Following from my car troubles on Day 1 and 2 in my previous post, I departed Tumbarumba early in the morning and headed north on a circuitous route to the Snowy Mountains via Adelong and Tumut.
I briefly stopped at the interesting Sugar Pine Walk at Laurel Hill where you can walk along a path between towering Sugar Pines from the west coast of USA (the tallest and largest species of pines) planted in 1928.
Then passed through the township of Batlow famed for its apples.
View to north-east over Batlow from the lookout.
I then headed to Adelong along more lovely rolling hillsides and valleys as I wanted to check out the Adelong Falls Gold Mining Ruins which were well worth a look and explore.
Adelong Falls Gold Mining Ruins
From there to Yarrangobilly caves via the Snowy Mountains Highway was rather a boring drive although Tumut is a pretty town reminiscent of Bright in many ways, and Talbingo is the last town before ascending the mountains and so is the last stop for fuel and groceries. There are many camping grounds prior to Talbingo along the Blowering Reservoir although this area seems rather featureless to me at first sight but would make a relatively safe and warmer place to camp and are well suited to caravans.
Just prior to the caves turnoff is the old Yarrangobilly Village camp ground alongside a trickling creek and the old homestead and marks the northern end of this section of limestone geology (although there is another large limestone cave region which has not been commercialised in the north-east of Long Plain near Blue Waterholes).
Yarrangobilly “village” camp ground.
The descent down to the Yarangobilly Caves is on a windy steep gravel road not suited to caravans.
Access to Yarangobilly Caves requires a car permit of $4 if you have not already paid a Snowy Mountain permit pass, and there is a self-guided tour of the South Glory Cave which is a little cheaper entry fee than the guided tours of the Jillabenan and Jersey Caves to which there are only tours at specified times each day.
The South Glory Cave is what I went for given I was time challenged and it was indeed very impressive and following on from this one can walk or drive to the car park above the thermal pool which is a naturally heated water source at 27degC which has been constructed as a regular swimming pool with the overflow draining down into the nearby river where one can also swim. The walk back up to the car park is quite strenuous 700m climb on a hot day and you may be like me and decide to drive back to the caves shop and buy an ice cream or two to aid recovery. There is then a rather long exit drive up a one way gravel road back to the Snowy Mountains Highway, but the caves area is well worth a visit and it is the only place in the northern and central sections of the mountain range where you can find accommodation (appears to be nice rooms in lodges).
Thermal pool and steps down from the change rooms and toilets.
Yarangobilly Caves Lodges.
Next post – Long Plain brumbies and the Blue Waterholes limestone gorge.
