Rediscover your sense of wonder

Hastings State Reserve

The Hastings Caves State Reserve offers visitors a variety of experiences, from relaxing in the warm waters of a thermal springs pool, walking in the rich forests of the reserve and, of course, the unique experience of exploring Newdegate Cave. Both the thermal pool and the trail which leads through the surrounding forests are accessible to wheelchair users.

Named after Sir Francis Newdegate, the Governor of Tasmania from 1917-1920, Newdegate Cave is the largest tourist cave in Australia which occurs in dolomite, rather than limestone.

Its richly decorated chambers began forming tens of millions of years ago. Don't miss the opportunity to take a tour of the cave with qualified Parks and Wildlife Service guides.

How to get there

Hastings Caves State Reserve is situated 125 kilometres south of Hobart. It is reached via the Huon Highway (A6). From Hobart, the trip will take one and a half to two hours. Thirty kilometres south of Geeveston, and just after the Southport turnoff on the C636, take the Hastings Cave Road (C635). This is a well-maintained gravel road which will take you to the Visitor Centre and Thermal Pools. Newdegate Cave is just a few minutes (5km) further along the road. From the carpark, it is a five minute walk to the cave entrance.

Hastings Visitor Centre

On Arrival, you will be greeted by friendly staff at Hastings Visitor Centre. Café meals and snacks are available Cave and Pool Ticket sales. A large range of locally made souvenirs and site information. Eftpos and Amex facilities.

History of the Cave

From the middle of the nineteenth century until the 1920’s a thriving timber industry flourished in the southern Tasmanian eucalypt forests. Large saw mills were located around Dover and further south. By the early 1920’s most of the virgin timber resources had become exhausted and most of the mills were abandoned. After over 100 years of constant production, the Raminea mill – the last of the steam driven mills in Tasmania was destroyed by fire.

In 1917, timber workers from the Hastings mill, who were operating around the foothills of Adamson’s Peak, discovered three caves. These were named Newdegate, King George V, and Beattie. Of the three, Newdegate is easily the largest and most highly decorated. It was named after Sir Francis Newdegate, Governor of Tasmania from 1917 – 1920.

Stumps of several large eucaplt trees can be seen close the cave entrance. The cave was discovered by timber cutters, Perc Lockley & Barney Hudson. After tree felling, it is believed branches penetrated a short distance into the cave.

Through the 1920’s, suggestions were made concerning the opening of the cave to the public. The Esperance Council took up the case, and in the early 1930’s, the Tasmanian government was persuaded to provide the necessary finance to construct an eight kilometre access road and to establish stairways and electric illumination within the cave. The road follows the route of the timber tramline which was built to carry logs to the Hastings mill. Remains of a log loading platform can still be seen beside the track to the cave entrance. Developmental work was completed in late 1938 and Newdegate Cave was officially opened to the public on the 19th January, 1939, by the Hon. A. G. Ogilvie, Premier of Tasmania.

The Cave Tour

The Caves have been forming in the area for hundreds of millions of years. Hastings Newdegate Cave is one of only two Dolomite Caves on show in Australia and the rock is believed to be 600 million years old (Pre Cambrian Age).

The Tours take about 45 minutes and are suitable for all ages, it is an easy walking tour on formed paths through the cave, however there are quite a few stairs, so some mobility is required. The guides will introduce you to the geology, history, fauna and unique features of the cave.

The spectacular formations within the caves began tens of millions of years ago and are still growing today. Newdegate Cave, like most of Tasmania's caves, is home to a number of strange and fascinating animals. Over forty species have been discovered within the cave, including several species which are as yet undescribed. Many have become so adapted to life underground that they can no longer live on the surface. They show loss of pigment and eyes, and development of unusually long antennae. Since they are restricted to caves, they are unable to move from area to area and so each region often has its own cave-dwelling species, which occur nowhere else.

The Thermal Springs & Pool

Can you swim in the Tasmanian forest all year round?
YES! If you’re looking for a dip in some warm soothing water, a visit to the Thermal Springs is just what you need. It is understood that the temperature of the spring water normally around 28'C. is due to it entering the dolomite in the caves area at a higher elevation than the springs area, descending about 600 metres and having sufficient hydraulic gradient to come to the surface. This is based on an estimation of a temperature rise of 1 o Celsius for every 20 metre of depth. The water is pumped into the pool from the springs underneath. It passes through a filter and then through the UV disinfection system travelling through a maze of pipework and filters before being returned to the pool.

The Thermal Pool is set in a wet sclerophyll forest with fern understory and was opened to the public in 1939.

Amenities include change rooms, toilets, showers, undercover and forest canopy picnic areas, forest walks, electric barbecues, cosy log fires and drinking water.

Tour Times & Prices

26th Dec 2007 to 28th Feb 2008
Café & Thermal Springs Open 9am - 6pm
Guided Tours every hour 10am - 5pm

1st March to 30th April 2008
Café & Thermal Springs Open 9am - 5pm
Guided Tours every hour 10am - 4pm

1st May to 1st Sept 2008
Café & Thermal Springs Open 10am - 4pm
Guided Tours every hour 11am - 3pm

2nd Sept to 25th Dec 2008
Café & Thermal Springs Open 9am - 5pm
Guided Tours every hour 10am - 4pm

Hastings Experience Ticket

Includes: 45 minute Guided Tour of Hastings Cave, Thermal Springs Admission, Access to BBQs, walks and facilities
Adult $22.00
Family $55.00
Child $11.00
Concession $17.60

Hastings Thermal Springs only Ticket

Adult $5.00
Family $12.00
Child $2.50
Concession $4.00

Please Note: Cave tours commence 15 minutes after the hours specified. This is to allow travel from ticketing office to cave entrance.
Concession = Seniors, Pension or Health Care cards
Family =2 Adults and 3 children under 18 Child = under 18 years of age
Prices subject to change without notice.

754 Hastings Caves Road
Phone: +61 3 6298 3209
Fax: +61 3 6298 3103
HASTINGS TAS 7109

Website: www.parks.tas.gov.au/reserves/hastings/