Jenolan Caves House
Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve
Overview
Enjoy old world charm at iconic Jenolan Caves House, in the heart of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Stay at this historic grand hotel as you explore the spectacular caves and walks, near Oberon.
Accommodation type | Other Hotel |
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Where | 4655 Jenolan Caves Road, Jenolan Caves, NSW, 2790 - in Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve |
Bedrooms | 18 |
Facilities | Cafe/kiosk, carpark, drinking water, showers, toilets, wireless internet, electric power |
Bookings | Bookings are required. Book online or call Jenolan Caves. |
Please note |
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Jenolan Caves House, only 3 hours from Sydney and Canberra, is a unique getaway in the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property. Choose from 18 rooms with ensuite facilities, including king and queen rooms.
This charming hotel, designed in 1897 in the Federation Arts and Crafts style, is steeped in history - Agatha Christie was a past guest. Victorian-era décor blends with modern conveniences including a lift, games room, lounge, on-site bar, restaurant and café.
Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Chisholm’s Restaurant. On your doorstep you’ll find walking tracks to natural arches, waterfalls and brilliant Blue Lake. Then enter Jenolan Caves’ glistening underworld from the great range of guided tours to suit any ability.
Return to Jenolan Caves House to refuel at Caves Café. Enjoy a cosy winter lunch by the fire, or spring dining on the terrace under wisteria, entertained by cheeky eastern rosellas. As the sun sets, relax at the bar or in the games room before dinner in the grand dining room.
Pleasantly cool in summer, mild in winter, Jenolan Caves House is a great place for family birthdays or anniversaries year-round. Come for special events, like weekend high tea, Mother's Day lunch or winter Yulefest.
Map
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Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation/accommodation/jenolan-caves-house/local-alerts
General enquiries
- National Parks Contact Centre
- 7am to 7pm daily
- 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS) for the cost of a local call within Australia excluding mobiles
- parks.info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Operated by
- Jenolan Caves
- 1300 76 33 11 or
- 02 6359 3911 within Australia
- +61 2 6359 3911 International
- reception@jenolancaves.org.au
- 4655 Jenolan Caves Road, Jenolan Caves NSW 2790
Park info
- in Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in the Sydney and surrounds region
This reserve is open every day from 7am to 7pm. Check the Jenolan Caves website for information about guided tours, restaurants and events.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Jenolan Caves House.
Getting there and parking
Jenolan Caves House is in Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Access to Jenolan on Jenolan Caves Road (5-Mile Road) is closed indefinitely. The only access is via Edith Road (2-Mile Road). This road is suitable for standard vehicles only. There is no access to Jenolan for caravans, trailers or any vehicle longer than a 12-seat minibus.
From Sydney:
- Travel west on the M4, which becomes the Great Western Highway at the foot of the mountains.
- Pass through Katoomba and Blackheath and turn left onto Jenolan Caves Road at Hartley.
- Drive through Hampton and turn right onto Duckmaloi Road. Do not continue along Jenolan Caves Road, access is closed.
- Continue along Duckmaoi Road for 20km, then turn left onto Titania Road.
- At the end of Titania Road, turn left onto Edith Road and continue until you reach Jenolan.
From Goulburn:
- Take Taralga Road out of Goulburn and travel north towards Taralga.
- Pass through Taralga and continue north on Taralga Road towards Oberon. Taralga Road turns into Abercrombie Road at the Abercrombie River.
- At Black Springs, turn right and continue on Abercrombie Road.
- At Oberon, turn right onto O’Connell Road and then left onto Carrington Avenue.
- Turn right onto Ross Street, then turn left onto Edith Road and continue until you reach Jenolan.
Please note:
- The last 5km of Edith Road is steep, narrow and winding, with several hairpin bends. Drive carefully and allow yourself plenty of time.
- Edith Road is not suitable for caravans, trailers or any vehicle longer than a 12-seat minibus.
- Traffic in and out of Jenolan is regulated for safety. Please check Live Traffic NSW before you set out.
- The nearest fuel is located in Mount Victoria or Oberon.
Road quality
- Sealed roads
Vehicle access
- 2WD vehicles
Weather restrictions
- All weather
Facilities
- Linen and towels are provided. Bathrobes available on request.
- Rooms do not feature TV, telephone or fridge.
- Telstra mobile reception may be available in this area.
- Jenolan Caves House facilities include: lounge, games room, library, bar, restaurant, café, gift shop, tour desk, guest laundry, lift.
- Picnic tables and free gas barbecue facilities are located at the picnic areas near the Cambridge and the Carlotta carparks.
Toilets
- Flush toilets
Cafe/kiosk
Carpark
Drinking water
Showers
- Hot showers
Wireless internet
- Wireless internet (free)
Electric power
Maps and downloads
Accessibility
Disability access level - easy
- There is 1 wheelchair-accessible room with private facilities. Please contact Jenolan Caves House prior to arrival to arrange.
- Jenolan Caves House, including Caves Café and Chisholm’s Restaurant, are easily accessed from the carpark.
- The lift is wheelchair-accessible.
- There’s 1 designated disabled carpark space behind Jenolan Caves House, and 2 spaces next to the guides' office. Please display your disabled driver notice on your windscreen.
Easy access is free of obstacles such as steps, rough terrain or significant slopes, and may have ramps or boardwalks.
Prohibited
Swimming is prohibited in Blue Lake, a platypus habitat.
Pets
Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited inside Jenolan Caves House. There are some designated smoking areas outside.
Learn more
Jenolan Caves House is in Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Binomil
The beautiful and mysterious Jenolan Caves holds special significance to the Gundungurra people who knew it as 'Binoomea' meaning 'dark places'. According to Gundungurra Elder, Old Jimmy Lynch, Aboriginal people knew the caves, carrying sick people as far as the subterranean water which they believed to have great curative powers. The Dreamtime myth of Gurrangatch relates to the forming of Wombeyan and Jenolan Caves. The caves are said to have been formed during a contest between Gurrangatch, a mythical being that was part fish and part reptile, and Mirragan, a legendary tiger cat.
Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property
It is truly amazing to think that a city the size of Sydney has a large World Heritage Area on its doorstep. The World Heritage listing recognises the geographic, botanic and cultural values of the area. The forests of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Property have been described as a natural laboratory for the evolution of eucalypts; and more than 90 different eucalypt species occur here, some 13 per cent of all eucalypt species in the world. They grow in a great variety of communities, from tall closed forests, through open forests and woodlands, to the stunted mallee shrublands on the plateaus.
Historic tourism
Jenolan Caves is one of Australia's first tourist attractions; with land having first been set aside for public recreation and enjoyment in 1866. In the years following this, a number of buildings were constructed, the most notable being Caves House; an excellent example of early Victorian architecture and comfortable heritage accommodation. Innovations in engineering and cave lighting are evident - particularly in Chifley Cave. There are more than 300 caves within the Reserve, all containing a range of geological features and formations, like stalactites and stalagmites, plus rarer helictites and stromatolites The best way to find out about the caves is on a guided or self-guided tour. There are eleven caves to choose from.
- Jenolan River walking track Jenolan River walking track and Blue Lake are closed after being damaged by fire and floods between 2020 and 2022. The track will re-open after infrastructure upgrades allow for a safe walking experience.
- McKeown's Valley walking track McKeown's Valley walking track, also known as Healing Waters walk, is a short and easy return walk at Jenolan Caves offering fantastic karst landscapes and wildlife spotting in the Blue Mountains.
Plants and animals protected in this park
Animals
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Eastern bentwing-bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis)
Eastern bentwing-bats congregate in caves across the east and north-west coasts of Australia, in colonies of up to 150,000. These small Australian animals weigh around 13-17g and can reach speeds of up to 50km per hour. Eastern bentwing-bats use both sight and echolocation to catch small insects mid-air.
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Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
One of the most fascinating and unusual Australian animals, the duck-billed platypus, along with the echidna, are the only known monotremes, or egg-laying mammals, in existence. The platypus is generally found in permanent river systems and lakes in southern and eastern NSW and east and west of the Great Dividing Range.
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Common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
One of the most widespread of Australian tree-dwelling marsupials, the common brushtail possum is found across most of NSW in woodlands, rainforests and urban areas. With strong claws, a prehensile tail and opposable digits, these native Australian animals are well-adapted for life amongst the trees.
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Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
A large, squat marsupial, the Australian bare-nosed wombat is a burrowing mammal found in coastal forests and mountain ranges across NSW and Victoria. The only other remaining species of wombat in NSW, the endangered southern hairy-nosed wombat, was considered extinct until relatively recently.
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Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
One of only 2 egg-laying mammals in the world, the short-beaked echidna is one of the most widespread of Australian native animals. Covered in spines, or quills, they’re equipped with a keen sense of smell and a tube-like snout which they use to break apart termite mounds in search of ants.
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Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
The spotted-tailed quoll is the largest remaining carnivorous marsupial on the Australian mainland. It’s protected as a vulnerable species in NSW.