The lava tubes

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April 10th 2013

Published: April 10th 2013

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billandJackie

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The roof of the tube

went on a tour of the lava tubes this morning, fantastic, helped by the fact the tour guide was a decendent of the original family who set up here in 1860 as cattlemen.Apart from the story of the lava tubes he gave us a great insight into life around here since the first settlers.The current family run the Endura Experiance which is very eco friendly and whilst aimed at the tourist industary is very well controled.

The tour took just over 3 1/2 hrs and involved driving in a bus to the first tubes,private access is not allowed.We were given a commentary all about the formation of this land and how the ancient volcano's played a major role in it's shaping.Much was spoken about the current management of the land and the need to keep a balance with nature.

The descent into the tubes was a bit hairy at times but with the aid of a rope fastened to poles we made it,one of our party wore a prosetic leg and made some of us look like geriatrics.Once inside the history lesson began and with so much information was made to sound fantastic, the photographs don't do them justice,

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but we took some anyway and will publish them here.

What was suprising was the amount of life inside these tubes from moths,frogs,cane toads,bats,and skeletons of a variety of small mammals who perhaps had come into the tubes to die.This was the first part of the tour

We stopped for smoko and were given scones with a choice of tea or coffee at a replica hut or house of the 1860's befor proceeding onto another tube.The entrance to this tube has been made disabled friendly with a ramp in sections at the end of which is a set of stairs with a chair lift to the tube floor and along the floor is a walkway made of wood,all this done in a very eco friendy manner. This tube has a trickel of water running through it which supports more wildlife,again we were given a commentary about its formation and history.

There are many opened lava tubes which have been explored by the scientist and others with only a few open to the public via these tours, there are many more as yet unopened or touched by humans.This is a great place to visit and we still have

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The floor of the tube

lots more to see. I am writing this sitting under the awning sheltering from the rain which is aparantly unseasonal,hope it goes away so we can explore some more

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