Introduction

Across the road from Pines Cave, Stinging Nettle received a large amount of attention after the expedition of David And Petra (a.k.a. Crazy Czechs). Andrew Higgins was one of the first to notice a potential lead on the left side of the surface pool (around 8m depth). David and Petra focused on Stinging Nettle as part of their previous discovery (Bunyip’s Tunnel) had potential to head into Stinging Nettle doline. Teaming up with Andrew, they found a way to negotiate the 8m restriction to discover a tunnel leading to another restriction at 19m, later named Andrew’s Tunnel. Subsequent dives found that a ‘rock pile window’ at 12m has shifted, creating an opening into a large chamber names the “Avalanche Room”. A sketch map was produced in 2003, and until recently was the only known resource for divers planning to explore Stinging Nettle Cave.

Stinging Nettle is ‘leads-galore’ for any diver interested in exploration. There are multiple options to tie your jump spool to the main line and go on an adventure. With all the traffic since the years of discovery, the entrance restriction (at 8m giving access to Andrew’s tunnel) is no longer a complex one. However, the black silt is still there and one will experience zero visibility on their way in and out of the cave.

For members of the Cave Diving Association of Australia that are interested in more of the Stinging Nettle history, we recommend you look at the CDAA website for ‘The Pines Cave Exploration and Research Report’

Line Survey and Photogrammetry

The proximity with Pines cave was always a great drive to survey Stinging Nettle. A map was produced around. the same time the Crazy Czech Room was found in Pines. Not surprisingly, by the same couple that made the discovery on the other side of the road. This map has been the only source of information since 2003. The wombats did a line survey in Stinging Nettle back in 2023.

Following the steps of David, Petra and Andrew, The Soggy Wombats focused on Stinging Nettle as soon as the new discoveries in Pines (Wombat Tunnel) have shown potential to be even closer from the doline. Not a difficult cave to process a photogrammetry project, the team was able to have a full scan of the cave in a single dive. Once again drone imagery was gathered to position the doline and the underwater passages correctly in respect to each other. The final piece of the puzzle was to scan the dry chamber passing the hatch that gives access to the site today.

A connection between both caves hasn’t been found yet. As mentioned earlier, the proximity and the direction the new Wombat Tunnel (Pines) is heading together with the facet there is a massive colapse at the end of the tunnel, indicate they once were linked. We believe that finding a way to get to the Wombat Tunnel via Stinging Nettle would mean a safer dive. However, finding the way through the rock pile can be tricky and dangerous.

All collected data was reverted into a complete 3D model and a brand new map for the Stinging Nettle Cave. This map has been firstly released in September 2025 and is available in high-res upon request (just send us an email).