Hastings CavesHastings Caves State Reserve contains a complex of caves set in forested country about 102 km south of Hobart; the reserve also includes natural warm springs that keep many local streams at around 28 °C year-round.
The best-known show cave is Newdegate Cave, the largest dolomite cave in Australia open to tourists, first discovered by timber workers in 1917 and developed for visitors in the 1920s and further developed in the 1930s as part of depression-era works.
The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife-built Hastings Visitor Centre, opened in 2001, is the hub for tours and services and has a swimming pool fed by the warm springs; the centre also offers information, tickets, food and souvenirs.
Visiting means joining a guided cave tour to see the dolomite chambers and formations, then relaxing by or in the warm-water pool and exploring short walks through the surrounding reserve; facilities are concentrated at the visitor centre but check local information for tour and pool availability.
- Newdegate Cave: The show cave features large dolomite chambers and guided tours that explain the cave’s geology and discovery history.
- Warm springs and visitor centre pool: Natural warm springs feed a year-round swimming pool at the Hastings Visitor Centre - ideal for a soak after a cave tour.
- Cave formations and chambers: Inside the cave you can see extensive dolomite formations, roomy caverns and interpretive displays on how the cave formed.
- Reserve walks and forest setting: Short walking tracks around the reserve let you experience the surrounding southern Tasmanian forest and lookout points near the site.
- Nearby Lune River and Ida Bay area: The caves are a few kilometres from Lune River and the Ida Bay Railway area, so you can combine visits in the far south.
Nearby Attractions to Hastings Caves#
Best Time to Visit Hastings Caves#
The caves and warm springs can be visited year-round; weather and rainfall influence road conditions and surface activities more than the underground experience.
Weather & Climate near Hastings Caves#
Hastings Caves's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in February) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 4°C to 19°C. Abundant rainfall (1336 mm/year), wettest in July.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 10° - 19° | 15° | 82 mm | overcast | 77% | 5.9 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 14.8h |
| February | Good | 10° - 19° | 15° | 68 mm | overcast | 77% | 6.0 m/s | 1.8 very high | 13.7h |
| March | Good | 9° - 18° | 14° | 84 mm | overcast | 79% | 4.8 m/s | 1.1 high | 12.2h |
| April | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 101 mm | overcast | 80% | 5.2 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.7h |
| May | Poor | 6° - 13° | 7° | 113 mm | overcast | 83% | 5.3 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.5h |
| June | Acceptable | 4° - 10° | 4° | 107 mm | overcast | 85% | 5.6 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| July | Poor | 4° - 10° | 4° | 153 mm | overcast | 84% | 4.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 9.1h |
| August | Poor | 4° - 11° | 4° | 150 mm | overcast | 83% | 5.5 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.2h |
| September | Poor | 5° - 13° | 6° | 129 mm | overcast | 82% | 5.9 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.6h |
| October | Poor | 7° - 15° | 11° | 134 mm | overcast | 80% | 6.5 m/s | 1.1 high | 13.1h |
| November | Acceptable | 8° - 16° | 12° | 102 mm | overcast | 80% | 6.0 m/s | 1.7 very high | 14.5h |
| December | Acceptable | 9° - 17° | 13° | 113 mm | overcast | 79% | 6.1 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 15.2h |
How to Get to Hastings Caves#
The nearest major city is Hobart, about 100 km to the north; Hobart is served by Hobart Airport. The site is in the Lune River area of southern Tasmania, and the closest local settlement is Lune River.
Most visitors reach Hastings Caves by car or organised tour from Hobart; the last stretch is on rural sealed roads and there is a carpark at the Hastings Visitor Centre. Public transport options are limited, so consider a taxi, shuttle or an organised trip if you do not drive.
Tips for Visiting Hastings Caves#
- Book or check guided tour and pool availability with the visitor centre before you travel, as times and days can vary.
- Wear sturdy shoes and expect steps and uneven surfaces on the cave tour; the underground environment is different from the surface.
- Bring a warm layer and a waterproof jacket - southern Tasmania can be cool and wet even when the springs are warm.
- Do not touch cave formations and follow guide instructions to help preserve delicate dolomite features.
- Facilities including food, tickets and public WiFi are at the Hastings Visitor Centre, but rural mobile coverage may be patchy.