Subterranean Victoria - The Best Underground Family Activities
There's no need to stay on the surface in Victoria - there are plenty of subterranean possibilities ranging from underground mines to caves.
Underground Mine Tours
Central Deborah Gold Mine (Bendigo)
Don a hard hat and miner's lamp, descend 61 metres beneath the surface and be guided through the honeycomb of tunnels where almost one ton of gold was unearthed and discover what conditions as a miner were really like during the harsh gold rush era. Explore all the old mining equipment on the surface and there is a chance to do a spot of gold panning.
Long Tunnel Extended Mine (Walhalla)
Underground tours of mine which extends 300 metres into a huge underground machinery chamber hewn from the solid rock over a century ago.
State Coal Mine (Wonthaggi)
This unique attraction in Gippsland is the only historic coal mine experience in the Southern Hemisphere. Operating from 1909 until 1968, the State Coal Mine produced almost 17 million tonnes of coal for Victoria's industries and railways. Walk among gardens and historic buildings as you follow the heritage trail. Climb aboard the old steam locomotive, see a pit-pony, and stop by at the museum. Relax and enjoy a BBQ at the picnic area.
Entry to the site is free above ground where you can follow the heritage walk among historic buildings. Explore the network of underground tunnels on a mine tour (fees apply). The mine remains just as it was in its working days. Tools and equipment are still in place, as if the miners have just walked away.
Sovereign Hill (Ballarat)
A 10-minute, free self-guided underground adventure tour of the Red Hill Mine which depicts the discovery of the 69kg Welcome Nugget, the second largest gold nugget ever found. To get into the mine you will have to walk down over 50 steps.
Carman's Tunnel (Maldon)
The 570m long tunnel was driven through solid rock in the search for gold. It is dry, clean, spacious, level and easily accessible to all ages and is wheelchair friendly. No gold bearing rock was cut, but the tunnel gives an excellent insight into the mining techniques of the 1880s.
Karr's Reef Goldmine Tours (Yackandandah)
The Heritage listed, 150 metre-long gold mining tunnel was carved out by Cornish tin miners who traced alluvial gold back to its source. The guides will show you the pick marks still on the dirt walls and the core holes from the black powder blasting. There is a full commentary on the history of the men who operated it, ending up in the middle of the mountain where the quartz reef is still visible. Then walk along the quartz reef and reveal some gold still there to be seen, this quartz reef being the source of the alluvial gold found in the creek.
Underground Cave Tours
Buchan Caves (Buchan)
The reserve is home to the Royal Cave and Fairy Cave, which boast elaborate stalactites and stalagmites and beautiful calcite. There are daily tours of both caves.
Princess Margaret Rose Cave (Nelson)
The caves are spectacular with lots of stalagmites, stalactites and columns. On a 40 minute tour the guide points out all the unusual formations, how the formations have been formed and the history of the caves.
Caving Adventures
Britannia Creek Caving Adventure (Yarra Valley)
Explore the underground wonderland of Britannia Creek Cave with Warburton Adventure Company. Enter into a subterranean river system and make your way through tight passages and into cool cave chambers. With the help of your experienced guide you'll be scrambling around rocky ledges, squeeze through narrow rock formations, and slide down slick cave walls as you explore different routes. Along the way you'll learn about the history of the local area, how the cave formed and if you're lucky you might even spot the shimmer of a glow worm or two.
Britannia Creek & Labertouche Caving (Yarra Valley & Labertouche)
Go Wild Adventures operates adventure caving trips to both the Britannia Creek and Labertouche caves.
Labertouche Cave is an explorative adventure caving journey and is suitable for all levels of experience, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned veteran. This caving adventure is around 3 hours long and starts with an abseil into the cave. With only one entry and one exit, this caving adventure is not for the faint at heart. At its deepest point the granite boulder cave is around 40 metres underground, which has been carved out by fast flowing water. The route follows an underground creek, which flows from one end and out the other and involves climbing over giant boulders, squeezing through some tight spaces, negotiating challenging obstacles and wading through subterranean waters. This cave is suitable for most people with an adventurous side to them, however there is only one entry and one exit point, so once you are inside the cave you are 100% committed to finishing it.
Britannia Creek Cave was formed over thousands of years of water erosion and the huge granite boulders jumbled on top of each other make this caving adventure a thrilling experience, and houses a unique eco-system of glow worms, cave crickets and fungi, amongst others. You will wade through subterranean rivers, crawl through some tight squeezes, negotiate your way over chasms and view the beautiful glow worms. There are multiple exits and entries to the cave system, which enables even the most claustrophobic of people to have an enjoyable time.
Unguided Caves
Byaduk Caves (Byaduk)
Byaduk Caves are part of a lava flow from Mount Napier which solidified and the caves were formed by molten lava continuing to flow beneath. The caves contain wrinkles, stalactites and stalagmites, columns and ropy lava. They are the most extensive and accessible set of lava caves in Victoria. Only one cave is open to the public.
Tarragal Caves (Cape Bridgewater)
The Tarragal Caves are a network of large limestone caves and rock shelters which overlook the Bridgewater Lakes which are reached by a steep and strenuous 50 metre climb. The cave openings form a series of galleries with clear views across the surrounding landscape and lakes. There are six arched caves in a 15 metre high wall.
Hollow Mountain (Grampians National Park)
A 2.2 km return walk to Hollow Mountain (Mount Wudjub-Guyan) in the northern Grampians from the car park. The track has short steep hills, many steps and a short rock scramble through a number of caves and overhangs to the summit. Caves in this area feature Indigenous rock art.
Other Subterranean Places
Cheviot Tunnel (Yea)
Located midway between Yea and Molesworth, the Cheviot Tunnel is the longest rail trail tunnel in Victoria and a key feature of the original Tallarook to Mansfield Railway Line. The 201 metre long Cheviot Tunnel was constructed to pass trains across the Black Range at McLoughlin's Gap. Passenger services ceased in 1977 and the line was officially closed on November 8, 1978 but you can walk through the tunnel.
Seppelt Wines Underground Cellar Tour (Great Western)
Take a tour to see the maze of tunnels which stretch under the vast property for an incredible 3kmand have the capacity to store 3 million bottles of wine. It includes an area known as the Brandy Nook where world renowned, Australian opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba famously took a bath in 152 bottles of champagne.
Artificial Caving Network (Heatherton)
At Activate by Hardrock climbing centre you can crawl, twist, squeeze and scramble your way through over 85+ meters of artificial caving fun. The caves are one of a kind in Australia and are as realistic as it gets including features such as boulder fields, squeezes, stalactite chambers and artificial water sumps using simulation balls. Inside you will find a network of tunnels that get you climbing, sliding and wriggling your way over and under obstacles. An opportunity to make decisions and build your confidence as you explore with just your head torch light to guide you.
An expert on subterranean Melbourne is Peter Barrett who wrote this article for The Age Magazine where he digs up 20 subterranean marvels.
Note: Some of these places are currently closed. Please check they are open before visiting.
