How many steps in the Buchan Caves? Don’t Google it, mate.
By Geoff Ellis
An itinerary for a south coast road trip is basically a list of beaches. The internet is great for checking which way the wind blows while keeping one eye on the tide chart. But what about the days when the sun doesn't shine and the wind blows sand in your face?
Museums? Choose a theme. Galleries? Ditto. Places to eat? Bars, bistros and cafes galore. Prefer a winery? Iconic experiences? Pelicans, peaks or penguins? Dashboard maps tell you where to go. So simple.
It's one thing to be sent but finding out what to expect at the destination can be more difficult. Wet and wild days at Lakes Entrance recently created the possibility of a tour of Buchan Caves. A quick search online told of an hour's drive time and listed options for food and non-cave photo-ops.
The big question was the number of steps and the inclines of the two caves – Fairy and Royal – through which Parks Vic runs tours. Which would be the kindest to my wonky old legs?
An itinerary for a south coast road trip is basically a list of beaches. The internet is great for checking which way the wind blows while keeping one eye on the tide chart. But what about the days when the sun doesn't shine and the wind blows sand in your face?
Museums? Choose a theme. Galleries? Ditto. Places to eat? Bars, bistros and cafes galore. Prefer a winery? Iconic experiences? Pelicans, peaks or penguins? Dashboard maps tell you where to go. So simple.
It's one thing to be sent but finding out what to expect at the destination can be more difficult. Wet and wild days at Lakes Entrance recently created the possibility of a tour of Buchan Caves. A quick search online told of an hour's drive time and listed options for food and non-cave photo-ops.
The big question was the number of steps and the inclines of the two caves – Fairy and Royal – through which Parks Vic runs tours. Which would be the kindest to my wonky old legs?
I settled in for a deeper Google. Click … there are two caves. Or three. Or four. Turns out there are at least five caves but two are closed and another, Wilsons, looks way too muddy and lacks stalagmites or stalactites. Of course, it happens to be the free one.
Thirty minutes of screen time gone so far. This is getting tedious. The big question remains: was I fit for purpose?
By this time you’re probably wondering why I didn’t just pick up the phone and call them at Buchan Caves. Because it’s run by Parks Victoria, and apparently they don’t have a phone up there. Incredible but true! No phone and no direct email address.
So back to Google. An hour later I felt like I was getting further from the answer every time I clicked a link. I blame AI. Some sites recommended one, other sites suggested the other. Number of steps? Contradictory answers. Steepness? No definitive comparison. Hmmm. Need to book? Yes, I was told. I had to book online, and 24 hours in advance.
Getting click fatigue, I seized what was left of the day and drove an hour to Buchan to ask a human being. The rangers allayed my fears. My knees would do the job. And contrary to the advice on their own website, they told me I could go on the next tour of Royal Cave.
Suffice to say it was okay. Pics on Facebook can do the talking from here.
A few weeks later I was struggling up, and then down, the 30 steep steps of the pedestrian overpass at the Phillip Island racetrack. Glad I didn't google it first.
Thirty minutes of screen time gone so far. This is getting tedious. The big question remains: was I fit for purpose?
By this time you’re probably wondering why I didn’t just pick up the phone and call them at Buchan Caves. Because it’s run by Parks Victoria, and apparently they don’t have a phone up there. Incredible but true! No phone and no direct email address.
So back to Google. An hour later I felt like I was getting further from the answer every time I clicked a link. I blame AI. Some sites recommended one, other sites suggested the other. Number of steps? Contradictory answers. Steepness? No definitive comparison. Hmmm. Need to book? Yes, I was told. I had to book online, and 24 hours in advance.
Getting click fatigue, I seized what was left of the day and drove an hour to Buchan to ask a human being. The rangers allayed my fears. My knees would do the job. And contrary to the advice on their own website, they told me I could go on the next tour of Royal Cave.
Suffice to say it was okay. Pics on Facebook can do the talking from here.
A few weeks later I was struggling up, and then down, the 30 steep steps of the pedestrian overpass at the Phillip Island racetrack. Glad I didn't google it first.
