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The Capricorn Caves
Have Your Wedding in a Cathedral for just $350

By Brian Norris

Imagine the wedding guests sitting expectantly in the church pews as the bride makes her stately way down the red carpet and the heavenly strains of the choir interweave with the bats whizzing past her head. Hang on - bats??

No, I haven't gone batty and this is not a chapel in Transylvania - let me back up a bit.

In 1882 John Olsen discovered the network of Capricorn Caverns in Australia's Central Queensland region. Today they remain this country's only privately owned tourist caves and stand as Central Queensland's principle nature based attraction, the first to be accredited for Advanced Level Ecotourism and winner of many tourism awards. The property is situated on approximately 80 acres of native bushland and includes several acclaimed nature walks.

Home to five species of bats (including the carnivorous Ghost Bat), the Capricorn Caverns have something for everyone, from three hour adventure caving to short tours for the mobility impaired, with wide walkways and wheelchair ramps into the caves. The most prolific creature is the little Bentwing Bat that flits around the confined spaces at over 30 miles per hour without hitting anything. These little guys have a body about half the size of a mouse and you'd move fast too if you were the favourite food of the much bigger Ghost Bat! Contrary to popular belief, most bats have excellent eyesight and only use their built in radar in pitch darkness. All tours are conducted by trained guides, whose in-depth knowledge and bubbly enthusiasm shows that they really love their work.

One of the highlights is the subtly lighted Cathedral, a huge natural cave set up with church pews and a raised choir stall, perfect for weddings and Christmas carol singing. And a red carpet is available for special occasions -walking on a layer of bat droppings plays hell with white shoes! The acoustics are extraordinary - this stunning cave is like a huge echo chamber, making even the cheapest cassette recorder sound like a symphony orchestra.

Incredibly, this magnificent natural attraction nearly didn't make it onto the world stage. Over countless eons the bat droppings have accumulated on the cave floors and in the early 20th century attracted the interest of mining companies. The Guano Mining Company blasted the only artificial tunnel in the caverns from the Cathedral to the High Dome and sank a test shaft into the floor. At twenty yards they ran out of drill, but the guano kept going! Then followed decades of wrangling, with the caverns owners fighting the mining companies and their persistent efforts to open the whole system up for guano mining - just goes to show that there really is big money in _ _ _ _!

Finally, public pressure became too much, the mining companies were locked out and the entire area was declared a fauna sanctuary in 1975. Since then the owners have been involved in ongoing low impact tourism development with eco friendly accommodation (including caravan and camping facilities), a swimming pool, barbecues and a cafe. Try their wonderful Devonshire Teas or even a Bat Burger for $2 - I wasn't game to ask what was in the sauce! Bush Turkeys and rock wallabies (a type of small kangaroo) roam freely throughout the grounds.

One hour Cathedral tours are $7, Special Interest Theme Tours $8, three hour Adventure Tours $25 (equipment included) and Senior's discounts apply. Group and special interest tours are available for pre-booking. People come from all around Australia and overseas for this magical experience. We were the only Australians in our group, which comprised Swiss, Germans, English and Americans.

Situated just 10 minutes drive from Rockhampton, one of Central Queensland's largest cities, the Capricorn Caverns are a must see. There is a regular air shuttle service from Brisbane (Queensland's capital city) to Rockhampton for less than $100 return.

For more information visit the website www.capricorncaves.com.au or email capcaves@cqnet.com.au for a complete price list.

So come on - have a wedding with a difference - one that Dracula would be proud of!

Cheers from Downunder
Brian Norris

PS. The Caverns are situated right on the Tropic of Capricorn. During the Summer Solstice (December), direct sunlight penetrates the roof of the Belfry Cavern at midday, creating a spectacular light show. And we'll be on hand to witness it - see you there!