Jenolan Caves Trivia Quiz

Answer: Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

The Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, includes a number of National Parks. There are many unique features in this area, of which the Jenolan Caves are just one. There are also The Three Sisters, Kanangra Walls and the Grose Valley.

Answer: Caves House

Caves House is the centre piece for the accommodation. Built in stages between 1896 and 1923, it has many beautiful Victorian and Edwardian features. The reception desk runs most of the accommodation available.

The Hydro Majestic is another beautiful period hotel in the Blue Mountains at Medlow Bath.

Answer: Nettles Cave/Devil's Coach House

This is a unique cave among the show caves at Jenolan. The tour is a self-guided one with a audio tour similar to many in art galleries. It is also a twilight cave, so there are sections where daylight reaches the cave, where the rest of the caves require full electric lighting.

The thing that sets it apart are the stromatolites. These are very old formations that are very rare globally, and especially in a non-marine environment. Stromatolites are basically living rocks and are an example of one of the earliest life forms. They can only survive in moist and static environments. They are formed by cyanobacteria trapping layers of sediment while they multiply. It is understood that these bacteria and the life forms known as stromatolites may be responsible for the oxygenation of our planet. Suffice to say these life forms are very rare - these are quite possibly the easiest ones to get to. There are four sets of marine stromatolites known. The most famous and easily accessible are the ones found at Shark Bay off the Western Australian coast.

Answer: To enable the production of hydroelectricity

The lake was constructed in the early 20th century to enable them to produce hydroelectricity. This allowed the installation of electric lights in the caves.

Answer: Limestone

In a previous geologic age the region that contains the Jenolan Caves and the other cave systems in NSW was part of the ocean floor. At the place where Jenolan Caves are today there was a coral reef, and the limestone has been formed from the remains of the coral and other aquatic animals. If you look carefully you can see fossils in the walls of the caves.

Answer: River Cave

Until 1923 the river had to be crossed at one point using a barge that carried only eight people. Then a concrete walkway was built around it. Like the lake above the caves the water is a blue colour. This is due to the way the dissolved minerals from the rocks in the water refract light.

Answer: The Sixfoot Track

This is the original bridle track from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves, used by horses either ridden or led, to move people and some supplies. Initially only suitable for horseback riders, it was the intention of planners to have the path widened to allow for horse drawn coaches. Completed in 1887, it fell into disrepair by the 1930s and was eventually superseded by other routes over the Blue Mountains and onto Jenolan Caves. It has been reopened for bush walking and is the route for the annual Six Foot Marathon.

Answer: False

There are a number of tours that are guided but must be completed with equipment as there are no paths (or very old, unused ones) or lights. If you hold the correct tickets you can even scuba dive in the underground river.

Answer: False

This has been prohibited from as early as 1872, the same year that the world's first national park, Yellowstone, was established. The idea of governments legislating for the protection of natural environments was a new concept in the 19th century and vital in the preservation of delicate environments. Men like John Lucas, the Member of Parliament, worked hard in Australia to bring about legislation for such preservation.

Answer: Gundengarra

It is not known how much use they made of the cave system, but they called them 'Binoomea', which means Dark Places.

The Darug tribe or nation, inhabited much of what is now Sydney, and the Dharug National Park north of Hornsby is named for this people. The Wiradjuri people live in central western New South Wales. The name Koori has come to be the term for Aboriginal Australians from South Eastern Australia. It is more politically correct and appropriate as it is a name taken on by that culture rather than imposed from the outside.