Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park Tropical North Queensland

Ranger-guided cave tours

Visitors can explore Donna, Trezkinn and Royal Arch caves on ranger-guided cave tours, which run daily except Christmas Day. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service staff based at The Hub in the Chillagoe township. Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

Ranger-guided cave tours

    Image of the upstairs chamber in Donna Cave.

    Upstairs chamber in Donna Cave.

    Photo credit: © TTNQ

    Visitors can explore Donna, Trezkinn and Royal Arch caves on ranger-guided cave tours, which run daily except Christmas Day. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service staff based at The Hub in the Chillagoe township.

    These three caves can only be accessed via a ranger-guided tour.

    Other caves can be accessed via self-guided cave tours.

    Fees and bookings

    Fees apply to ranger-guided cave tours. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service staff based at The Hub in the Chillagoe township. Numbers are limited, so it is highly recommended that you pre-book before arrival and avoid disappointment. Please phone (07) 4094 7111 between 8.00am and 3.30pm to book your tickets (or email chillagoecavebooking@des.qld.gov.au) and then drop into the Hub to pay for your tickets before your tour. The preferred method of payment is via eftpos.

    See tour prices below—cave package deals offer discounts if booking more than one cave tour. When booking a multiple cave tour, please specify if you wish to tour the caves over several days.

    Companion Card holders refer below.

    Single cave tour prices
    Ticket typePrice
    Adult $31.50
    Child (under 4 years) Free
    Child (4 to 14 years inclusive)* $15.65
    Family** $79.00
    Concession*** $25.25
    Cave package deal prices
    Ticket type Two cave tour Three cave tour
    Adult $50.25 $63.25
    Child (4 to 14 years inclusive)* $25.75 $32.30
    Family** $127.70 $158.70
    Concession*** $41.30 $51.65

    *Children 14 years and under must be accompanied by a responsible person over 18 years.

    **Family is a group of up to 4 related people, comprising of 2 adults and 2 children.

    ***Concession—a person is eligible for a 'card' concession, upon presentation of:

    • a Centrelink issued Commonwealth Seniors Health card, Health Care card or Pensioner Concession card
    • a Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold, White or Orange DVA card
    • a secondary school official student photo ID card
    • a full-time student card from a tertiary institution (TAFE or University).
    Image of the Royal Arch Cave.

    Royal Arch Cave.

    Photo credit: © TTNQ

    Tour details

    Donna Cave tour
    Description

    This cave is renowned for its ‘false floors’. It also features beautiful columns, calcite crystals and a cave decoration in the form of the Madonna.

    Electrical lighting is provided in this cave.

    Challenges

    Many steep ramps and stairs—about 440 steps in total including 33 very steep ladder-type steps.

    A low section within the cave that requires walking crouched for about 12m.

    Please check Am I able to do a Chillagoe cave tour?

    Start time and place

    9.00am

    Meet at Donna Cave entrance.

    Park at Donna Cave car park, 1.8km from Chillagoe.

    Allow 10 minutes to walk to the cave entrance, and additional time to read the sign, or rest after climbing the 52 steps to the shelter.

    Duration

    1 hour

    Walking distance

    830m return (from Donna Cave car park).

    Grade of difficulty

    Moderate

    Trezkinn Cave tour
    Description

    A boardwalk leads to a shelter shed at the entrance to the cave, where you can enjoy outstanding views of the Chillagoe landscape.

    Within the cave, a steel catwalk encircles a huge central mass of limestone.

    The sight of a magnificent ‘chandelier’ formation rewards visitors.

    Electrical lighting is provided in this cave.

    Challenges

    Many steep ramps and stairs—about 520 steps in total, including 46 very steep ladder-type steps.

    Please check Am I able to do a Chillagoe cave tour?

    Start time and place

    11.00am

    Meet at Trezkinn Cave entrance.

    Park at Donna Cave car park, 1.8km from Chillagoe.

    Allow 15 minutes to walk to the cave entrance, and additional time to rest after climbing the 136 steps to the shelter.
    Duration

    30-45 minutes

    Walking distance

    835m return (from Donna Cave car park).

    Grade of difficulty

    Moderate

    Royal Arch Cave tour
    Description

    The cave tour takes you through passages and 11 chambers in one of the largest cave systems in the area. Unexpected shafts of daylight, fig trees, glimpses of darting bats, naturally sculptured limestone formations and ancient marine fossils are highlights of this tour.

    Hand-held lamps are provided for visitors aged over five years, to add to the excitement of exploring the labyrinth of tunnels and lofty caverns.

    Challenges

    Many steep ramps and stairs—about 385 steps in total.

    Many low overhangs requiring visitors to walk crouched for several metres at a time.

    Please check Am I able to do a Chillagoe cave tour?

    Start time and place

    1.30pm

    Meet at the shelter shed at the Royal Arch car park.

    Park at Royal Arch car park, about 6km from Chillagoe.

    Allow 15 minutes to drive from Chillagoe to the car park: poor visibility due to the dusty road causes most visitors to take this drive slowly.

    A short 250m walking track leads you from the carpark to the cave.
    Duration

    1.5 hour

    Walking distance

    1.3km return (from the shelter shed).

    Grade of difficulty

    Easy

    Companion Card

    Companion Card holders are eligible to receive a second ‘companion’ ticket at no charge. Please present your Companion Card at The Hub booking office in Chillagoe.

    Image of exit spiral staircase from Donna Cave.

    Exit spiral staircase from Donna Cave.

    Photo credit: Queensland Government

    Image of stairs and boardwalk to Trezkinn Cave.

    Stairs and boardwalk to Trezkinn Cave.

    Photo credit: Queensland Government

    Image of steep ladder-type steps at Royal Arch Cave.

    Steep ladder-type steps at Royal Arch Cave.

    Photo credit: Queensland Government

    Am I able to do a Chillagoe cave tour?

    Cave environments are challenging. Challenges in the Chillagoe caves include many flights of stairs, very steep ladder-type steps, narrow passages and low overhangs. The following issues may prevent you from safely doing a tour: claustrophobia, fear of heights, pain when climbing steps and ladders, heart conditions, shortness of breath, back pain or lack of flexibility

    Donna Cave challenges: There are many steep ramps and steep flights of stairs (about 440 steps in total) on the Donna Cave tour, including 52 steps to climb from the car park to the meeting point at the Donna Cave shelter shed. Please allow 10 minutes to walk from the car park to the shelter shed, and allow additional time if you would like to read the interpretive sign on the way, or to rest before starting the tour. Please take drinking water and a hat as the walk from the car park to the shelter shed may be hot.

    Inside the cave, about half of the 283 steps are steep, including 33 very steep ladder-type steps where most people choose to turn around and descend backwards, and a steep 34-step spiral staircase to climb at the exit that may be challenging to those afraid of heights. There are several low overhangs including a section where visitors need to walk crouched for about 12 metres (1.1m at the lowest point).

    For a detailed description of the Donna Cave tour see Tour details.

    Image of the 'Chandelier' in Trezkinn Cave.

    The 'Chandelier' in Trezkinn Cave.

    Photo credit: Greg Watson © Queensland Government

    Trezkinn Cave challenges: There are many steep ramps and steep flights of stairs (about 520 steps in total) on the Trezkinn Cave tour, including 136 steps to climb from the car park to the meeting point at the Trezkinn Cave shelter shed. Please allow 15 minutes to walk from the car park to the shelter shed, and allow additional time if you would like to rest before starting the tour. Please take drinking water and a hat as the walk from the car park to the shelter shed may be hot.

    Inside the cave, nearly all of the 272 steps are steep, including 46 very steep ladder-type steps where most people choose to turn around and descend backwards. The start of the tour includes descending 83 almost continuous steep steps, including 18 steps which are in a 40cm narrow passage with no hand rails. On the way back out of the cave, these 83 steps have to be climbed without much of a break in between flights of stairs.

    There are two low overhangs where visitors must duck to go under, and a place where the wall juts out above the path. Taller people might bump their heads on these overhangs.

    For a detailed description of the Trezkinn Cave tour see Tour details.

    Royal Arch Cave challenges: There are many steep ramps and steep flights of stairs (about 385 steps in total) on the Royal Arch Cave tour, including 39 steps from the shelter shed at the Royal Arch car park to the cave entrance.

    Inside the cave, there are 23 very steep ladder-type steps where most people choose to turn around and descend backwards. There are many low places where taller people might bump their heads if not careful, and eight very low overhangs (90cm to 110cm from the ground) where visitors need to crouch; sometimes remaining crouched while walking for several metres.

    For a detailed description of the Royal Arch Cave tour see Tour details.