Just
below Western Bluff is the small but most interesting Karst National Park.
Beneath the ground there are
over 300 caves. Of these,
only two have regular guided tours operated by Tasmania's National Parks and
Wildlife Service.
On one
of the back roads to Cradle. Mole Creak is about a 3/4 hour easy drive
from Launceston and Devonport.
King Solomon's Cave and
Marakoopa Cave are within 10 kilometres of each other. When visited in
December 2005 the 1 hour tour departed on the hour at one cave and the half
hour at the other. This enables both caves to be visited after the
other finishes. Tickets paid by cash for either tour can be purchased
at Marakoopa Cave. Credit Card and EFTOPS is available at both caves.
Some guides
have access to other caves - by appointment. There are many superb caves -
some with very limited entry.
There
are more caves on the island. One is at Gunn's Plains just south
of Ulverstone on the North West Coast. Another is at Hastings about 80
kilometres south of Hobart - one of 2 dolomite caves in Australia. There is a thermal pool near them.
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