Following the success of the First Australian Conference on Cave Tourism held at Jenolan Caves, N.S.w. in July 1973, it was resolved that such conferences should be held biennially.  Tasmania was suggested as a suitable State to host the second conference but for various reasons it was four years before the Tasmanian Conference took place.  Despite the delay there Was considerable interest in the conference and delegates voted it at least as successful as the first. This publication records the formal proceedings.

The Second Conference was jointly sponsored by the Tasmanian National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Australian Speleological Federation.  organisation was handled by a committee comprising Messrs. R~K. Skinner and  A, Culberg on behalf of the Federation and Messrs G.J. Middleton and A.D. skinner of the National Parks and wildlife Service.  Prior to the conference inspections of Marakoopa and King Solomon’s Caves at Mole Creek were arranged and following the conference delegates visited Newdegate Cave at Hastings and were conducted on a wilderness tour of Exit Cave by Mr Roy skinner.

Since the 1973 Conference there have been a number of developments on the cave management scene.  A master plan for Jenolan Caves which would completely revolutionise the operation of that complex has been prepared;  major studies by consultants have been carried out at Mount Etna Caves in Queensland,   Cutta  Cutta Cave in the Northern Territory, Exit Cave in Tasmania and Tirnor Caves in N.S.W.; considerable progress has been made with the Victoria Fossil Cave redevelopment and associated museum at Naracoorte, south Australia, and there are good prospects for the protection and management of a great many more of Western Australia's fine caves.  unfortunately during the same period southern Queensland's only caves, at Texas, have been inundated, raining has continued at Mount Etna and at Bungonia Gorge in N.S.W., and many important caves, particularly on the Nullarbor Plain, at Chillagoe, North Queensland, and in Tasmania, remain unprotected.

The organisers make no apology for amending the title of the conference to include the word "management"; the emphasis on management in the papers presented clearly vindicates this.  It is not intended that the importance of "tourism" be reduced but it is felt that cave tourism must in future be seen and planned in the broader context of cave management.  The growing acceptance of this fact has undoubtedly underlain the major developments now taking place in Australian cave management.

It is hoped that the publication of this volume will further assist cave managers in their difficult task and will record the progress being made in this important work in Australia.

G. J. Middleton
Hobart, May 1977