Kooringa Cave
Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve
Overview
The ornately decorated Kooringa Cave in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is sure to impress. Bring your camera to capture striking columns and rippled draperies on a guided tour through this single-chamber cave.
- Type
- Show caves
- Accessibility
- No wheelchair access
- Distance
- 1km return
- Time suggested
- 1hr
- Grade
- Medium. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. A moderate level of fitness is required for this tour. There is steep entrance with short ladders, a narrow chamber and 200 steps inside the cave.
- Price
-
Adult $24 per person. Child/pensioner $19 per person. Senior $22 per person. Family $60 (2 adults and children aged up to 16 years). Multi-cave passes are available.
- Opening times
Entry to Kooringa Cave is by guided tour only. Tours are available on Saturdays and during school holiday periods.
- Meeting point
- Kooringa Cave entrance at Wattle Hill.
- What to
bring - Sturdy shoes, suitable clothing
- Bookings
- Book now for this tour, or bundle it into a 2-cave. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online.
- Please note
- There is a moderately steep, 500m gravel path to the cave entrance. Allow 15 minutes to walk from the carpark to the meeting point.
- The ground in the cave can be slippery, so please take care.
- The temperature in the cave is approximately 15˚C all year round.
- Food is not permitted inside the cave.
- The cave is not suitable for prams.
- There are no toilets near the cave entrance. Please use the public amenities at the visitor centre.
Leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind as you discover the spectacular underground world of Kooringa Cave. Marvel at impressive stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years on your guided tour through this cave.
It may be one of the smallest show caves at Wombeyan, but Kooringa Cave is one of the most ornately decorated, and well worth a visit. First opened to the public in 1875, this striking single-chamber cave contains many pristine white columns and contrasting, iron-rich draperies. The formations make for outstanding photography, so be sure to bring your camera.
Also see
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Mulwaree Cave
Join a 1hr guided tour through the magnificent Mulwaree Cave in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. Inside this cave you’ll see shining decorations, large stalactites and spectacular colour variations on the walls.
-
Fig Tree Cave
Be sure to take a family-friendly, self-guided tour through the impressive Fig Tree Cave while you’re at Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. It’s widely regarded as one of NSW’s best self-guided cave experiences.
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Wollondilly Cave
Wollondilly Cave is the longest and most diverse cave at Wombeyan. Book a guided tour to see the stunning features of this sparkling 5-level cave. A trip to Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve wouldn’t be complete without a visit.
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Kui Kiosk
Head to Kui Kiosk to learn about the experiences on offer at Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve.
Map
Map legend
Local alerts
For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/show-caves/kooringa-cave/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
Park info
- in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve in the Country NSW region
Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.
Visitor info
All the practical information you need to know about Kooringa Cave.
Maps and downloads
Learn more
Kooringa Cave is in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:
Aboriginal connections
Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is located within the traditional lands of the Gundungurra People, with the word Wombeyan coming from local language meaning 'Wombat' or 'home of the Wombat'. It's believed that Wombeyan Caves were part of an Aboriginal travel route, with the caves providing reliable shelter. The Dreamtime story of Gurangatch relates to the forming of Wombeyan and Jenolan caves. They are said to have been formed during a contest between 2 mythical beings, Gurangatch and Mirragang. Gurangatch was part fish and part reptile, and Mirragan was a legendary tiger cat.
Life in the air
Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve plays a special role in the conservation of some of Australia's precious native flora and fauna. The moist forest that surrounds the park's creeks is home to superb lyrebirds, eastern whipbirds and flycatchers – look for lyrebird scratches on the forest floor. Around the park's rocky outcrops, see if you can spy birds of prey, including brown goshawks and wedge tailed eagles. You'll have to look particularly carefully to see a tawny frogmouth. Their camouflage is excellent – they stay very still and upright, and you might mistake them as part of the branch they're perched on.
- Victoria Arch walking track Victoria Arch walking track is a short, accessible walk in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. The easy bushwalk takes you to a viewing platform overlooking a remarkable natural rock formation.
On show
The limestone in the caves of Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is 430 million years old. The geological processes that have created the magnificent cave system you see today continue to work their magic. You'll notice the impressive cave decorations, including stalactites and stalagmites, that are created by the infiltration of water into the caves. Take a guided cave tour to find out more about the history and geology of the caves.
- Dennings Labyrinth Dennings Labyrinth in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is currently closed to the public. Visitors will be advised when the cave reopens for tours.
- Fig Tree Cave Be sure to take a family-friendly, self-guided tour through the impressive Fig Tree Cave while you’re at Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. It’s widely regarded as one of NSW’s best self-guided cave experiences.
- Kooringa Cave The ornately decorated Kooringa Cave in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve is sure to impress. Bring your camera to capture striking columns and rippled draperies on a guided tour through this single-chamber cave.
- Mulwaree Cave Join a 1hr guided tour through the magnificent Mulwaree Cave in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. Inside this cave you’ll see shining decorations, large stalactites and spectacular colour variations on the walls.
- Victoria Arch walking track Victoria Arch walking track is a short, accessible walk in Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve. The easy bushwalk takes you to a viewing platform overlooking a remarkable natural rock formation.
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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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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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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Common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
Commonly found in forests, woodlands and leafy gardens across eastern NSW, the Australian ringtail possum is a tree-dwelling marsupial. With a powerful tail perfectly adapted to grasp objects, it forages in trees for eucalypt leaves, flowers and fruit.