We decided to head to Buchan for the weekend to view the famous caves. We camped out at the Buchan Reserve on Friday. We enjoyed a BBQ dinner, walked to the local pub for a drink in the moonlight and were luckly enough to see a mob of kangaroos in the gully on the way home, lit up by the moonlight. Beautiful!
Buchan Caves were formed by underground rivers cutting through limestone rock. The formations are created by rain water seeping through cracks and dissolving some of the limestone. As each droplet comes through the roof it deposits calcite which crystallises in a small ring. In time, stalactites are formed on the roof of the cave, and stalagmites build up from droplets which fall to the floor.
The caves were reserved in 1887, though largely by accident - they were on land set aside for stock camping. The government commissioned an exploration soon afterwards and reserved the land to protect the caves.
In 1907, Frank Moon discovered the Fairy Cave which was opened to the public later that year. Royal Cave was discovered in 1910 by Frederick Wilson and after an entrance tunnel was excavated, it was opened to visitors in 1913. The Caves Reserve was set out and planted mostly in the late 1930s.
Royal Cave has beautiful calcite-rimmed pools. It was discovered in 1910 and after an entrance was dug, was opened to the public in 1913.
Our wonderful camp site at Buchan.
One of the many roos we saw in Buchan.
A little wallaby, just relaxing out in the brush.
On our walk to the Caves Hotel. Tried to get the moonlight in there with minimal luck.
The Caves Hotel. Had a beer and a look around.
Funny joke on the wall at the hotel.
