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A family with a flash light are admiring the Gunns Plains Caves
Gunns Plains Caves (photograph: Gunns Plains Caves)

Gunns Plains Cave State Reserve

Find out more

FeaturesExpand/Collapse

  • Barbecues
  • Caving
  • Picnic facilities
  • Toilets

ContactExpand/Collapse

  • Leven Field Centre
    PO Box 809
    Ulverstone TAS 7315
    Phone: 03 6464 3014

About

​Best described as a ‘hidden gem’, the Gunns Plains Cave State Reserve is home to some of the most remarkable Tasmanian caves. On a guided cave tour you will see impressive calcite shawls and flowstones, and an array of formations showcasing the rich colours and silver-speckled calcite crystals of the underground.

Glow worms dot areas of the cave like stars, and the underground river that formed the cave still flows underfoot as you venture along the walkway. Platypus sleep and nest in the river’s sandy banks, while freshwater crayfish, fish and eel live in its waters.

Gunns Plains Cave is one of the oldest Tasmanian cave reserves. It was proclaimed a State Reserve in 1918, some years after a hunter reputedly came across it when his dog fell into a hole that formed part of the cave. It became one of Tasmania’s early tourism attractions.

Visitors can join one of the six daily guided tours to see the impressive stalactites, stalagmites, helictites and flowstone of this spectacular cave.

Descend the entrance steps and dramatic LED lighting grad​ually exposes thin, curtain-like shawls and the cave's largest speleothem, the Wedding Cake.  

The walking trail along the cave floor reveals even more deposits of calcite and carbonate as they appear to flow through the cavern.

It's hard to believe this subterranean fairyland is concealed beneath the potato crops and hop fields which thrive in the red basalt soil of Gunns Plains.  

Take a picnic and enjoy the view above ground as well the delights deep below.

​​The river that carved the cave is still flowing and visitors may see platypus nestling on the sandy banks and perhaps a giant fresh water crayfish, a species which is found only in Northern Tasmania. Look toward the roof of the cave for a glimmering display glow-worms. These creatures are the larvae of small insects which produce light (bioluminescence) to attract prey.

For more information on our wildlife please see Tasmania's wildlife.

Visit our caring for wildlife page for more information on interacting with and protecting our native animals.
Buy a map from TasMap

​Follow the Bass Highway to Ulverstone, and then take the Gunns Plains Road (B17) south to Gunns Plains. Continue on for 4kms to the Reserve. The trip takes approximately 45 minutes from Burnie or Devonport, and 1 hour 40 minutes from Launceston. The cave entrance is 30 metres from the carpark.

Where possible, please avoid driving in our reserves at night. You are sharing the roads with our native wildlife, so take it slow and watch out for animals on the road.

The entrance to the cave is via a steep flight of stairs and the tour route is about 275 metres.  Visitors are required to descend a short ladder and are advised to wear low-heeled walking shoes.

For more information, including tour times, please see the Gunns Plains Cave website.

For admission prices, you can phone (03) 6429 1388.

​Find out other essential information for visiting Tasmania's parks and reserves on our know before you go section.

​The cave tour is unsuitable for people with health or mobility concerns.

Experiences in Gunns Plains Cave State Reserve

Child, Junee-Florentine caves

Experience Tasmania's spectacular cave systems through one of our guided tours.

North West, Launceston and North, Hobart and South

Caving

Experience Tasmania's spectacular cave systems through one of our guided tours.

Read more