Wombeyan Caves

Our family spent a lovely weekend at Wombeyan Caves. We cheated and stayed in a dorm to avoid packing up tents in the rain.  We all adored the caves and the lively camping ground. It reminded me of why I study geomorphology. Karst rock features in the caves were so diverse and amazing. The caves were still, damp, quiet, dark and sparkly (well I imagined they were quiet if I removed our kids screams of delight). A few bats flew around the stalagmites, stalactites, helictites, flow stones and columns (cave formations- speleothem). Bushfires even got into the story due to the smoke colouring some cave features.

Accomodation  options at the caves include camping. cabins or dorms. We stayed in the dorms. Cheap, clean and rain proof. You still use communal toilets and there is no kitchen nearby. You can use the camp kitchen. We brought  our own stove which proved very useful.

 

The whole package is enjoyable at Wombeyan. The place is kid friendly. Bring your bikes, footy balls for the oval, wood for the fires  and the camera for the caves.  This geosite is fabulous.

Lat/Long -34.310300000°, 149.967000000°

Petrified Wood

The other day we took a walk along the beautiful Illawarra beaches starting at Belambi Lagoon. The kids enjoyed swimming even in the freezing weather, they really have minimal sense of cold. Dr Rock enjoyed pointing out the petrified wood in the rock platform. Petrified means turning into rock. This tree was around in the early Permian. Permian era was about 250 millions years ago, before the dinosaurs existed.

Petrified wood and the rock hollow where the tree stump once laid

Close up photo of the petrified wood 

We were chatting about the need for a scale in our photos. Do you think a gnome would be appropriate? Suggestions on scale ideas welcomed. 

The Start

Hello

We have this idea of promoting geodiversity. Come aboard and share our adventure. Our family consists of a Dr Geology Dad, a Geomorphologist Mum and their three boys. We will start out local, showing you the beautiful geosites in the Greater Sydney Region then move further a field within NSW, interstate and beyond.

This photo is of the Three Sisters located in Katoomba, NSW. The sisters are made predominately from sandstone, a sedimentary rock. The site is gorgeous in all weather and is one of the many features that make up the unique World Heritage Site of the Greater Blue Mountains.