This week Roy decided that, with Winter fast approaching, he'd better find an activity you can do even in wet or cold weather. There are lots of indoor activities which would be good for days like that, but there is also an 'outdoor' activity which fits perfectly - visiting caves.
Now, although you might all think of Jenolan Caves when you think of going to visit caves, they aren't the only caves in New South Wales. Roy wanted to show you a different cave system and Abercrombie Caves seemed the perfect place. If you are really into caves, you could even stay somewhere like Oberon and visit both Abercrombie Caves and Jenolan Caves! Abercrombie Caves are located about an hour from Bathurst.
Although 'officially' discovered later, the Abercrombie Cave system has probably been known to European's for even longer than their famous cousin, Jenolan Caves. Although Jenolan has spectacular formations, Abercrombie has its own charm and wonders, including the largest Arch in the Southern Hemisphere. In fact, you could fit two and a half of Jenolan's Grand Arch into the Abercrombie Arch! Best of all, you can go on a self-guided tour of the arch. First, you walk over the top of the Arch, which not only gives fantastic views of the area but also a real sense of just how big the Arch is. Then, you can take as long as you want to wander back through the Arch, with the lights automatically coming on as you move through and illuminating the spectacular formations.
Unlike the Grand Arch at Jenolan, the Abercrombie Arch has all the formations you would expect to see in a cave with spectacular stalagmites and stalactites, arches and shawls. Roy loved being able to take his time to wander through, and thought it was amazing that, for a time, we were the only people in this incredible cave! You can get a real sense of what exploring caves in the 'early days' must have been like, and look out for the reminders of those early days around the caves - like the ladder in the photo below. This used to be the way out of the Bushranger Cave! There is also a miners dance platform, over 100 years old, in the Arch cave - Roy suggests standing on it and having a sing. The acoustics are amazing! Roy recommends taking a picnic and seeing the Arch cave in the morning and then doing a guided tour in the afternoon. If you like you can even stay down at the caves. Camping is popular in the area and there are even cabins available if you aren't the camping type! To find out more about visiting the caves click here.
The history of Abercrombie Caves is also fascinating, with the early European discovery of the caves probably made by bushrangers who were part of one of the biggest ever Australian Convict uprisings! In 1830 a convict called Ralph Entwistle escaped the property where he was working with eight other convicts. Over the next few weeks, they robbed various properties and collected more convicts to be part of the rebellion. Entwistle wore a white ribbon on his hat which made him easy to see, and probably gave the group their name 'The Ribbon Gang'. Next, the group (and there were about 50 of them by now) went to see the local magistrate, but he wasn't home. Instead they saw his overseer and demanded that all the convicts on the property join the rebellion. The overseer said no, and was shot and killed by the group. Then, the convicts at the property were forced to join the Ribbon Gang.
This was when things started to go downhill for the group, after all, being forced to join a rebellion doesn't mean you actually want to be there! Soon, Entwistle realised that things were getting out of hand so he and 14 others left the group and it was them who discovered the caves, probably by following the Grove River. To find out what happens next in the story, take a guided tour of the Bushranger Cave, or visit the Abercrombie Caves website by clicking here. You can even see a video, made by the History Channel, about the caves and the bushrangers by clicking here.
Roy, his grand-parents and I had a fantastic day at the caves - we even found a zircon in the river! If you are lucky you might find one, or gold, a sapphire or garnet. Fossicking is allowed in one area of the river. There is plenty of space to play games or go for a walk - well worth a visit!