Underground in the Backyard

It is amazing what you can find in your own backyard. On Saturday I took Annie for a drive on what I consider one of Australia's Best Drives. The road between Khancoban and Cabramurra is only open outside winter. It is mostly up from Khancoban and down from Cabramurra, depending on your preference. I've done it both ways.

It is a tight winding road, well sealed but narrow and with some good drops off the side. Rarely used by anyone, as it really doesn't go anywhere directly but frequented by motorcyclists and others enjoying the scenery and or the drive. The steep alpine scenery is different to most of what you find in the Snowy Mountains, and in the Snowy Mountains you are - deep in the heart of the range. There are two spectacular dams that you cross and some beautiful alpine lakes with the occasional fishing tinny.

But this was just the beginning to a very full weekend. After lunching on our sambos at Cabramurra we continued on down the Snowy Mountains Highway to Yarrangobilly Caves. Wow, this place is awesome. Tucked away in a narrow valley are some 330 known caves. There are two into which you can take guided tours and another you can self-tour. But more than the caves, the vegetation is unique within the Snowy Mountains and blended with the old Edwardian buildings the whole scene makes you feel as though you could be in another country.

We did a guided cave tour with Gilly in the afternoon and then went to the thermal pool for a swim. Not quite what you would find in Japan. There are two concrete pools fed by underground water at 27C. The swim was nice but the mosquitoes after getting out were a little daunting.

After a night in Talbingo, we returned to the caves on Sunday for the big tour into Jersey Cave - about 90mins. I've been to Jenolan as a teenager and have even done some serious caving out near Canowindra but the Yarrangobilly limestone formations are superb compared to anything I have seen before. You can get really close (but no touching) to the finest formations. still in the process of growing and the colours (oranges, blacks as well as the standard white limestone) are fantastic.

Funny how after spending so many years in the Snowy Mountains, I had never been here before. I certainly will return some day, even if just to stay in the Caves House and go for another swim in the pool.

There is a lot of wildlife around and we were stunned to watch a Lyrebird stroll past us in the picnic grounds but alas, I didn't have my camera out :-(

Gilly our guide on both cave tours said that Yarrangobilly and Mt Kosciuszko were the two most popular places in the Snowy Mountains for international visitors. And sure enough, we had some overseas visitors on our second tour.

Scammell's Lookout
Tooma Dam

Tooma Spillway,
Tumut Pond Dam Wall & Tumut Pond

Over 300 known caves in the Yarrangobilly area

Jillabenan Cave

Caves House & Thermal Pool

Stunning beauty of the cave interiors

Climbing down into the belly of Jersey Cave

Lunch above Cabramurra (Australia's highest township)
Tranquillity of Talbingo

Stalactites, stalagmites, heliotites, flows and ponds can be found in the caves

Cave pool

Meanwhile the sun has been shining in Thredbo. We are getting frosts in the valley each morning and there is a pleasant chill in the air.

Mountain Watch were forecasting snow flurries next weekend but have now revised to rain showers. Even so, winter is close. Only 10 weeks to the start of the season and we should see snow making start well before that (weather permitting).

Congrats to Maddy & Joel who have returned to Thredbo from Cooma hospital with newborn baby Phoenix.

If anyone is interested in a studio apartment for full winter rental in Thredbo, you can see some photos here.