"Not just a rock shop" is the catchphrase of a little gem of a tourist attraction on the Atherton Tablelands.

The Crystal Caves, at 69 Main St, Atherton, offers a fascinating – and educational – experience for the whole family. Created by Rene Boissevain, the underground adventure museum takes visitors on an interactive self-guided tour through nine unique man-made caves.

Before setting off into the caves, we are each given a miner’s helmet complete with LED headlamp, and it’s wise to leave it on as the cave system can get narrow with low ceilings. At first we notice only the obvious crystal specimens right in front of us, but then we take a good look around into the nooks and crannies of the caves and discover hundreds more. 

Visitors are encouraged to touch and feel the crystals, giant fossils, volcanic sculptures and dinosaur eggs, and cameras are welcome. Each crystal is numbered so you can refer to your guide book to find out what it is and where it comes from. The specimens collected in this museum come from all around the world, making it a very unique collection. Halfway through the tunnels we come to a wide open chamber housing the Empress of Uruguay.

This magnificent amethyst geode has to be seen to be believed. More than three metres tall and weighing two and a half tonnes, this is the biggest amethyst geode in the world featuring tens of thousands of perfect deep purple crystals. And it’s not behind a big sheet of glass either – you can touch and photograph the Empress too.

At the end of the journey you can take part in a mini quiz which is purely for fun – not to test your knowledge. Crystal Caves is a lot of fun, and great for children who are also given a sample bag of interesting stones and stickers.

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