoration work, our Blue Lake walk and River walk are closed.  However, you can still walk up to the dramatic Carlotta Arch lookout, and you can wander even further uphill to the Devils Coach House lookdown. You can even explore part of the historic Six Food Track and part of our McKeown's Valley track where you may spot wallabies and lyrebirds. And you can use Jenolan as a base from which to visit the Talisman Gallery at nearby Hartley Historic Village, the small town of Oberon, astonishing Mayfield Garden (10 minutes north of Oberon) and even the many museums of Bathurst. So, book an overnight stay with us, and remember to come via Edith Road.

How Did Christmas in July (Yulefest) Start?
In many parts of the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas in July has become a fun way to bring old world warmth and whimsy to the dull and chill days of Winter.   Therefore, you may be surprised to hear that 'Christmas in July' is not unheard of in the Northern Hemisphere also - in Summer. How did 'Christmas in July' ('Yulefest') start?
FIND OUT HERE

Celebrate Yulefest at Caves House with Santa!
Book Yulefest Here

The Bittersweet History of a Decadent Delight
Way back in the 1600s, tea was one of the first  (and most expensive) goods Dutch merchants brought back to England, from their trips to the Far East, where the Chinese had been drinking tea for millennia.

The tea trade made the East India Company rich, fueled the slave trade, sparked the American Revolution and was a major factor that lead to the Opium Wars.

But without tea, the Duchess of Bedford may have never invented 'afternoon tea' and we may have never been able to experience the dainty and decadent delights of 'high tea' in Caves House.
FIND OUT MORE
Book High Tea Here
Copyright © 2020 Jenolan Caves, All rights reserved.


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