Descend Nine Levels of Darkness
Australia’s deepest underground mine tour invites you slip on overalls, squeeze into the original working shaft elevator, and descend 220 metres to Level Nine of an operational gold mine in central Bendigo. Guided by a knowledgable “shift boss” you’ll learn all about the region’s fascinating gold rush, the history and process of mining, how to set up a charge, run the trucks loaded with rubble, use a hydraulic drill, and enjoy a traditional Cornish pasty, just like the old miners. You’re going to get a little wet and dirty, and walk away with a new appreciation for the shiny stuff.
Length of Trip : Tours can takes between 75 minutes and 3.5 hours, depending on the level you choose.
Cost :
Click here for the latest mine tour prices:
Best time to go : Tours run daily at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm and 3:00pm. kids most be older than 3.
Wheelchair friendly : No
Family friendly : Ages 14 and up
Where to eat :
In Bendigo, we enjoyed good pizza at Clogs Clogs
Official Site :
http://www.central-deborah.com/tours/mine-experience
Where to Stay :
In Bendigo we stayed with Bendigo Holiday Rentals
Getting There :
Click here for directions to the mine museum.
Note from Robin :
Miners were (and in some cases are still) paid by the metre of rock cleared, no matter whether there's gold in them or not. As you walk deep into the underground tunnels, the amount of back-breaking work that must have gone into drilling, blasting and clearing the tunnels is exhausting to even think about. There are other, family friendly tours at the Central Deborah mine; the Nine Levels of Darkness tour is the most extreme, and definitely not for the claustrophobic.
Going deep
Easy does it
The lift lifeline
Meet Ken
