PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION: CUTTA CUTTA CAVE, NORTHERN TERRITORY
INTRODUCTION
In planning the re-development of the Cutta-Cutta Cave in 1975, it was recognised that as cave inspections were to be conducted by uniformed Ranger staff, an ideal opportunity existed for self-interpretation and educational use of this Park by the public.
Guidelines were laid down for the surface and underground presentation. This scheme has been in operation now for three years, and judging by public reaction, is working exceptionally well. Only a few minor changes have been made to the original plan.
When the visitor arrives at the Park, directional signs advise the locations of car-parking bays, information area and cave ticket sales.
INTERPRETIVE MATERIAL
The information area consists of a shade shelter, ticket-selling bench and a simple but effective display board.
The displays cover such items as a large cross-sectional plan of the show section of the cave, inspection times and cost, general information on the cave inspection, plan of the self-guiding interpretive walk to the cave, bats and snakes that may be seen in the cave, geological cross-section and interpretation of the area, map of the Park and surrounding area.
A free pamphlet dispenser is also installed on this board, and as well as the two pamphlets for this park, i.e. Sixteen Mile Caves Nature Park and Formation of the Cutta-Cutta Cave, free pamphlets on other Parks in the Katherine and Darwin areas are also available.
There are four cave inspections daily; two for the general public, and two for pre-booked coaches. Cost of the inspection is $1.50 for persons over 17 years. persons under 17 years when accompanied by parents are admitted free.
School groups are catered for at separate times to public inspections. All N.T. school groups are admitted free of charge, and interstate groups are charged the full adult rate.
The cave ticket is in the form of a pamphlet (Fig. 25) which may be kept as a souvenir by the visitor. It covers the history of the Cutta-Cutta Cave, a map of the show section and definitions and illustrations of the more common cave decorations, and a photograph of one section of the cave. A list of suggestions on how the visitor can protect and enjoy the park is also included.
These tickets are sold at the information area for 15 minutes prior to commencement of the inspection, usually by the Ranger who will be conducting the inspection.
We have found that this generally has a good effect of "breaking the ice" with those visitors intending to go into the cave.
At the scheduled time for the inspection, the Ranger assembles the party together, and gives some brief background information on the park and what they can expect etc. They are then invited to make their way at their own pace to the cave via the self-guided walk.
SELF-GUIDED INTERPRETIVE WALK
This walk is a narrow gravel path 800m in length, and leads the visitor through a good cross-section of tropical karst landscape. Along the way, routed timber signs explaining various features such as definitions of a karst area, ancient sandstone capping, dolines, towerkarst etc have been installed at appropriate locations. It is planned to replace these with small aluminium signs which will also incorporate a sketch of the particular feature.
By the time the visitors have reached the cave they have a much better appreciation of what is on the surface in relation to the cave they are about to see.
Shade shelters have been erected along the walk, and the party of visitors are met by the Ranger at the one adjacent to the cave entrance.
Any questions regarding the surface features or flora and fauna encountered along the walk are answered here.
After asking the visitors to refrain from handling the cave formations and refrain from smoking in the cave, the underground inspection begins.
UNDERGROUND INSPECTION
During the inspection the Ranger presents the visitor with factual information regarding formation of the cave and cave decorations plus fauna found in the cave, rather than the "cave fantasies" so often emphasised in show caves.
We have tried to present the cave in as natural state as possible, with the underground installations being kept to a minimum.
There are no protective fences, no grille or gate over the entrance, and the walking track is the natural dirt floor. A contract has just been let for the installation of an infra red burglar alarm system at the cave entrance which should not spoil the look of the cave entrance as much as unsightly iron grilles.
It is also planned to replace the two existing steel stairways with natural stone stairs later on this year. All feature and track lighting is white light, and no colored or fluorescent lights have been used.
Once inside the cave, the Ranger explains some of the surface features seen along the walk and how they relate to the Cutta-Cutta cave.
As the last 200m of walking track follows along the top of the cave, the Ranger is able to point out the underneath side of a boulder collapse viewed on the surface. The approximate location of the towerkarsts they saw on the surface can also be pointed out from within the cave.
The visitors are in the cave for just on one hour, and during this time, they are encouraged to ask questions and generally join in with the various conversations. The Ranger tries to keep his talk as non-technical as possible and to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. If he is asked a question that he can't answer, he says he doesn't know and that he will attempt to find out when he returns to the car park and office.
We believe we have set up a high standard of presentation and do not expect the public to be subjected to "made up" nonsense-type answers or "smark-aleck" type conduct.
Once the party returns of the surface, the Ranger leads them back to the car park via a shorter route of 400m. They are able to ask any further questions during this time.
The total experience lasts for 1½ hours, and we believe that the visitors leave the Park with a much better understanding and appreciation of the area than when they arrived.
Figure 25: Brochure (front and back)