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The Caves

Located just 23km north of Rockhampton, The Caves Township is home to some of the most spectacular caves in Queensland. A Norwegian pioneer, John Olsen, stumbled across the entrance to what is now known as the Capricorn Caves in 1882. The Capricorn Caves are the state’s oldest tourist attraction and display incredible above ground limestone caves formed from an ancient coral reef over 400 million years ago.

Visit Mt Etna Caves National Park at dusk between December and February and experience the flight of thousands of tiny, bent-wing bats from their roost at feeding time. This is one of the few places in the world where you can witness the incredible spectacle created by these thumb-sized creatures.

On a night tour see thousands of bent-wing bats emerge in search of food. Tours operate during the bat breeding season, from December to February (fees apply). Visitors can picnic at the Cammoo Caves picnic area and go on a self-guided walk. Those who are a bit more adventurous can go off track and explore Limestone Ridge (bring your sturdy walking shoes!).

In December and January, visit the Capricorn Caves to witness the Summer Solstice light spectacle where a beam of dazzling sunlight penetrates through a 14 metre vertical shaft into the darkened cavern below.