We got some suggestions from Ian – the owner of the Eco Lodge – regarding points of interest around Chillagoe, and booked a tour to the Trezkin Cave – one of the Stalactite Caves in the Chillagoe-Mungana National Park. The cave was nice, with interesting horizontal stalactite formations, in addition to the more regular vertical formations we are used to. The guide explained that this happens in drier climates due to water evaporation from the stalactites and stalagmites to the relatively dry air within the cave. The cave is also home to several species of bats, and we managed to see on species of micro-bats – very small insectivore bats of which there are many species in Australia.
After the nice and cool cave, the outside was scorching hot. We grabbed lunch at a local “servo” (gas station) which doubles as a caravan park and restaurant, where a couple of truck drivers mused with me about the weather – “you think that’s hot, should be here in December – twice as bad!”. Not wishing to return in December, we hurried to a swimming hole Ian recommended. Swimming hole is a general term describing (as far as we could understand) any crocodile-free natural pool. This one was very nice and shady, with soft cascades flowing into it, and many birds around it. The water was cool and we splashed around and thoroughly enjoyed it.
In the afternoon Lilach and I had another short birding trip outside the campsite. In addition to birds and a large orb spider, we saw several Agile Wallabies that gracefully escaped when we approached them. Soon afterwards we heard the frantic screams of a young couples, whose two big hounds started chasing one of the wallabies into the bush. We believes the wallaby escaped unscathed, and the hounds eventually returned unharmed too.
Family Trips 