Mole Creek Karst National Park
Mole Creek Karst National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area in the west of Tasmania near the town of Mole Creek. The park is the only Tasmanian national park that protects a cave network and at 13.45 km2, it is also the smallest national park in the state.
| Parks of the Tasmanian Wilderness Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair • Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers • Hartz Mountains • Mole Creek Karst • Mount Field • Southwest • Walls of Jerusalem |
Understand
History
Mole Creek Karst National Park was declared in 1996 to provide protection for an extensive system of over 300 known caves and sinkholes, including Marakoopa and King Solomons Cave.
Landscape
As in the name of the park, most of this park is made up of a network of caves. Above ground, it's generally hilly.
Flora and fauna
The park features a wide range of flora and fauna, of varying conservation status with the species are contained both in the caves, and in the surrounding forests within the national park. Many of the species present, especially in the caves, are endemic to the area, meaning they're very important in regards to conservation and protection. The main highlight of the caves are the glow worms that inhabit the caves, with the Marakoopa Cave houses one of the most spectacular glow-worm displays in the entire system, and is a major tourist attraction on the guided cave tours.
Climate
The climate of the park on the ground is generally cold all year around, although it can go down.to freezing during the colder months of April to October, with temperatures over 18° being a very rare occurrence. Being part of the Tasmanian Wilderness, the rainfall is often more concentrated during the winter months, with usually January being the driest month.
Visitor information
The ticket office for Marakoopa Caves is at 330 Mayberry Road, Mayberry and 600 metres before the entrance to Marakoopa Cave and the ticket office for King Solomon's Cave is at 1535 Liena Road, Liena, in front of the cave's entrance. The email for both ticket offices is mccaves@parks.tas.gov.au.
Get in
In general, if you're getting here, getting your GPS to the town of Mole Creek should generally be fine which can be accessed via the B12 Mole Creek Road from Deloraine mainly via private transport. Alternatively, you could also enter 330 Mayberry Rd, Mole Creek which would also take you to the park.
Since this national park instead of being one, rather twelve different separate patches of land in the area collectively classified as a national park, getting to each and individual areas differ slightly.
Fees and permits
You do not need a Parks Pass to tour the caves but you will need to explore other areas of the park that is not touring the caves.
To enter any national park in Tasmania, you'll need to have a valid park pass to enter the park, which can be found on the Parks Tasmania website. There are numerous passes available, depending on your needs. The fees are up-to-date as of February 2024.
A Daily Pass is usually valid for 24 hours and is usable in all parks, although it does not include access to Cradle Mountain. This is particularly useful if you're going to numerous nearby parks. A pass for your vehicle covers up to 8 occupants; you only need the per-person pass if you arrive outside a vehicle.
- Per vehicle: $44.75.
- Per person (≥5 years): $22.35.
If you stay in Tasmania for a few weeks and want to visit several national parks, the Holiday Pass is valid for up to two months. This also includes Cradle Mountain.
- Per vehicle: $89.50.
- Per person (≥5 years): $44.75.
There is also the Annual Park Pass, which is valid in all parks, including Cradle Mountain.
- $95.30 in general.
- $76.25 for concession holders.
- $38.10 for seniors.
If you only plan to frequently revisit one park for 12 months, it costs $48.70 for a regular adult and $38.95 for concession holders. This excludes Cradle Mountain.
Passes can either be purchased through passes.parks.tas.gov.au, in any national park visitor centre, some travel information centres, onboard Spirit of Tasmania vessels, and Service Tasmania centres.
Get around
Most sections of the park are connected by road, however, the important points of interests; the ticket office, the gift shops and both the caves are all connected by the road, and take about a 12 km (7.5 mi) drive.
See
While there are over 300 different caves in Mole Creek Karst National Park, only two of them have tours and where you're able to visit. The other caves are off limits.
- 🌍 King Solomon's Cave, 1535 Liena Rd, Liena, ☏ +61 3 6363 5181. This cave features an extensive network of sediment and bone deposit, as well as shawls, and speleothems which make up stalactites and stalagmites.
- 🌍 Marakoopa Cave, 330 Mayberry Rd, Mayberry, ☏ +61 3 6363 5182. Popular for its fantastic glow worm display, and features two underground streams, large caverns, rim pools, reflections and shawl and flowstone features, have been developed as very successful show caves and are the main attraction of the guided cave tours.
Touring the caves must be done on a tour guide, and there are three tours to choose from.
- Underground Rivers and Glow Worms Tour
- Great Cathedral and Glow Worms Tour
- The King Solomons Cave Tour
The first two explore different parts of Marakoopa Cave, while the last one explores King Solomons Cave as the name says. Remember that you will need at least 15 minutes to travel between the two sections.
Tours have to be booked by going to the park's website, or by calling ☏ +61 3 6363 5182. Alternatively, you could get a ticket at the ticket office at 330 Mayberry Road, Mayberry, however, this is not generally advisable during peak holiday seasons.
Do
- The fifteen minute Fernglade Walk or the Marakoopa Forest Walk from the parking area near the ticket office to the Marakoopa Cave entrance is one walk that just an example of the untouched wilderness of Tasmania.
Buy
- 🌍 Gift shop, 330 Mayberry Road, Mayberry. A small gift shop. No specific name. Also functions as a ticket office.
Eat, drink and sleep
There are no shops, cafes, kiosks, bars, restaurants etc. in Mole Creek Karst National Park. The nearest are in the town of Mole Creek which is not too far away.
Stay safe
There are very few safety concerns for you in Mole Creek Karst National Park and there's little danger to worry about. However, the temperatures can go well below freezing below winter, a sight very unusual for Australia (where the typical places where the temperature goes up to freezing only in inland areas and the mountains)
Go next
- Walls of Jerusalem National Park is to the south of Mole Creek Karst National Park, with breathtaking mountain views
| END ← | W B12 E | → Mole Creek → merges into → Launceston |
| END ← | N C171 S | → Walls of Jerusalem National Park |