Budwangs Camping Caves

[hairyfoots]

I'm planning a trip to the Budawangs and seeing that people camp in the caves underneath Mt Cole. I would be very interested in leaving the tent behind but I have never camped in a cave before - what is it like? Do leeches crawl over your face as you sleep? Mosquitos? I feel like a dolt for asking because obviously people camp in caves happily, but I just want to know what to say to reassure my party.

[Lizzy]

Leeches tend to hang out in the damp grass/plants so I don't think you'll have any problems in the barren caves unless you bring them in with you. You may get mozzies but less likely as the weather cools down. Take some repellant. I prefer a tent to cave...

[Lophophaps]

I always took a tent, and hoped for caves, sometimes tents in caves. One trip we could not find a decent place for a tent on four consecutive nights. Much rain. Caves worked. I'm not sure that I'd like to carry one.

[Tony]

Hi hairyfoot,

I have camped in the Mt Cole caves a couple of times once in the rain and never had a problem with mozzies or leeches, the time it was raining we got a bit of spray but not to much, I normally use the Burrumbeet Brook cave, which now has a pit toilet.

I have used this Mt Cole cave twice.

P5280025.jpg (85.86 KiB) Viewed 4202 times

This one of the other Mt Cole caves

[Tortoise]

Hi hairyfoots,

The only time I've camped without a tent was in the Budawangs, on the way up to the Castle. i wouldn't have felt very comfy under what i'd call overhangs in the photos above. Ours was very much 'indoors' - a large cave with a smaller entrance - and we had no problems with critters. (This was a long time ago, so not sure what it would be like now.) We just used groundsheets to keep mats & bags clean.

[hairyfoots]

Thanks guys, very helpful. It seems like next week may be wet so I'm going to stick with the tent, but good to know.

[Mervyn]

Hairyfoots
The caves are a great place to camp and sleep. The caves are mostly dry so no leeches. The smoke from the fire generally discourages most wildlife. Spray for mozzies if needed. When it rains heavily the edge of the cave can get a water spray. I have slept in many Budawang caves in the rain, much better than a tent. You can cook out of the rain and stand up. Your ground sheet is your bedroom so no boots on the ground sheet. At sun rise the view from your cosy sleeping bag is fantastic, mostly trees and ferns with sun coming through the gaps. My favourite cave in the Budawangs would be Fosters, huge and well protected. The best of all is watching a lightning storm from a cave.
Try it.
Mervyn