Wyanbene Caves

Deua National Park

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Overview

Explore the entrance to Wyanbene Caves in Deua National Park. The caves protect several species of bats and small invertebrates. Only those with a permit can explore deeper into the chambers.

Explore the entrance to the underground world of Wyanbene Caves, located near the remote Wyanbene campground, 2 hours’ drive from Moruya.

Its chambers are home to several bat species including the threatened eastern bentwing-bat, along with some syncarida that have adapted to living in the cave’s icy cold waters. These small invertebrate crustaceans have only been recorded in a handful of caves across NSW.

Researchers and intrepid cavers with a permit will find a variety of cave formations beyond the locked gate. Helictites, stalactites and shawls await, along with an impressive cave shaft known as the Gunbarrel Aven.

Caves access 

You can visit the first 150m of Wyanbene Caves without a permit. There’s a locked gate after the first 150m. Access beyond this gate is by permit only.

Opening times 

The first 150m of the caves are open year-round. The section beyond the locked gate closes from 1 June to 31 August to allow the bats to hibernate.

Permits

To request a permit, send a completed application form to the Narooma office. It’s best to submit the form several weeks before your visit to make sure your permit is assessed in time.

When applying for a permit, keep in mind the cave restrictions: 

  • Access is restricted to a small number of groups each year 
  • There’s a maximum number of 6 people per group
  • Previous caving experience is essential
  • Public liability insurance coverage of $10 million is required unless applying as a part of a speleological group.

Safety

To ensure you stay safe during your visit:

  • Wear a helmet with a head lamp and non-slip footwear
  • Carry a torch
  • Wear suitable clothing. It’s likely you’ll get dirty while caving, and you may also get wet, muddy and cold during periods of higher rainfall.
  • Always cave with another person
  • Stay on marked or obvious paths
  • Avoid climbing or touching cave formations

This is a sensitive and important habitat for roosting bats so please keep noise down and tread carefully during your visit. Take all your rubbish with you when you leave to keep the caves clean.

Nearby Wyanbene campground is a good place to stay if you’re planning to explore Wyanbene Caves. Bookings are required and fees apply.

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    Wyanbene campground

    Wyanbene campground is conveniently located close to Wyanbene Caves in Deua National Park, near Moruya.

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These maps give a basic overview of park attractions and facilities, and may not be detailed enough for some activities. We recommend that you buy a topographic map before you go exploring.

Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/show-caves/wyanbene-caves/local-alerts

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Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Wyanbene Caves.

Learn more

Wyanbene Caves is in Deua National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

    Diverse scenery and luscious landscapes

    The Big Hole, Deua National Park. Photo: Lucas Boyd

    From grassy woodlands on the lower eastern slopes of Deua Valley, to the peatlands and swamps on the tablelands, there are landscapes aplenty at Deua National Park. Valleys dissected by wild rivers, rugged mountains, deep gorges, dry ridges, steep escarpments, limestone karst and high plateaus are also some of the diverse landforms you'll find at Deua National Park. The Big Hole is thought to have been an underground cave until the ceiling collapsed and now is a 96m deep and 50m wide pit. Marble Arch has a car-sized boulder over its entrance and inside this cave are animal remains believed to be thousands of years old. Bendethera Cave is over 250m long, 320m wide and contains massive limestone formations in caverns with up to 15m high ceilings. Rocky outcrops found throughout the park support unique and rare species of gum trees, like the woila and jilliga ash, whilst the limestone slopes in Bendethera Valley is the only known location of Bendethera wattle; a sight to behold as they blossom during spring. The drier and cooler conditions allow pinkwoods and soft tree ferns to thrive in the higher altitudes of the eastern escarpments, and grey myrtle, lilly pilli and mock olives can regularly be seen along the small creeks and gullies throughout.

    • The Big Hole walking track It’s an adventurous walk from Berlang campground to the viewing platform at The Big Hole as long as you don’t mind getting your feet wet crossing Shoalhaven River along the way.
    • Wyanbene Caves Explore the entrance to Wyanbene Caves in Deua National Park. The caves protect several species of bats and small invertebrates. Only those with a permit can explore deeper into the chambers.

    Powerful stuff

    Hanging Mountain lookout, Deua National Park. Photo: Lucas Boyd

    Deua is home to over 106 species of birds. There is a particularly high diversity of birds of prey in the park, such as the powerful owl and the peregrine falcon. The powerful owl is Australia's largest owl. The peregrine falcon, which is the fastest creature in the animal kingdom, can reach over 300km/hr in a high-speed dive when hunting. So if you see a dark vertical blur in the sky over Deua, you'll know now what it is and why it's moving so fast.

    • The Big Hole walking track It’s an adventurous walk from Berlang campground to the viewing platform at The Big Hole as long as you don’t mind getting your feet wet crossing Shoalhaven River along the way.

    The trails of time

    Looking across the valley, Deua National Park. Photo: Lucas Boyd

    Passed on through generations in story and in song, the history of Aboriginal people of this land and their connection with all that surrounds them is very much a part of what you'll see in Deua National Park. Having travelled up and down the escarpment along well-worn pathways between the coast and the Monaro Tablelands for thousands of years, there are many places of spiritual significance. Scarred trees, grinding grooves and middens can be seen along the 'dreaming trails' of Deua.

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