Tasmania’s caves are not one interchangeable attraction. Some are managed show caves with guided tours. Others protect fragile animals, geological records or Aboriginal cultural heritage and are not open for casual exploration.
Mole Creek protects a connected karst system
Mole Creek Karst National Park contains caves, sinkholes, underground streams, gorges and springs. Public tours enter Marakoopa Cave and King Solomons Cave. Marakoopa includes glow-worm displays and underground streams, while King Solomons is a smaller, drier cave with extensive formations.
Hastings is a dolomite cave beneath wet forest
Newdegate Cave at Hastings is reached by a guided tour from the visitor centre. Parks Tasmania identifies it as Australia’s largest tourist cave formed in dolomite. The reserve also has a thermal pool and short surface walks, but tour check-in and cave access require separate timing.
Gunns Plains is privately operated
Gunns Plains Cave is a guided show cave in north-west Tasmania. Because it is privately operated, visitors should check the operator’s current tour times, prices and mobility information rather than relying on an old directory listing.
Kutikina is Aboriginal Land, not a show cave
Kutikina Cave in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park holds exceptionally important evidence of Aboriginal occupation during the last Ice Age. It was returned to the Aboriginal community under the Aboriginal Lands Act. Its inclusion in historical tourist lists should not be read as an invitation to visit or locate it.
Cave temperatures, steps and lighting differ. Wear enclosed footwear, follow guides and never touch formations. For natural arches formed by coastal erosion, use the separate sea caves and arches guide.