Borenore Caves
Borenore Caves
This is one of those hikes that’s perfect for a relaxed morning or afternoon out — a mix of walking, exploring, and soaking up the quiet bush surroundings. It’s an easy adventure for families, a fun stop on a Central West road trip, or just a chance to escape the busy streets of Orange for a couple of hours. If you’re looking for a simple but memorable outdoor experience, grab a torch and head for Borenore Caves.
Quick Details - Arch Cave
Length: Up to 700m
Elevation: Pretty much flat, with one staircase to explore the cave
Grade: Easy
Best season: Year Round
Suitable for kids: Yes
Starting the Trail
The weather was set to be wet and wild in the Blue Mountains this week, so we rugged up and headed off in the opposite direction — to Borenore Caves, on the other side of Orange. The first cave we visited, Arch Cave, is only a short walk from the car park and picnic area. We crossed a little bridge, turned left, walked another 100 metres, and we were there. It really was that easy!
Borenore Caves isn’t one big cave system — it’s a collection of limestone outcrops and tunnels that you’re free to explore at your own pace. There are no guided tours, no lights, no fences. Just you, your torch, and your sense of adventure. Walking into the entrance of Arch Cave was amazing. The tall rock walls surrounded us, giving that humbling feeling of how small we really are.
The creek was running steadily under the overhang. Jess has been here before when there was no water in the creek, allowing her to explore further under the rock than we could manage on our visit. Even still, it was surprising just how far we could go. We scrambled over some rocks and entered what felt like a large stone room.
We’ve explored plenty of narrow crevices and overhangs in the Blue Mountains National Park — there, it’s mostly sandstone. But the limestone of a Karst environment really is something else. I found myself mesmerised, looking up at the intricate details of the stone.
The creek runs right under the rock wall, slowly carving the cave deeper into the earth. The water is a strange milky colour — we presume it’s caused by the lime from the rocks. Here in Arch Cave, it’s a sort of yellowed colour — or maybe that’s just the reflection of the walls around us.
As we came out the other side and saw the sky beyond the rocks, the water looked almost blue as it entered the overhang. The stone wall rose higher as it arched over the creek — presumably why they call it “Arch Cave”. I said, “Oh, is that all there is?” and Jess replied, “No, there’s another cave behind you.” I turned and ran off like a kid in a playground — excited to explore further.
Above our heads was a cave that clearly went deep into the rock — there was no light coming through that we could see from where we were standing. It’s a bit of a scramble to get up there, but there’s a handrail and a chain to help — limestone can be a slippery walking surface, as I was about to find out for myself.
The rock formations around the entrance looked incredible. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw a faint pinprick of light in the distance — this wasn’t just a cave, it was a tunnel. I took a few quick steps further inside, slipped on the floor, and fell on my butt. Maybe doing this in the dark wasn’t my best idea — “Maybe you should use a torch” called out Jess. Yes… Good idea!
This was really my first proper cave experience, and I was amazed that something so beautiful could be hidden in the dark like this. Intricate columns of stone stretching between the ground and the ceiling — only to be found by those willing to venture into the rock. Light came in from the other end through two possible exits that opened onto the track we’d walked in on (there’s also a staircase outside leading to one of them).
With my feet back on the dirt, we headed off under the arch to complete the loop. We turned back to see the arch from the other side. The loop walk takes you back to the picnic area the long way. It might be worth doing if you’ve got little adventurers with you — but honestly, it’s just a bush track, and you won’t miss much by skipping it.
Quick Details - Tunnel Cave and Verandah Cave
Length: 7km
Elevation: Mostly flat, a few easy short hills
Grade: Moderate
Best season: Spring, Summer, Autumn
Suitable for kids: Yes, with supervision and if they’re ok with the distance
Starting the Trail
After returning from Arch Cave, we decided to also check out Tunnel Cave and Verandah Cave. We jumped in the car and drove over to the trailhead — parking next to a locked gate. We walked down the dirt road for a short way before turning off to our right. From here the trail is wide and grassy. It’s signposted the whole way — just keep following the signs for Boree Creek Trail.
A few different kinds of kangaroos and wallabies were out — including a kind with yellow-blonde tails that we’d never seen before. We really loved this trail. The area is quite open with views across neighbouring farmland, and it made a nice change to walk over soft grassy ground.
As we got further along, we followed the creek on our left and the stone walls on our right. The water in the creek still had that milky-blue colour. In a few places the rocks looked like they might be hiding more caves, but the ones we checked didn’t go anywhere.
The trail led us to a wide open grassy area. There’ve been a few trails leading off from the trail up until now, but they’re mostly signposted, so as long as you stick to the main trail you shouldn’t get lost. The trail curved around, and another bridge took us over the creek.
Tunnel Cave
As we got closer to our second cave of the day, it started to rain lightly — and the wind was like ice, even though we were both rugged up in multiple layers. We were too close to turn back now, so we pressed on to Tunnel Cave.
It may not look like much from the outside, but as we scrambled down a muddy bank to the entrance, we were met with more beautiful rock formations. The full cave is approximately 250m long and averages 3m in diameter — although there are places where you could still bang your head if you’re not careful (says the sign at the entrance). We didn’t go any further in than the entrance on our visit, and for good reason.
Access to Tunnel Cave requires permission from the NPWS Bathurst Office. It’s closed between 1 May and 31 October each year, when a colony of Eastern Bent-Wing Bats uses it for a kind of hibernation, called “torpor”. This cave can be dangerous to visitors — so it’s best left to the bats and those who know what they’re doing.
Verandah Cave
The trail climbs over a hill and continues much the same as the last 3km. The rain was getting heavier, and we were pretty keen to find somewhere to dry off and wait it out. As the trail turned downhill, it curved to the left, and we were met with the entrance to Verandah Cave.
The creek runs out of the cave through a deep channel in the rock. The colour contrast was really pretty. We tried to find a way over the channel to get to the other side of Verandah Cave, but the water was too deep, and the walls too steep, with nothing to hold onto. We weren’t looking to go swimming today, so we stuck to the path.
Verandah Cave is more of a large overhang than a cave — whoever named these caves was quite literal in their name choices. The creek is wide as it flows under the ceiling, so we couldn’t explore far. The late afternoon light hit just the right spot though to give us a beautiful reflection in the water. As the rain started to ease, we decided to head back to the car while we still had the chance to stay dry.
Getting There
Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve can be found in Borenore, 15 minutes outside of Orange on The Escort Way (a little over four hours drive from Sydney). You’ll likely find the Reserve in your vehicle navigation system. There are signs on the road for the entrance. From The Escort Way you’ll drive down a dirt road that at the time of writing is 2WD accessible and in good condition.
Tips and Tricks
Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve has a beautiful picnic area with wide open grassy spaces, picnic tables, and communal barbecues perfect for a family picnic.
The Reserve is open between 9am and 7pm each day, and the entrance is locked at all other times.
If you’re heading over to Verandah Cave, you can park just to the side of a locked gate on the trail. If you get there and the gate is open, don’t drive through it or else you might find yourself on the wrong side of a padlock when you try to leave.
If your little adventurers have sensory-touch issues you should be aware that limestone can be slippery and often feels almost greasy that they may not like.