National park · Australia
Mole Creek Karst National Park
Go only if you will book a cave tour: Marakoopa for glow worms, King Solomons for dry formations. Above-ground walks are short; allow 2–3 h plus 15 min driving between the two caves.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
13 km²5 sq mi
approximate
Established
1996
Best months
Nov, Jan–Feb
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 13 km²5 sq mi
- The smallest national park in Tasmania; the park is about twelve separate parcels of land, not one continuous block (check).
- Established
- 1996
- Best months
- Nov, Jan–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
Mole Creek Karst protects over 300 known caves and sinkholes under hills and forest in northern Tasmania, and is the only Tasmanian national park set aside for a cave system. It is also the state's smallest national park, made up of about a dozen separate parcels rather than one block. Two caves are open on guided tours: Marakoopa, with underground streams and a large glow-worm display, and King Solomons, drier and richer in shawls and stalactites. Everything else underground is closed. Above ground there are short forest walks and cold, wet weather for much of the year.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World HeritagePart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Size and age
13 km²5 sq mi · national park since 1996
The smallest national park in Tasmania; the park is about twelve separate parcels of land, not one continuous block (check).
Why go
- Two show caves with guided tours: glow worms and underground streams at Marakoopa, dry shawls and stalactites at King Solomons.
- A short detour off the Bass Highway between Deloraine and Cradle Mountain, easy to add to a northern Tasmania drive.
- Cold rainforest and karst above ground, with glow worms and cave-adapted invertebrates that live nowhere else.
- Small scale: two ticket offices, three tours, no queues outside school holidays.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanDriest month; warmest cave-surface conditions
- FebDry and mild; book tours ahead
- MarCooling; rain returns
- AprCan drop to freezing; bring a warm layer
- MayCold and wet; cave temperature steady
- JunWinter; ice on the road to Liena possible
- JulColdest stretch; short daylight
- AugWet; snow on higher ground nearby
- SepWetter than summer but quieter
- OctCool and green; frosts still possible
- NovMild, longer days, fewer crowds than January
- DecWarm but busy with school holidays
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glow worms (cave larvae) in Marakoopa CaveAll year · Visible year-round on the guided tours; no torches or flash photography. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Cave-adapted invertebrates, many endemic to the areaAll year · Part of why the caves are protected; you will not see most of them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Forest birds and cool-temperate rainforest plants above groundOct–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Launceston
Drive the Bass Highway to Deloraine, then the B12 Mole Creek Road south; the Marakoopa turn-off is past Mole Creek town.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Devonport
Bass Highway east to Deloraine, then B12 south to Mole Creek.
1.5–2 h
From Cradle Mountain
Drive east via Cethana and the B12; the Liena road to King Solomons branches south of Mole Creek.
1.5–2 h
From Western Tasmania plan
Where Mole Creek fits on a west-coast loop.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Marakoopa Cave area (Mayberry) | The main show cave: two underground streams, large caverns, rim pools and the glow-worm display. | Guided tours only; ticket office 600 m before the entrance. |
| King Solomons Cave area (Liena) | A drier cave with shawls, stalactites and stalagmites, and sediment and bone deposits. | Guided tours only; ticket office at the entrance. |
| Above-ground forest and karst | Short walks near the Marakoopa car park through cold rainforest, plus sinkholes and outcrops. | Open; no tour needed. |
| Closed caves | The remaining caves and sinkholes across the park's separate parcels. | No public access. |
Sketch map
- 1Marakoopa Cave ticket office · Ranger station≈-41.573, 146.292330 Mayberry Road, Mayberry.Map ↗
- 2Marakoopa Cave entrance · Cave≈-41.578, 146.289Map ↗
- 3King Solomons Cave · Cave≈-41.553, 146.2461535 Liena Road, Liena.Map ↗
- 4Mole Creek town · Town≈-41.557, 146.404Approximate; services and fuel.Map ↗
- 5Deloraine · Town≈-41.525, 146.657Approximate; Bass Highway base.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marakoopa Cave tour (Underground Rivers and Glow Worms, or Great Cathedral and Glow Worms) | AUD 24–30 | person | 2026 estimate; adult rate, child and family rates lower. Confirm current prices when booking (check). |
| King Solomons Cave tour | AUD 24–30 | person | 2026 estimate; separate ticket from the Marakoopa tours (check). |
| Park entry (above-ground areas) | Free | vehicle | No separate park entry fee for the walking areas; you pay for the cave tours. A Tasmanian parks pass is needed for other Tasmanian national parks, not for these tours (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Cave tour booking permit or guide
Marakoopa ticket office no permit
King Solomons ticket office no permit
Other caves permit or guide
Park rules
- Caves only with a guide
- Tours are the only way into Marakoopa and King Solomons; all other caves are closed.
- No touching formations
- Do not touch stalactites, shawls or flowstone; skin oils stop them growing.
- No torches or flash on the glow-worm tours
- Bright light disturbs the glow worms; follow the guide's instructions.
- Warm clothing
- Cave temperature stays cool and steady while surface weather can be near freezing; bring a jacket.
- Campervans and caravans
- Cannot use the lower Marakoopa car park; park at the upper car park and walk down.
Where to stay
Near the park
Mole Creek town
Small town with a pub, a bakery and a few places to sleep, minutes from the Marakoopa turn-off.
Near the park
Deloraine
Larger base on the Bass Highway with more accommodation and food, about 30–40 min away.
Near the park
Liena and the C171
Rural stays closest to King Solomons Cave; very limited choice, so book ahead.
Near the park
Launceston
City base 1–1.5 h away if you are doing the caves as a day trip.
Safety
Cold medium
Ice and wildlife on rural roads medium
Slippery cave steps low
No phone signal in parts of the park low
Accessibility
- Cave tours involve steps and uneven, sometimes wet ground; ask at the ticket office about which tour suits limited mobility.
- The Marakoopa lower car park is not open to campervans or caravans; use the upper car park and walk down.
- Above-ground walks near the car parks are short but on unsealed, sometimes muddy surfaces.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the tour route and keep hands off the formations so the caves keep growing.
- Do not use flash or torches around the glow worms.
- Carry out everything you bring in; there are no bins along the walks.
- Buy your ticket through the official park booking rather than an unlicensed reseller.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mole Creek Karst National Park?
There is no separate entry fee for the park's above-ground areas. You pay per person for the guided cave tours, roughly A$24–30 for an adult on either the Marakoopa or King Solomons tour (2026 estimate; child and family rates are lower). Check current prices when you book, and note that a Tasmanian parks pass covers other national parks rather than these tours.
What are the best hikes in Mole Creek Karst National Park?
The walking here is short. The Marakoopa Forest Walk from the car park near the ticket office down to the cave entrance takes 15–30 minutes, and the Fernglade Walk is about 15 minutes. Treat both as add-ons to a cave tour; the real reason to come is underground, and longer walks in the area are outside the park.
When is the best time to visit Mole Creek Karst National Park?
November to February is driest and mildest, and January is usually the driest month. The caves run year-round at a steady cool temperature, so winter visits work if you dress for it — but from April to October temperatures can fall below freezing and rural roads can ice. Book tours ahead in school holidays.
Do I need to book the cave tours in advance?
Yes in practice. Book on the park website or by phone before you drive out. Tickets are sold at the ticket offices at 330 Mayberry Road and 1535 Liena Road, but buying on the day is not advised during peak holiday periods, and tours can sell out.
Can I visit the caves without a guide?
No. Marakoopa and King Solomons are guided-tour only, and the other caves in the park are closed to visitors. There is no self-guided cave route.
How far apart are Marakoopa and King Solomons caves?
About 12 km by road, roughly 15 minutes' drive. Allow at least 15 minutes between tours if you book both on the same day.
Is Mole Creek Karst National Park worth visiting on the way to Cradle Mountain?
It works as a half-day stop if you are driving between Deloraine and Cradle Mountain and book a tour in advance. Without a booked tour there is little to do beyond short forest walks, so do not build a day around it.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Sources
- officialTasmania Parks and Wildlife Service — Mole Creek Karst National Park
- officialTasmania Parks and Wildlife Service — Mole Creek Karst cave tours
- officialUNESCO World Heritage Centre — Tasmanian Wilderness
- secondaryWikipedia — Mole Creek Karst National Park
- secondaryWikivoyage: Mole Creek Karst National Park, revision 5025571 (CC BY-SA 4.0)