CONCLUSION.
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 well-kept
hotel, which reminds one of the best village hostelries in the old
country. Here it is customary to stay the night. Bidding good morning to
your host after a moderately early breakfast, you can drive to the door
of the Cave House just in time for lunch.
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.
[Illustration: Coat of Arms]
[Illustration: MAP SECTION OF NEW SOUTH WALES, SHOWING THE POSITION OF
JENOLAN CAVES.]
London:
PRINTED BY EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE,
_Her Majesty's Printers_,
DOWNS PARK ROAD, HACKNEY.
Transcriber's Notes:
Bloxland changed to 'Blaxland' throughout. Such places named after
Gregory Blaxland (1778-1853), Fordwich, Kent.
Wombean changed to 'Wombeyan' throughout.
Coach-house changed to 'Coach House' throughout.
Coodradigbee changed to 'Goodradigbee'. Page 89.
Kunimbla changed to 'Kanimbla'. Page 149.