Around 450 million years ago when Australia's eastern coastline was further inland, coral atolls developed around a series of partially submerged volcanoes, The coral became compressed and developed into Australia's most spectacular lime-stone caves.
James McKeown, an escaped convict and bushranger, is the first white man known to have entered the caves - using them as a hideaway. About 1840, James Whalan had a horse stolen and tracked it to McKeown's Valley. Whalan saw the immense opening in the limestone as they rode by. His brother, Charles was in interested in the report and eventually discovered the caves.
Fame spread and visitors not only explored the caves but took many pieces away with them. The government appointed Jeremiah Wilson as guide and caretaker of the caves in 1867. The name was changed to Jenolan, Aboriginal for 'high mountain' in 1884. Visits to the cave were quite primitive with candles in holders the only lighting and nights spent camping in grand arch in minimum comfort.
Improvements were gradually made to the caves with cement floors and handrails added, and electric lighting in 1887. In the late 1880s the road from Mount Victoria and Hartley was built allowing carriages to drive all the way. In 1884 the 'six foot track' was built. Many more caves were discovered, the last being the River Cave in 1903. Jenolan Caves are world famous limestone caves containing amazing rock formations. Guided tours of caves take about two hours and contain many steps.
Temperatures for Jenolan Caves
Jenolan Caves has moderate summer temperatures. The summer high temperature for Jenolan Caves is approximately 25 °c. The summer low temperature is approximately 11 °c.
Jenolan Caves has mild winter temperatures. The winter high temperature for Jenolan Caves is approximately 10 °c. The winter low temperature is approximately 0 °c.
MONTH
LOW °c
HIGH °c
January
11
25
February
11
24
March
10
21
April
6
16
May
3
12
June
1
10
July
0
9
August
0
11
September
2
15
October
5
19
November
8
22
December
10
25
Featured Jenolan Caves Activities
TOUR NAME
LOCATION
RATES (AUD) from
2 Day Six Foot Track Mountain Biking Adventure(EX2100) (Adventures) Join us on our 2 day Guided Mountain Bike ride on the famous Six Foot Track. We start our ride near Jenolan Caves and ride to the Megalong Valley with one night under the stars at Cox's River where yo...
Jenolan Cave Adventure (Plug Hole) ex Katoomba(EX567) (Bushwalking, Nature & Wildlife) This tour is a great day out at the Jenolan Cave. You commence your tour from Katoomba - resort capital of the Blue Mountains. Your underworld exploration will draw on senses that you may not have exp...
Purchase this DVD that captures the sweeping contrasts of New South Wales. Includes footage of the Great Dividing Range to Bathurst, Goulburn and Albury, through the rich grazing lands.
Marvel at Dubbo's Western Plain Zoo and discover the rare opal at Lightning Ridge. Explore the Ghost Towns and outback city of Broken Hill and admire the splendour of the Menindee Lakes in the Kinchega National Park.
Investigate the Minnamurra Rainforest and enjoy the waterfalls of the Illawarra Plateau. Explore the snowfields of the Snowy Mountains, Mt Kosciusko and traverse the Murray River from the Alpine headwaters to Lake Hume. Moving on to the Southern Coast of New South Wales and the panoramic vistas's of Jervis Bay, the famous Blow Hole at Kiama and north to Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay.
PLEASE NOTE: The New South Wales travel destinations outlined above are only a small selection from the tens of thousands of Australian travel information pages available on Australian Explorer. A comprehensive list of destinations for New South Wales Holidays can be found on the main New South Wales Holidays location guide.
