Oberon Blue Mountains

Oberon has four different lovely seasons and the most stunning landscape in rural New South Wales (NSW).

The Mayfield Garden, Abercrombie River National Park, and Kanangra-Boyd National Park are nearby destinations where you can go truffle hunting, hiking, swimming, or fishing in addition to the Jenolan Caves.

A trip to an area like that, in addition to the Blue Mountains, is enriching and delightful.

Jenolan Caves

The caverns are the oldest open caves in the world, according to CSIRO, with an estimated age of 340 million years.

The Jenolan Caves, located in a rural valley 30 minutes south of Oberon, are Australia’s most unique and extensive cave system.

The Jenolan Caverns and Conservation Reserve are among the eight protected sites of the Greater Blue Mountains Area, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Over 400 limestone caves have been discovered since 1830, while more are yet to be explored as cave development continues. 

The cave network traces the Jenolan River’s underground path. More than 300 entrances and approximately 40 (25 miles) of multi-level pathways exist.

The Jenolan region has been a part of the indigenous peoples’ cultures for countless years. They knew it as ‘Binoomea,’ meaning ‘dark places.’ 

The Gundungurra people traveled into the tunnels as far as the underground water; assuming it had healing properties, they brought ill people to bathe.

The caverns contain abundant Silurian marine fossils and calcite formations that are occasionally entirely white.

Only skilled cavers have access to most sections of this complex cave network, particularly those situated along underground rivers. 

Only 11 caverns are currently accessible to the general public.

The most famous caves are Orient, Lucas, River, Chifley, Imperial, and Lucas.

Beside an old riverbed, Imperial Cave is relatively flat beside an ancient riverbed and suitable for less mobile visitors.  

Orient Cave is said to be one of the most beautiful caves in the world. It is covered heavily in calcite crystal formations.

With a full-day tour of the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves, you can explore the Lucas Cave, the highest and widest chamber of Jenolan Caves with underlying rivers. 

Note: Jenolan Caverns has closed in the past due to bushfires, floods, landslides, the COVID pandemic, and other reasons. Be sure to visit the Jenolan Caverns official website to see the daily status before visiting. 

Mayfield Garden

One of the world’s biggest privately owned excellent climate gardens, Oberon’s Mayfield Garden is home to beautiful landscapes. 

The garden features a cold climate nursery and a Cafe & Produce Store providing a paddock-to-plate menu and regional wines, beers, and cold drinks.

You can attend lengthy lunches and seminars at the Field to Forest Festival in April.

In the winter, you can go truffle hunting at Mount Lowe Truffiere. 

The Oberon Blue Mountains Community and Farmers Market, held on the first Saturday of each month, is a great place to sample additional local products.

Mayfield Garden in the NSW Central Tablelands is 75 minutes by car from Katoomba and two to three hours from Sydney.

The garden is open daily from 9 am until 4 pm, with the last entry at 3 pm.

Tracks 

Observe the Jenolan bush trails and perhaps shy native creatures, including wallabies and platypi. 

One popular hiking route near the caves is the Jenolan River Walking Track. 

The Jenolan River walking trail, also known as the Working Waters walk, is about beautiful river vistas passing through Blue Lake, waterfalls, bridges, and Jenolan Caves’ hydroelectric heritage.

This 2.6 km round-trip walk is suitable for practically everyone at any time of year.

Being a crucial platypus habitat, Blue Lake is off-limits to swimming. You can swim in the waterhole downstream, under the waterfall, along the Jenolan River Walk.

The trail is excellent for observing animals and birds.

Bellbirds, rock warblers, and lyrebirds are a few animals that are commonly spotted, along with goannas, kangaroos, wallabies, and eastern water dragons.

Make your trip extra special with a day-guided tour of the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caverns. Learn about the cave’s potential uses and marvel at beautiful views of waterfalls and glistening blue pools.

There are several tracks and other outdoor activities in the Oberon Blue Mountains region. 

• The Waterfall Tract, with spectacular waterfall vistas and the Mares Forest Creek track are two of the excellent treks available in the Wombeyan Karst Conservation Reserve, located 112 kilometers south of Oberon. 

• Abercrombie Karst Conservation Reserve is known for its amazing limestone caverns and provides wonderful bushwalking, waterfalls, and scenic campsites and is located south of Oberon.
  
  The three rivers and several streams cutting through Abercrombie River National Park make it the perfect place for hiking, camping, and 4WD travel.

• You can also travel through the untamed Kanangra-Boyd bush on the historic Oberon Colong Stock 4WD Stock Route to reach the famous ghost town of Yerranderie.
  
  The 21-kilometer Boyd River loop is perfect for a peaceful two-hour cycling adventure in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, following fire trails and roads.

Oberon Hotels

Oberon and its surrounding villages offer a diverse range of hotels that cater to various preferences and budgets. 

From cozy bed and breakfasts to farm stays, motels, hotels, and even camping options, the common thread among all Oberon accommodations is the promise of traditional country hospitality.

Beaconsfield Cottage offers luxury in rustic surroundings, while Big Trout Motor Inn provides comfortable motel-style lodging on the town’s outskirts. 

Duckmaloi Farm offers award-winning self-catering cottages for family gatherings, and Bindo Creek Cabins provide stunning mountain and forest views. 

Jenolan Caves House offers historic guest rooms, Mountain Lodge has motel-style rooms, and Binda Bush Cabins provide diverse options. 

123 On Curtis is a charming bed and breakfast close to the main street. 

Stone Hedge is a well-appointed country house near Oberon Blue Mountains. 

Jenolan Cabins, atop Porcupine Hill, offer a unique and picturesque stay in the Jenolan Caves region.

Getting there

The Oberon Blue Mountains region, 177 km from Sydney, is a 3-hour drive via Jenolan Caves Road.

Alternatively, you can take the train from Central Station to Tarana and a coach to Oberon. The entire trip lasts about four hours.

You can travel from Jenolan Caves to Oberon from Sydney or Katoomba.

City	Distance to Jenolan Caves
Sydney	175 km (109 miles), West
Katoomba	74 km (46 miles), West
Oberon	20 km (12 miles), East

Note: Road restrictions have changed the route to Jenolan Caves from Sydney. 

You have to turn left onto Titania Road and then left again onto Edith Road just before the town of Oberon to get to Jenolan Caves.

Be aware that there is now a detour. Turn left onto Jenolan Caves Road from the Great Western Highway. 

Oberon Australia Map

Source: oberonaustralia.com.au

On the western slope of the Great Dividing Range, 180 kilometers and less than three hours’ drive from Sydney, is the town of Oberon.

Oberon Australia Weather 

Oberon experiences a climate characterized by comfortable summers and very cold winters, with year-round partial cloud cover. 

The temperature typically ranges from 29°F (-1.7°C) to 76°F (24.4°C), with the warm season lasting from December to March, peaking in January. 

The cold season spans from May to August, with July being the chilliest. 

Oberon’s skies are clearest from December to May, with March being the clearest month at 70% clear or partly cloudy. 

From May to December, cloudier conditions prevail, with June being the cloudiest at 46% overcast.

You can enjoy warm-weather activities from late December to late February in the Oberon Blue Mountains.

FAQs

Featured Image: Tripadvisor.com