INTRODUCTION OF A SELF-GUIDED TOUR AT WOMBEYAN CAVES, NEW SOUTH WALES
We have spoken on the installation of self-guided cave tours and most of us understand the principle of self-guided tours. I have had a self-guided cave tour operating at Wombeyan Caves for nearly two years and up to date it has been most satisfactory. It is operated on a daily basis from 10am to 4pm. As visitors arrive in the area who desire a self-guided tour, they are sold a token from the office. This allows the visitor to make a cave tour of Fig Tree Cave in times between 10am and 4pm They are also given a pamphlet explaining the tour and giving additional information about the caves. (Figure 26 (not scanned - CD ed)).
The charges were worked out by keeping the figures of adults and children entering the Fig Tree cave for a period of six months and then an average rate was determined. The system of a self-guided tour is unusual to most visitors and some are most wary of such a tour of a cave. It is often necessary to fully explain the operation to them and most visitors are pleased with the system.
It has been necessary to alter the light switching. In the first instance, all feature lights and track lights were on at all times the caves were in operation. We have now installed a time switch for feature lights only and when a visitor presses the sound switch this switch is so wired it operates feature lights for a set time. This time can be set from one minute to ten minutes as needed. This installation has reduced the cost of power by 40%, this also reduces the possibility of moss growing and allowing the cave atmosphere to remain as normal.
Our first concern was vandalism by visitors. It is pleasing to note that acts of vandalism to date are nil. Fig Tree cave is so located that a guide can return through the cave on his way from a normal cave inspection to the office and on a busy day I will send a guide on a patrol of caves. On completion of his patrol he can report back to the office by telephone and he then can be directed to other guiding work.
Maintenance of the equipment pays off - I clean the tape deck heads once a week and service the emergency batteries weekly and replace any burnt out light as necessary. This reduces the possibility of a malfunction.
I would suggest that the following points be investigated before installation of a self-guided tour is made in any cave:
- That power supply has an amperage rating to maintain all lights on full for the whole period the cave is in operation.
- That all light switching be installed so that the cave can be reverted back to a normal cave inspection should a breakdown of sound occur.
One of the main factors of self-guided cave tour is that staffing can be contained at a level which is economical. The visitation at Wombeyan is about 36,000 annually and I am of the opinion that this annual figure could increase to 60,000 before extra staff is needed. That would be an increase from four to five persons.