Caving Expedition, 2 days, Melbourne - VIC

'Learning the ups and downs of the vertical world is easier than it looks. Don't expect ladders with handrails and coloured lights - the caves we explore are wild and as such have no adornments under 100 million years old. Caves offer an extraordinary variety of structures, as if designed by a demented Gothic architect; stalactites, stalagmites, crystal ballrooms, shawls, angel's wings, lace curtains, crystals that glisten like gems and cathedral windows. The mysterious qualities of these structures are accentuated by probing head torches, which cast fleeting life-like shadows. Day one: The day starts with a journey into Slocombes. We abseil into this large, spacious and diverse cave where a number of different leads are on offer. The highlight is finding the Wombat Hole and taking the option of testing your claustrophobia in attempting to complete the crawl through the Wombat Tunnel. This is a great cave to explore and lead with your guide overseeing your progress. After lunch you enter through a small squeeze and abseil into Baby Berger. Your instructors will lead this one as it has many potential dangers to the uninitiated. After squeezing through a number of vertical drops and viewing the shark fin and other types of unique cave formations, you arrive at a 50 metre vertical chasm with a caving ladder hanging half way to the bottom. Those that choose, descend to the bottom of the ladder (On belay), clip into the bottom rung with their panic strap, turn off their torch and let go. It is a feeling of flying you shall never forget. The smell of adrenalin is strong as you ascend back to the top to join your friends. Day two: We begin with an abseil off the 30 metre cliffs of Rocky Knob. Forward rappels are on offer for those that are game. From here you climb on the technically challenging cliffs (Youll need the climbing shoes provided) at the peak of the hill and then back to camp for a late lunch. By now youll have