THE CRYSTAL CAVES OF ATHERTON

Today we woke up early at Lake Tinaroo, not far from Atherton, and Skin said he could smell petrol.

I am so pleased he told me because I have no smell worth mentioning.

So we drove into the town of Atherton and left the van with a Holden mechanic while we visited....

THE CRYSTAL CAVES........

As you can see we are both wearing safety helmets in case of falling rocks. We were also wearing jackets because we knew that it would be cold and damp way down in the caves below.

The first crystal that took our eye was an ENORMOUS CRYSTAL BALL.

It was in fact, Australia's largest quartz crystal ball and we both tried to look into our futures.

I saw a wonderful celebration coming up for me. I wonder what it will be?

Skin saw himself sitting on a crystal that turned out to be the world.

How could a banana sit on top of the world?

These are Sonora Desert, Selenite crystals or Gypsum, from Mexico.

Skin was a bit worried having to have his picture taken beside dead fish. These are Spoonfish fossils from Brazil.

Then we spied ...THE EMPRESS OF URUGUAY, THE WORLDS BIGGEST AMETHYST GEODE.

It is 3.27 meters high and weighs 2.7 tonnes!A geode is formed when a volcano erupts and the lava makes dish like forms that crystallize in the 'curved shape' inside.

A CLOSE UP SHOT........ Look at the brilliant amethyst crystals.

This ammonite shell looks as though it should have Venus appearing from it.

Skin sat in a fairytale crystal, beautiful pink rose Quartz.

Hanging from the top of the cave were magical crystals, twirling in the light.

Skin knows that Chris and her grade 3/4 at Kongwak will love seeing the Crystal Caves visit, because they know a great deal about crystals themselves.

What an amazing diversity of crystals  the owners, Rene and Nelleke Boissevain have collected for their caves over the years.

Just as well the van was out of action today or we may never have had this 'out of the world' experience.

We would like to congratulate Rene for his work and thank him for our tour and chocolates!