Welcome to one of Tasmania's more unusual national parks. The clue to the park's appeal lies in the name - the word ‘karst’ refers to the scenery characteristic of a limestone region, including caves and underground streams, and the Mole Creek area contains over 300 known caves and sinkholes. The park itself is in a number of small segments, including public caves, which you can tour, and wild caves, which are strictly for experienced cavers.
There are two public caves . The first is Marakoopa Cave whose name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning ‘handsome’ – which it surely is – with delicate stalactites and stalagmites, glow-worms, sparkling crystals and reflective pools. Two tours are available here. The easy Underground Rivers and Glow-Worms Tour is for all ages, picking some of the more accessible (yet still stunning) areas of the cave. The Great Cathedral and Glow-Worms Tour is more challenging, with a stairway ascent to the vast cavern known as 'Great Cathedral'.
Tours of King Solomons Cave will show you lavish colours and formations in this more compact cave.
The caves are a constant 9°C: wear warm clothes and good walking shoes.
Cyclops , Honeycomb and Baldocks are among the better-known wild caves in the Mole Creek area that are without steps or ladders. The best way to explore these and other wild caves is on one of the excursions offered by Wild Cave Tours ; they’re not for children under 14. The guide, Debbie, is an environmental scientist and her love of the caves really shines through. She’ll show you a host of endangered species. Book ahead and bring spare clothing and a towel.
