Guided tours through Newdegate Cave’s otherworldly formations paired with a year-round 28°C thermal pool in a rainforest setting. An easy half-day adventure south of Franklin with short walks, BBQs and a cosy visitor centre.
Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs delivers two Huon Valley classics in one stop: a guided journey through Newdegate Cave’s vast dolomite chambers, and a soothing float in a naturally heated 28°C pool set among towering forest. It’s a straightforward half-day from Franklin–close enough for a leisurely outing, rich enough to feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
Join a Parks and Wildlife Service guide for a 45-minute tour of Newdegate Cave. Expect grand rooms and delicate formations–stalactites, flowstone, shawls and rare helictites–revealed under low light. The cave path includes around 500 stairs in total; there are no tight squeezes, but you’ll want sturdy shoes and a warm layer (it’s about 9°C inside year-round). Back at the reserve, ease into the thermal pool, fed by mineral-rich springs and surrounded by ferns. Two short walks begin near the pool: the wheelchair-friendly Platypus Walk (5–10 minutes) and the Hot Springs Walk (around 20 minutes), both great for spotting birds and rainforest detail.
All tickets are purchased at the Hastings Caves Visitor Centre. Arrive 45 minutes before your tour to check in, then self-drive about 20 minutes (5 km sealed road) to the cave car park and stroll to the entrance. Tours run daily (except Christmas Day) with extra sessions in peak summer. Cave tour tickets include complimentary access to the thermal pool area; pool-only passes are available and don’t require bookings. The Visitor Centre serves coffee and light snacks, and there are accessible toilets, change rooms and picnic/BBQ facilities (BBQs switch off 30 minutes before closing). A parks pass isn’t required for this reserve.
Dress for contrast: warm layers for the cool cave and swimwear for the pool. Closed-toe shoes help on stairs and damp surfaces. Photography is welcome without tripods or selfie sticks; backpacks, food and drinks aren’t allowed inside the cave. Mobile reception is patchy, so download directions before you go and follow road signs. In summer and school holidays, plan for earlier arrival as tours sell out on a first-in, first-served basis. In cooler months, the pool’s steady 28°C is a treat–bring a towel and make time for a relaxed picnic among the trees.
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