Limestone Caves walking track
Kwiambal National Park
Overview
Limestone Caves walking track is a short, easy walk in Kwiambal National Park, near Ashford. It’s popular with families keen to explore the caves, spot the local bats and enjoy a picnic.
- Where
- Kwiambal National Park in Country NSW
- Accessibility
- Hard
- Distance
- 0.6km return
- Time suggested
- 5 - 15min
- Grade
- Grade 2
- Opening times
September to October and March to April. Restricted access during summer breeding and winter hibernation seasons.
- What to
bring - Raincoat, drinking water, sturdy shoes, hat, sunscreen, snacks, suitable clothing, torch
- Please note
- Please limit exploration to the first 50m of the caves.
- Beyond 50m access is restricted as the caves narrow and ground is uneven, the bats are easily disturbed and it’s easy to get lost.
- The Main Cave can be smelly and messy with bat droppings (guano) and urine, which can expose you to infection.
- Please help us protect these endangered species by keeping noise and light disturbance to a minimum.
- It’s completely dark in the caves, so remember to bring a torch.
This gentle 300m walking track takes you through open woodland and ironbark forest to Limestone Caves. The caves were once a mining site for bat droppings, a low-grade fertiliser. Today, they’re a protected breeding site for the rare large bent-wing bat and eastern horseshoe bat.
Switch on your torch and quietly explore a short way into the maze of tunnels to the Main Cave. The effects of mining and guano mean there are only a few cave decorations intact. Fossilised bones of ancient kangaroos and pygmy possums have been found in and around the caves, dating between 30,000 and 2 million years old.
There are toilets and a picnic area near the caves' entrance, making this spot popular with school groups and cave enthusiasts. On the way back to your car, keep an eye out for eastern grey kangaroos and emus. You’ll also see native birds among the cypress pines, including the spiny-cheeked honeyeater and diamond firetail.
After your underground adventure, drive to Macintyre Falls lookout and picnic area for stunning views of a waterfall in the deep granite gorge, and the nearby natural plunge pool. Base yourself at Lemon Tree Flat campground or Kookibitta campground to explore more.
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Operated by
- Glen Innes office
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
- 02 6739 0700
- npws.ntab@environment.nsw.gov.au
- 68 Church Street, Glen Innes NSW 2370
Park info
- in Kwiambal National Park in the Country NSW region
Kwiambal National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather or fire danger.