Day 22: We left camp early and headed back up the gravel road then turned down a steep road into Jenolan Caves. Having being so close to the biggest caves in Australia we thought we should pay them a visit, despite having already done one cave tour on this holiday. We visited the River Cave which was very impressive, both in terms of scale and features. In some ways the size took some of the beauty away when compared to Buchan which revealed its features through narrow openings and passageways.

Impressive was the grand arch, a tunnel so big they ran the road through it.

Our tour finished at 12, but the road out was closed for 2 hours from 11.15 to 1.15 to allow all the coach tours from Sydney to make their way down the steep winding road safely. We bought a sandwich for lunch and bimbled down the river to find a picnic spot.

After lunch we cut through the Nettle Cave and Devils Coach House, which were big open caved you're allowed to your on your own. Foregoing the audio guide means that whilst we enjoyed the view, we don't know what religious or patriotic names the early explorers gave to the features we saw.

Back on the road after the curfew was over and we were headed north. Deciding to save the Blue Mountains until Sunday as we knew it would be busy with Sydneysiders on a hot Saturday night we instead headed to Lithgow then to Newnes in the Wollemi National Park. Our evenings accommodation being a remote site about 35kms from a proper tarmaced road, and is suitably quiet. We're surrounded by cliffs and trees in a fine scenic spot.

Pre-tea walk to the historic ruins of Newnes. A small chemical works at the start of the last century processing shale oil mined from under the hills. Always seems strange looking at something badged as historical when it was built at about the same time as our house in Stockport (1908).

Back to camp and once more we're exhausted but at least we have cold beer!