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13 Jun 2014 |
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International Stamp of Approval
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TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
On May 21, 2014, TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel website, announced the 2014 Certificate of Excellence award recipients. Jenolan Caves was one of the winners, placing us in the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website. Winners include hotels, eateries and attractions all over the world.
Most of our TripAdvisor reviewers give us ‘5 bubble’ ratings, and write positive comments about our tours of spectacular caves, adventure caving, themed bushwalks and helpful tour guides. Our World Heritage wilderness location, teeming with native wildlife, is part of the Aussie experience. Although Jenolan is a national treasure, it is still considered one of Australia’s ‘hidden gems’. TripAdvisor gets the word out that Jenolan Caves should be on everyone’s ‘bucket list’.  www.jenolancaves.org.au/tripadvisor-honors-jenolan-caves-with-a-certificate-of-excellence/
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Ho! Ho! Ho!
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Merry Yulefest! Christmas in July!
The most popular Blue Mountains event is Yulefest (Christmas in July), and it runs for the whole month.
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An Acappella Christmas Concert
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BOOK NOW (July 26) Soulfood - For Lovers of Acapella Music
YULEFEST @ JENOLAN CAVES - an acappella christmas concert to kickstart your faux silly season! It will be a Christmas themed concert, with a few soul songs thrown in the mix.
Soulfood acappella offers a diverse menu of motown, soul and retro-pop songs, performed in a unique way, by a seamless 50-voice ensemble. They have created beautiful and complex arrangements of well-loved songs. Formed in 2004, Soulfood was a finalist in Channel Seven's Battle of the Choirs in 2008, and is the three-time winner of the John Lamble Australasian Open Choral Championships. This acappella group features an incredible blend of high quality voices - full of energy and soul. See them in the Kanangra-Boyd Gallery at Caves House. www.jenolancaves.org.au/celebrate-yulefest-with-the-music-of-soulfood-acapella/?sdid=81
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Make Magic Memories!
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NSW School Holidays are Around the Corner
During school holidays, we put on many extra tours of spectacular show caves, adventure tours and self guided tours. Book now, pay in advance, and arrive early!
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Photo Competition
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A Lucky Visitor Won a GoPro Camera!
The GoPro Hero 3 Silver Edition Camera was won by Matthias Fahrig, whose photo (right) 'Jenolan Caves - A Place You Have to Visit' amassed 133 online votes.
Matthias visited Jenolan in April, had a great time, and we will post his prize to him in Germany.
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Which is the Best Cave?
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The Mighty Lucas Cave
Visitors often ask which of our many limestone caves is the best. However, there is no 'best' cave. Each is different, with its own characteristics and features, and some are easier than others.
Visitors to the Lucas cave get a thorough leg muscle workout, with 910 stair steps. Most of our visitors see the Lucas Cave. It is our most spacious cave, featuring our 2 highest and widest chambers - the magnificent 'Cathedral' and the awesome 'Exhibition'. The Cathedral Chamber is 54 metres high and is often used for weddings and concerts. The Lucas Cave's limestone formations are immense, and from one of the high bridges, you can gaze down into its depths, for a glimpse of the underground river. www.jenolancaves.org.au/the-caves/show-cave-tours/lucas-cave/
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The Red Carpet Treatment
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We Had a VIP Visitor! Guess Who!
A couple of weeks ago, out of the blue, the Federal Police arrived at our Ticket Office. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the US Ambassador, Mr John Berry, was on his way to Jenolan Caves!
So, we rolled out the red carpet (figuratively speaking) and gave him, and his security entourage, a great time. He watched wild platypus in the Blue Lake, enjoyed lunch in Caves House and a private tour of the stunning Orient Cave, considered to be one of the most beautiful caves in the world. He was amazed, and we were absolutely tickled by his surprise visit!
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Our Team Building Program
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How to Get Your Swagger Back
Our corporate programs enable ordinary people to achieve the extraordinary via physically and psychologically challenging adventure caving.
To facilitate team bonding, we create a level playing field, where all participants are equally inexperienced, the environment is equally unfamiliar and where there is some perceived risk. Our professional guides are with you all the way, as you experience the exhilaration of exploring the world’s oldest cave system, and become real speleologists for the day.
Acquire new skills, help (and trust) each other, laugh, communicate, get dirty and have an experience you can really boast about. Great for all ages, Adventure Caving builds confidence and develops mind, body and spirit. For some people, it’s life-changing. Get your ‘swagger’ back! www.jenolancaves.org.au/team-building/
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FREE Stuff
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| 'The Thinker' by Rodin |
FREE - Love to Learn? Join LinkedIn and Follow Jenolan
Receive a constant flow of online articles, tailored to your interests, anywhere, any time, FREE.
Join LinkedIn and become a Jenolan Caves 'follower'. On our main LinkedIn showcase page we upload articles about caves, native wildlife, World Heritage, tourism, travel tips, bush walking and more. On our Team Building showcase page, we put articles about risk taking, leadership and team work. On our Natures Classroom showcase page, we put articles for teachers. On our Tourism Partners showcase page, we put all the great blogs written by our visitors - these usually have lots of beautiful cave images.
On LinkedIn, you 'connect' with like-minded professionals, and you 'follow' your choice of companies and professional groups. You can upload details of your interests and CV, and automatically receive job opportunity notices. You receive a constant stream of information about the things that interest you in your field of work - totally free. All you need to do is register. www.linkedin.com/company/jenolan-caves-reserve-trust
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MORE FREE FUN
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| Cool image I created yesterday. |
FREE - Where are the Best Online Image Collections? Register for Instagram!
Instagram is totally FREE from the App Store. It's a fun, easy & quirky way to share your life with friends through pictures taken on your smartphone.
Upload your photos on your own Instagram page. But you don't have to be creative. If you want to, you can 'Follow' other pages, and use Instagram as an endless source of beautiful images any time, any where. The Jenolan Instagram page is bright and colourful! Have a look!
If you have not already registered on Instagram, you should do so. Then, on our Instagram page, click 'Follow'.That way you will never run out of beautiful photos to inspire you. instagram.com/jenolancaves
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Wines of our Region
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| Casey's rustic cellar doors. |
Featured Winery - Casey's Vineyard
Chisolm's wine menu features local wineries and currently includes a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir from nearby Casey's Vineyard.
Casey's Vineyard is situated 10 kms from Oberon, overlooking the picturesque Tarana Valley, 1,050 metres above sea level. Established in 1995, Casey's specialises in cool climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Shiraz, all handpicked by vignerons, John & Raelene Casey. Casey's wines are made using traditional Burgundian techniques - carbonic maceration, hot, whole bunch fermentation and old French oak maturation. You can sample their wines at their unique, rustic cellar doors - a very pretty drive from Jenolan. www.jenolancaves.org.au/dining/chisolms-restaurant/wine-menu/
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Jenolan Caves History
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| Mrs Pamela Edwards |
Spotlight on Mrs Pamela Edwards
We welcomed a very special guest this week. Mrs Pamela Edwards visited, not to see caves, but to stay at Caves House. It was a trip back in time for her, because many years ago, in 1953, as a tender teenager, she worked at Caves House.
Caves House has changed quite a bit since 1953 when Pamela, then Pamela Grey, worked for Jenolan's most famous housekeeper, Miss Chisholm, whom she describes as "regal". Pamela's role was to run the 'tea room', downstairs where the gift shop is today. One of her duties was to tend the plants in the 'fernery', upstairs where Jeremiah's Bar is now. It is wonderful that Mrs Edwards, now in her 70s, can return to Jenolan and share her stories with us today.
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| Visit Website ph. 1300 76 33 11 Contact Us |
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