With the forecast warning of wild weather, we swapped the inevitable grey skies for limestone ceilings and headed underground to explore the stunning Mole Creek Caves in northern Tasmania. Nestled within the Mole Creek Karst National Park, these caves offer guided tours into a world shaped by water, time, and geology.

On this visit, we explored Marrakoopa Cave, taking part in the two available guided experiences — the Underground Rivers & Glow Worms Tour and the Grand Cathedral Tour. A third tour being King Solomon’s Cave Tour located nearby, was likely to be closed at the time of booking due to forecast rainfall levels potentially making it subject to minor flooding.

The Journey Begins (in the Fog)

Although we left “bright and early”, there was nothing bright about it — dense fog, steady rain and the winter chill stayed with us the whole drive.

On arrival to Marrakoopa Cave, the outside was vibrant, saturated, and alive with sound — the rainforest buzzing with movement and the creek gushing out from the cave entrance.

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Tour One: Underground Rivers & Glow Worms

We entered the cave through a low, narrow opening and gathered in a spacious chamber dimly lit with warm lighting, the creek continuing inside, cascading down a series of terraced limestone platforms. Photography was not permitted here due to the light sensitivity of the glow worms, so we simply stood in awe, taking in the raw beauty of this underground world.

Inside, the atmosphere constantly shifting; at times it was still and silent, where every drip and drop echoed softly throughout. Other times, the sound of the creek was so powerful and all-encompassing, it was hard to hear anything else as it crashed and surged through its carved limestone passage.

Our guide introduced the cave’s history and geology, then led us deeper along the concrete path. The creek was anything but gentle — at points reverberating through the chamber, reminding us how active and alive this system is. Along the route, we admired delicate formations — curtains, straws, columns and flowstones — each formed over thousands to hundreds of thousands of years. At the turnaround point, the creek reappeared below us, carving a canyon-like crevice through the limestone.

The guide also pointed out evidence of past flooding events — marks and features that showed how high and forceful the water can become — explaining that at times floods have caused the caves to close to carry out repairs, and make them safe for tours to recommence.

The tour concluded back in the main chamber, where the guide turned off every light. In the complete darkness, the glow worms lit up the ceiling like a shimmering galaxy — a moment that left everyone, kids and adults alike, absolutely mesmerised.

Despite the dampness and some parts with water flowing over the path, the walkway was very safe and stable. At points on this tour there are a few places that can become tight from the protruding natural limestone formations both above and beside the path. Overall, this tour relatively easy and enjoyable for most fitness levels.

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Tour Two: The Grand Cathedral

With barely a few minutes’ rest between tours, just enough time to walk back to the car for a quick snack and drink. We were off again — this time on the Grand Cathedral Tour.

Starting in the same chamber, we quickly branched off onto a different pathway that took us higher into the cave system. This section was a little more physically demanding, involving more steps and some steeper sections, but the surface remained solid and safe. A moderate level of fitness is recommended for this tour.

As we moved through the cave, we were treated to more spectacular formations, each one more unique than the last. One of our favourites was a formation dubbed “The Palm Tree”, which genuinely looked like a real-life tree frozen in time.

The final chamber, The Grand Cathedral, absolutely lived up to its name. Expansive, vast, and acoustically incredible, our guide encouraged us to sing or hum, allowing the sounds to ripple and echo throughout the cavern — a surreal, spine-tingling experience. We had the pleasure of a fellow adventurer break into song with his strong deep baritone vocals and the accompanying reverberations were something that could only be experienced in person, and something that will live in our memories. A focal feature in the Grand Cathedral is a formation that resembles organ pipes of a traditional cathedral organ.

We ended this tour with another quiet moment beneath the same glow worm canopy—but just like the night sky, no two viewings are ever quite the same. This time, we could see many more glow worms sparkling, casting a different kind of magic over the moment. It was a gentle reminder that even in the same place, nature never shows herself in exactly the same way.

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Final Thoughts

Mole Creek Caves turned a cold, rainy day into an adventure we’ll never forget. Both tours offered something unique — from the thundering underground creek to the breathtaking acoustics of The Grand Cathedral.

We found both tours to be as magical and breathtaking as each other, we were unable to decide on which tour was the favourite as we all had our own highlights of both tours.

It was a day thoroughly enjoyed by both adults and kids, and we can’t recommend it enough to anyone exploring the region.

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Tips for visiting:

• Book tours in advance — they fill up quickly.
• Wear sturdy shoes with good grip — it’s wet inside!
• Bring a warm, waterproof jacket.
• Allow time to enjoy the beautiful rainforest surroundings near the cave entrances.