Bungonia Caves facts for kids

Bungonia Caves is a cool group of caves found near Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. These caves are a fantastic place to explore and learn about nature!

Exploring Bungonia Caves

The Bungonia Caves are located inside the Bungonia State Conservation Area. This area is right next to the Morton National Park. You can find it about 35 kilometres (22 miles) east of Goulburn. It's also about 125 kilometres (78 miles) southwest of Sydney.

How the Caves Formed

These amazing caves were created in a type of rock called limestone. This limestone is part of a huge area known as the Sydney Basin. This basin stretches across much of New South Wales. It goes from Bungonia all the way up to Newcastle, New South Wales in the north and over to Lithgow, New South Wales in the west.

Staying Safe in the Caves

Some parts of the Bungonia Caves are very steep and tricky to get into. Because of this, entry to certain areas is limited. Sometimes, the air inside the caves can be a bit tricky, too. It might have too much carbon dioxide (CO₂) or not enough oxygen (O₂). This is more common in summer, especially in a cave called The Grill Cave. Park rangers keep an eye on these conditions to make sure everyone stays safe.

Home to Special Bats

One of the most famous caves is The Drum Cave. It's a super important place for bats, especially for breeding. The Large Bent-wing Bat lives here. This bat is considered a 'Vulnerable' species in New South Wales. This means it needs special protection to help its numbers grow.

To keep the bats safe during their breeding season, The Drum Cave is closed every year. It closes from November 1st to April 1st. But don't worry, it's open to visitors for the rest of the year! The Drum Cave is so important because the next closest place for these bats to breed is far away, near Wee Jasper. The Grill Cave also closes in December for bats. Another cave, Chalk Cave, is closed from May 1st to September 30th for bat hibernation during winter. Entering these closed caves during these times can result in a fine, so it's important to respect the rules.

Discovering Fossils and Bushwalks

As you walk around the Bungonia area, you might spot many fossils! These are ancient remains of plants and animals preserved in rocks. There are also different bushwalking trails you can follow. They are colour-coded, which makes it easy to choose your adventure!

List of Bungonia Caves

There are over 190 caves at Bungonia! Some are just small holes, while others are much bigger. Here are some of the well-known ones:

• The Drum Cave
• The Blowfly Cave
• The Grill Cave
• Argyle Cave
• Chalk Cave
• College Cave
• Mass "cathedral" cave
• Canberra Hole
• Odyssey (Note: This cave is closed and only used for research.)
• Fossil cave – Hogans Hole
• System
• Spider
• Acoustic Pot