Yarrangobilly Caves

4.8
172 reviews
Attraction
Yarrangobilly Castle Cave. Courtesy of Office of Environment and Heritage & M Vanderveer
Yarrangobilly Caves, Kosciuszko National Park
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Park alerts

Kosciuszko National Park

18 current alerts · 4 upcoming · Checked 13 Oct 2026, 9:05 pm

Official alerts
  • Closed areasUntil 31 Oct 2026

    Thredbo Diggings Campground Post-Winter Closures

    Thredbo Diggings Campground is closed for post-winter maintenance from Monday 12 October 2026 to Saturday 31 October 2026.

    Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, contact the local NPWS office.

About

Step into the depths of Yarrangobilly Caves and you’ll discover stalagmites, stalactites and delicate decorations like shawls and cave corals. Explore six caves created from a belt of limestone laid down about 440 million years ago in Koscuiszko National Park.

The largest cave, called South Glory, with its lofty chambers, presents a unique opportunity to explore on a self-guided tour. The other caves, including Jersey and Jillabenan, are guided Discovery tours that run three or four times daily (closed Christmas Day). Tickets can be purchased from Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre.

Come properly prepared for adventure: sturdy, enclosed shoes are a must and the caves are very cool, so bring a jacket even in the warmest weather.

You’ll also want to bring your swimmers because once you’ve explored what’s below ground, you can take the short walk along Yarrangobilly Caves - River walk to the thermal pool above ground. Year-round, it stays at a constant 27ºC and it's magical paddling here in winter.

The area at a glance

Part of Kosciuszko National Park

Kosciuszko National Park

The Yarrangobilly area is a highlight of northern Kosciuszko National Park. Explore jaw-dropping caves on a guided tour and swim in the thermal pool. Stay at historic Caves House and enjoy the walks and wildlife.

The Yarrangobilly area, between Tumut and Cooma, is a great base for the whole family. Come and explore the natural wonders of northern Kosciuszko and Snowy Mountains Highway.

Discover some of the most beautiful limestone caves in Australia, with 6 show caves open to the public. Stop by Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre for tips and to buy cave tour tickets. Then step into the depths of South Glory Cave on a self-guided tour through its lofty chambers. Join a daily guided tour of Jillabenan Cave's delicate stalagmites, stalactites, shawls and cave corals. Or, see Jersey Cave’s rare black flowstones.

More amazing caves and tours are available during school holidays. Try hands-on geology and Aboriginal culture tours, or Castle Cave tours by headlight. Ask the visitor centre about customised group tours, school excursions. They can also help with meetings and weddings.

Above ground, a swim in the outdoor thermal pool is a magical experience. The pool's fed by a natural spring with water staying 27ºC year-round. Keep an eye out for superb blue wrens as you swim. Then follow the Yarrangobilly River walk back to Glory Arch walk and carpark, or South Glory Cave. At dawn and dusk you might see a platypus in the river.

The rugged karst landscape is a backdrop for great walks, wildlife and bird watching. Stay a night or 2 at beautifully restored Caves House or Lyrebird Cottage, or camp nearby and delve deeper into the Snowy Mountains.

Walks
5
Places to stay
3
Campgrounds
1
Swimming spots
1

Plan your visit

Access, facilities and practical details.

Best times to visit

Spring

From September through to December, a burst of growth sees golden wattle, purple hovea, red pea bushes and white native daisies bloom amongst the mountain ash and gums. The path to Jersey Cave is lined with red grevillea, pink fringe-lillies and yellow billy buttons. The cool, clear waters of the Yarrangobilly tempt you to throw a line in, as rivers reopen for fishing season. This is also a great time to explore the mountain bike and horse riding trails of the nearby High Plains.

Summer

Escape the heat underground on a cave tour, including exclusive school holiday-only tours to explore caves not usually open to visitors. Make the most of the sunshine with a lazy day picnicking and swimming at the thermal pool. Keen bushwalkers will appreciate the shady trails and summer wildflowers, while birdwatchers will be busy spotting fairy wrens, flame robins, king parrots and maybe a lyrebird. Why not camp up the road at Yarrangobilly Village campground, or book a room or wing of Caves House. As the sun sets the area comes to life with kangaroos, possums, bats, red-necked and swamp wallabies. You might even meet the resident wombat, Harley, who lives under Caves House.

Autumn

Enjoy the beautiful autumn colours of European trees planted here in the early 1900s. Head through the historic line of elm trees on your way to Glory Arch and onto Castle walk. Work up an appetite with a swim in the popular thermal pool. Take in the mountain air on a walk to Glory Farm before looping back via River walk and South Glory Cave (ticket required). Then cook up a hearty meal in the self-catering kitchen at Caves House and relax by the fire.

Winter

Imagine swimming in a 27oC thermal pool surrounded by a blanket of snow, with no one but the birds to keep you company. If you’re lucky, you’ll see icicle stalactites hanging from Glory Arch, or reflections and ripples in the seasonal pool of water at South Glory Cave’s entrance. Located only 22km north of Selwyn Snow Resort, Yarrangobilly is a handy accommodation base for the ski fields, and a great all-weather alternative if it’s raining.

Places to discover

Stay, explore and relax across the park.

6 places

Places to stay (3)

Walks in this area

5 walks
  • Castle Cave walk

    Grade 2 · Easy · 3.2km return · 45min - 1hr 15min

Plants and animals

7 species

Animals

  • Bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
  • Eastern water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii)
  • Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Plants

  • Billy buttons (Craspedia spp.)

Protected species listed by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Frequently asked questions

8 questions

Reviews & Ratings

cakestop 1

cakestop 1

Google review

We went during the off-peak season, so it felt almost like having a private tour guide. We learned about how the caves were formed, the types of stone they’re made of, and the different forms of stalagmites — including their names. Loved it! The self-guided cave was a bit too dark, even with a torch, so watch your step on the stairs. Some stalagmite straws hang quite low, so be careful not to bump your head.

Before you go

Park entry

Park entry fees apply in the Yarrangobilly area $4 per vehicle per day applies at Yarrangobilly Caves for motor vehicles without a Kosciuszko National Park day pass or NPWS All Parks annual pass. See vehicle entry fees for other areas in Kosciuszko National Park. You’ll need to buy a ticket or cave pass from the Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre to visit all Yarrangobilly’s caves. .

Nearby towns

Talbingo (34 km) · Tumut (75 km) · Cooma (117 km)

Get in touch

Website

Visit website

Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre

02 6454 9597yarrangobilly.caves@environment.nsw.gov.au

50 Yarrangobilly Caves Road, Yarrangobilly, NSW 2720

9am to 5pm daily; Closed Christmas Day

Where you'll be

River Walk

Yarrangobilly NSW 2720

Get DirectionsView on map