Mole Creek Caves

Deep in Tasmania's lush farming country, the Mole Creek Caves offer a subterranean world of staggering beauty. This karst system, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, features two show caves—Marakoopa and King Solomons—each with unique formations, glowworms, and underground streams. It's a must for anyone fascinated by geology or seeking a cool, otherworldly escape on a Tasmanian road trip.

Highlights & What to See

• Marakoopa Cave: Famous for its vast chambers, delicate shawl formations, and a resident population of glowworms that create a starry ceiling effect. The guided tour includes a light show that reveals the cave's colors.
• King Solomons Cave: A smaller, more intimate cave with stunning helictites (curved, gravity-defying formations) and a crystal-clear underground stream. It's a photographer's delight.
• Glowworm Tours: Both caves offer dedicated glowworm experiences, but Marakoopa's are particularly impressive—turn off your torch and watch the blue-green luminescence.
• Surface Walks: The surrounding Mole Creek Karst National Park has short bushwalks through temperate rainforest, with opportunities to spot platypus in the nearby creeks at dawn or dusk.
• Wild Cave Tours: For adventurous travelers, book an adventure caving tour that takes you through undeveloped sections, crawling and squeezing through narrow passages.

Suggested Time to Spend

Allocate at least half a day to fully appreciate the caves. A typical visit combines one or both show caves (each tour lasts about 45–60 minutes) with a walk on the surface trails. If you're keen on both caves and a wild tour, plan for a full day. The caves are best visited in the morning to avoid afternoon crowds and to catch the glowworms at their most active.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Cataract Gorge: Just outside Launceston, this dramatic natural gorge offers cliff-side walks, a chairlift, and swimming in a natural pool—perfect for a post-caving unwind.
• Liffey Falls: A scenic 45-minute drive south, these tiered waterfalls tumble through myrtle rainforest and are easily accessible via a short walk.
• Deloraine: A charming historic town on the Meander River, great for a coffee stop or browsing local craft shops. It's on the way to the caves from Launceston.
• Great Western Tiers: The escarpment offers numerous walking tracks, including the popular Alum Cliffs Lookout, with panoramic views over the Tasmanian Midlands.
• Ashgrove Farm: A working dairy farm and cheese factory near Elizabeth Town, where you can sample award-winning cheddar and ice cream.

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