I had been wanting to walk the Chauncy Vale Cave Loop Track for such a long time, but it just hadn’t worked out, being so far from home. Today, I finally ticked this walk off my Tassie “to do” list. It’s always rewarding to explore something a little different in Tasmania.
The Chauncy Vale Reserve is about 4kms inland from Bagdad, Tasmania, so it’s not far off the highway and is easy to find. We were unable to drive all of the way to the car park as a gate was closed stopping car access due to high fire danger warnings. We placed our $2 gold coin donation in the box and walked from the gate to the car park area. Upon arrival, there was plenty of information about the animals in the sanctuary, along with some newly built public toilets. The site also contained a camp kitchen and a designated camping area.
We continued on and signed in at the walk’s shelter, officially starting the Cave Loop Track. From here the adventure began.
The track was firm and easy to follow, winding gently through the bush. Butterflies fluttered past and beetles steadily crossed our path, bringing the track to life. As we began the incline up the hill towards the caves, we came across a clever little seat made from a plank of wood balanced between two rocks, a quiet resting spot placed perfectly along the way. We continued climbing the stone steps until we reached the first set of caves, where I noticed a rock remarkably shaped like Tasmania.
Looking out from the caves, the view across the valley was breathtaking. Rolling green eucalyptus trees stretched out below us, framed by a blue sky.
We continued along the front of the rock face and stepped into one of the caves to explore further. The patterns in the sandstone were intricate and flowing, shaped by time and weather, each layer telling a story of the landscape’s history.
We came to Brown’s Cave, which is the biggest cave to explore, and inside we discovered artwork painted with ochre on the rock walls, offering a powerful glimpse into the cultural history and stories of the Mumirimina people who were part of the Oyster Bay nation, who once lived in this area.
The patterns in the sandstone were unique, drawing my attention to the fine details in the rock. Some sections felt smooth to the touch, while others were rough and grainy. Light filtered into the cave highlighting different markings on the walls. I popped into another cave which was smaller and took a look around.
This marked the completion of our cave exploration, so we continued our walk, carefully making our way down the decline until we reached the forest floor, keeping a close eye on where we were treading and watching out for snakes. We were once again surrounded by the cool shade and the fresh scent of the trees.
On our return along part of the loop, we stopped to see Eve’s Bath. There was not much water in the pool, but we could envisage what it would look like when full. We also captured the radiant colours of two different beetles, their iridescent shells reflecting the sunlight like tiny jewels of the forest.
The last part of the Chauncy Vale Cave loop involved crossing a roped bridge into the wildlife sanctuary. Some model wombats had been placed randomly around the bushland, replicating the wombat life in this area. We also came across a few wombat holes and plenty of scats, evidence that real wombats were nearby, quietly hiding in the undergrowth.
We ended up covering around 3.3kms in total, weaving through rugged hills, caves, and forested trails. Every step offered something new to discover, from hidden rock formations and vibrant wildlife to breathtaking views across the valley. I highly recommend this walk for anyone wanting to venture into the Tasmanian wilderness.
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