100 Things To Do You’ve Never Heard Of #072 Rent your own cave

Rent a cave of your own two hours drive from Sydney in the upper Blue Mountains

For rent: one cave. Big, sunny and dry with most mod cons. Sound like something you’d be interested in? Awake to the sounds of thousands of birds and the sight of a million-year-old sandstone cathedral arching over your head. On a property that transects a deep gorge in the Upper Blue Mountains, Mark the Hatter (he makes leather hats) offers a simple solution to the satisfaction of human needs: “Water comes directly from the sky.

Food is sumptuously prepared over a fire. Most guests bring their own small group of companions. Continuation of the species is left up to the clients. Shelter is provided, tranquillity is assured, and contemplation of why we exist is readily discussed around a crackling fire.” Sounds like the perfect escape from the everyday.

“I LOVE THIS IDEA! ALTHOUGH I’M NOT KEEN ON THE BATS . . .” – Chris Smith

WHERE // Two hours drive west of Sydney in Bell in the Upper Blue Mountains, NSW. Call Mark O’Carrigan on (02) 6355 2777 or check out www.rentacave.com  for more info.

DID YOU KNOW? // The Wollemi National Park is the largest wilderness area in New South Wales. It is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and hosts one of the state’s longest, most scenic gorges along the Colo River.