WILD
CAVE TOURS
Mole Creek, Tasmania, Australia
Spring Newsletter 2004
Hello out there! I've just
crawled out of a hole to write to you. Since
the primary focus of introductory tours changed to
an extensive use of
Honeycomb Cave, many visitors have been enjoying
opportunities for full-on adventure (yet for others it's the many easy
options). Because of the intense physical adventure, some cavers have said
pretty funny things in the Visitors Book:
"It's fully sick mate! I had heaps of fun, I only
got stuck a few times. Worth every cent. (Thanks, Zoe)"
"It was really cool and I did the Top Squeeze- it
was a lot of fun and the food afterwards was delicious! (Cheers Debbie)"
".....and after all the build up to the Waterfall Circuit from
an old hand (Kelly)"
"Gerard said Was THAT it? so we both laughed at
him and went on to have more fun..... (See you again, Gerard)"
Honeycomb, with its easy drive-up-to access, awesome views
and large upper level chambers with daylight holes, is also
an excellent venue for introducing the more timid to wild caves. Read
this... the oldest visitor
has been 73 years old. And earlier this year I had
the privilege of
conducting a blind person through the cave on his
own special trip. This
enlarged my own horizons and helped to further
develop my environmental
interpretation, as he was able to absorb the
geohydrological information by
feeling the rocks.
Due to recent formal additions to the reserve system at Mole Creek,
Wild Cave Tours has had access restored to Westmorland Cave,
a beautiful cave that gives you a real sense of wilderness
(whatever that is). It's a short rainforest walk to get there, and a fun scramble
through a boulder strewn water passage to a large chamber with a daylight
hole far above, glow-worms and an optional trip from there to the sump
(crawling and so forth). Sometimes we have morning tea under the daylight
hole.
We still have Baldocks and Cyclops Caves and then there's My
Cave for
experienced people. My Cave is a serious cave trip,
requiring previous
training in climbing techniques and ethical
conduct. Then you can enjoy some of the finest underground scenery of all. My Cave?
Read Don's comments:
"We went through MY cave today and it was wet to
walk through and a fantastic adventure- WACKO! P.S. I also allowed Deb
and David to come with me."
I have spent a year at Mountainside, an accommodation nature
retreat
on Quamby Bluff near Deloraine (see previous
newsletter) and established new clientele, a new cabin and infrastructure upgrades
and enjoyed being on a spiritual place of ancient significance. I also set
in train the process to establish a conservation covenant to protect its
high conservation value forest forever and its native animal habitat. I
retain the hyperlink to
Mountainside from this site. Mary is now there to
welcome you.
Me? I am now entering university to study Environmental
Science. In my life I have long worked for the protection of caves
and the forests of their catchments, and will enjoy being able to continue,
but with the right
qualifications to suit this new political era.
Meanwhile, the tours are so important to me and they will of
course be
still running. However, from 8th February 2005,
tours will be available
mostly only on weekends, public holidays and during
the summer holidays. I advise to check with me for possible availability
on other days. While full
day tours are again being offered since I left
Mountainside, they will be of
limited availability depending on my current
workload at Uni.
So, for now, that's all until I SEE YOU
UNDERGROUND!
Wild Cave Tours
165 Fern-lea Rd.,
Caveside Tas. 7304
Ph/fax (03) 63678142
Mobile 0403 293549
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