Day 4 – 6* Feet Under 

*actual measurements may vary.

Today we wrap up our South Australia road trip with one last trip underground. We returned to Naracoorte Cave National Park where we were on Friday, to visit the cave that gave them their UNESCO World Heritage listing in 1995 – Victoria Fossil Cave. We were lucky enough to have a wonderfully knowledgeable and passionate tour guide Barb, take us through part of this fascinating cave system and teach us about its history and historical and biological significance. 

In 1969, a caver and a student biologist named Rob Wells and Grant Gatrell were exploring Victoria caves when they stopped at the dead end at the end of the geographical map. The map had a dotted line at this spot, meaning that it is believed the cave went further, but there was no proof or mapping of it. This is where they started feeling a strong breeze, which cemented their belief that there was more cave behind where they had stopped. It was described to us that being “one second Rob was there, the next he was nothing but soles of boots wriggling his way through a narrow tunnel”. It took him an hour but once he was through, he was in a large cavern which lead down into another small tunnel, and he was barrelling ahead keen to explore this brand-new-to-known-history cave system. Grant squeezed his way through behind him and started following, but with a bit of a keener, more thorough eye. This was when he looked down at his cavers boot to where he was standing on a skull of a thylocaleo, an ancient giant wombat. This marked the start of the excavation of the richest fossil site in the area. Barb was telling us that their onsite palaeontologist has recorded samples from over 100,000 years ago, and has found fossils of many, many animals, including the known mega fauna of the area. Although they believe this area to have been used by humans, they are yet to find any fossil material or evidence that they were in this cave. 

All of these animals met their unfortunate end in this cave by falling down solution pipes (holes through to the surface), and landing in a pile at the bottom at this excavation site, but their palaeontologist has found evidence of 7 other depression sites, which indicate that there could be more sites for them to excavate and learn from. I find all of this hugely fascinating, and it makes me wish I continued to pursue my interest in science.

Next up we went on a self lead exploration of their Stick-Tomato cave system. This one got its name from its large main chamber shaped like a tomato, and it’s stick section which is long and narrow, that you can explore with a guide as an amateur caving experience. We didn’t get to do that part, but I’m kind of interested in giving something similar a go back in Victoria. The main chamber was the biggest cave I’ve seen, without the decorations of stalactites and stalagmites as it was a dry cave, but we still got to see some pretty incredible formations on the limestone roof and ceiling from the water recession eating away at it. 

That was the last cave of the trip! So with that done, we were on the road heading towards some silo art back in Victoria. First one was in Goroke, which is just on the side of the road over three huge silos. We stopped for some lunch at a tiny little country corner shop named JM’s takeout and cafe, which felt like it was just run out of the couple’s home, and was a really sweet little experience. I love tiny country towns.

 Next up was another site in Horsham. Breaking up the long drive home has been a great idea. Every hour or so we hop out at something to stretch our legs and make sure we are both awake and alert. So a quick stop at these silos was a great little break, plus they’re absolutely beautiful. I adore black cockatoos, so seeing one so large and wonderfully painted was a treat. 

I’ve been thinking about a poncho I saw at the Ballarat Vintage and Collectables, so that was our next rest and stretch stop. Google said we would get there just before closing, so we were cutting it fine. Traffic and rain slowed us down but we made it! Only to find that the poncho I saw on Friday was sold. But Anthony picked up a yoyo he had also been thinking about since Friday, so it wasn’t a complete bust. This was where we said goodbye to our travel buds and went our separate ways. That’s the end of another amazing trip this year. I still have two more coming up, so I’m looking forward to the rest of 2023.