World’s oldest caves
In 2006, scientists from CSIRO, the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum revealed that Jenolan’s limestone caves date back more than 340 million years, to the Carboniferous, making them millions of years older than any reported date for an open cave anywhere in the world.
The finding was the result of a variation of conventional potassium-argon dating, which can calculate the age of minerals by measuring levels of decay caused by radioactive potassium. The age of the caves was determined by dating the clay minerals that crystallised when volcanic ash entered the caves.
Jenolan is famous for spectacular beauty. School groups can choose to tour one or more of a range of sensational show caves.
The Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve is located in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, and has been protected since 1866. Jenolan Caves is the ideal destination for school groups, and is best described as ‘Nature’s classroom’.
Truly unique surrounds offer students the opportunity to experience rare wildlife, unchanged and contrasting ecosystems, and geological formations wilder than the imagination.
We offer experiential learning through such activities as Adventure Caving, abseiling, guided tours and new science tours.
Own or work here?
