Cliefden Caves, Limestone caves in New South Wales, Australia
Cliefden Caves is a limestone cave system in New South Wales formed by natural erosion processes along the Belubula River. The network contains more than 100 interconnected chambers that create a complex underground landscape.
Surveyor George Evans first documented this limestone system in 1815, marking the initial recorded discovery of such formations on mainland Australia. His observations established the foundation for scientific study of these caves.
The caves hold meaning for Indigenous Australian communities through the traces of people who lived here thousands of years ago. Visitors walking through can sense the long human connection to this place.
Access requires advance permits and guided tours to safely explore the caves and protect the underground structures. The site is located roughly 61 kilometers (38 miles) from Bathurst near Canowindra and should be arranged in advance.
The cave system holds rare fossil collections from the Ordovician period, an ancient geological time. Additionally, the caves provide shelter for populations of Eastern Bentwing bats that rely on these spaces.
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