Naracoorte Caves

I have been wanting to visit the caves at Naracoorte for months.

Ever since I was a little boy I have had a fascination with caves, rocks and steep hill faces that provided a challenge to those keen enough to risk scaling them.

When I was young I used to dream about crawling and flying through interconnecting tunnels. I dreamt these dreams regularly until one very vivid one in which I had apparently become to big to "play" in these tunnels anymore. Although they were dreams, there was something about them that seemed important, and somehow punctuated a time in my youth that I can't seem to let go.

Years later I read a book by the infamous Carlos Castaneda, describing similar "dream sequences", expounding a theory which was very interesting. However, I am going off in a tangent.

Today was the day we finally visited Naracoorte and the caves. Go here for more information about these amazing caves.

On the way we apparently managed a "Locust Killing Spree", and here is the evidence -




YUCK!

Apart from the mass murder of these locusts, the journey was a really pleasant one. I had suggested Christmas songs to listen to on the long road trip, but Sam felt that would not have been much fun on a 4 hour drive each way. Bah humbug!

We also had supplies in the form of Red Bull, Coca Cola and some truly international Gummi Bears. The tub described the manufacturer as a German company, which had out-sourced to China, imported to New South Wales by an Australian company, with the marketing carried out by a company based in the Philippines. And they were yummy!

When we arrived at the caves, we went on a self guided tour of one of the easier caves and then went along with a guide for what was a fun and informed tour. Yarrow, the tour guide, knew her stuff and was happy to answer any and all questions. She explained how certain rock formations came to be, over time, and gave a brief history of the caves at Naracoorte.

Yarrow also made it fun by pointing out that many of the natural rock formations looked like people and items from our world above ground. We saw a wedding cake, Shrek, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and even Santa himself.

We went approximately 12 - 15 metres underground, and saw some amazing sights.

Then we saw nothing. Literally. Yarrow turned off the lights at one point, to let us see what it was like in a cave, naturally, without guides or electricity. We couldn't see anything. At all. Yarrow explained that no matter how long we stayed in the dark, our eyes would never adjust to allow us to see, as there was simply no light whatsoever for our eyes to work with.

Of course, when she put the lights back on, Sam was in front of me with his face contorted and his hands waving, trying to give me a fright. Shocking behaviour! Tsk!

Here are some photographs -

       "  Here's Johnny!"

        I'm the best pointer!