  The journey from Sydney to the Caves is long and expensive, but the route is interesting all the way. Thirty-six miles from the city after crossing the Emu Plains and the magnificent bridge over the Nepean at Penrith, 87 feet above sea-level, the train begins to climb the mountain range, and after travelling 52 miles it attains an altitude of 3,658 feet. The first zigzag up Lapstone Hill brings into view a splendid panorama, and, notwithstanding the disregard of railway surveyors for fine scenery when it is placed in the balance against economical construction, there are many glorious glimpses to be obtained from the carriage windows during the journey between Sydney and Tarana. If the traveller has time to stop en route he will find much to interest him round about Lawson and Katoomba, Blackheath and Mount Victoria. The great Zigzag into the Lithgow valley is one of the most remarkable feats of engineering in the world. There is a fall of about 230 yards in five miles of running. Even after this sudden descent the country is still very elevated, and at Tarana, where it is necessary to take coach for the Caves, it is upwards of 2,500 feet above the level of the sea. The train which leaves Sydney at 9 o'clock in the morning arrives at Tarana at 4.15 in the afternoon. By coach or buggy from Tarana the little agricultural township of Oberon—distant about 18 miles—can be approached comfortably the same evening. At Oberon there is a The road from Tarana to Oberon is well made and metalled, and with a pair of good horses you can travel at a spanking pace. From Oberon to the Caves the road is also good, but not so wide as that from Tarana to Oberon. A considerable portion of it may be described in fact as an excellently kept bush track. The road down the Zigzag is, as already mentioned, a trial to the nerves of timid people. It is much too narrow, and ought to be widened by cutting still farther into the mountain side, building up the retaining wall more substantially, and paying greater attention to drainage. A cable tramway would then make the transit easy and pleasant. A light railway to Oberon would probably give as good a return as nine-tenths of the mileage on our railways, and if the tramway from there to the Caves would not pay immediately it would ultimately create settlement and traffic, and in the meantime be an important factor in increasing the traffic on the 140 miles of railway leading to it from Sydney. Until a short time ago the Caves were completely cut off from rapid communication with the outer world, but now they are in telephonic communication with the telegraph system of the colony. Coat of Arms MAP SECTION OF NEW SOUTH WALES, SHOWING THE POSITION OF JENOLAN CAVES MAP SECTION OF NEW SOUTH WALES, SHOWING THE POSITION OF JENOLAN CAVES. London: |
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