Frequently Asked Questions

No. The Crystal Caves is a museum built by the imagination of René Boissevain. René has always been a caveman – well a cave boy initially. As a child, instead of building tree houses or forts he dug out old rabbit burrows, and reinforced them with branches to make a cave. The lay of the land of the shop turned out to be a natural space to build a cave.

A world class private collection of over 600 specimens of crystals and fossils from around the world. Which you can touch! You can walk – and sometimes crawl around the spaces and discover the crystals and gemstones for yourself.

No. The collection displays crystals and fossils from all over the world. Just like visiting a zoo where some animals are only found in specific countries, so too is René’s collection of crystals and fossils from all over the world including several from Australia.

Yes. The Crystal Caves is wheelchair friendly.

Yes. We highly encourage you to take photos and videos of the specimens and the caves.

Yes! We love your pets! We welcome all family members into our store and they can even explore the museum with you. If bringing a dog, please ensure they are on a lead.

As there is so much to see, we recommend at least 40 minutes. However, being that it is a self-guided tour, you are welcome to spend as long as you like.

Be sure to leave enough time in your visit to crack a Geode and browse the gift and jewellery shop.

As it is a self-guided tour, you can arrive at any time of the day. As long as you arrive before 4pm, this allows at least one hour before closing time to enjoy the tour.

Booking recommended but not essential.

No. However, you are welcome to give us a call on 07 4091 2365 or email us at info@crystalcaves.com.au and we will gladly send you some pictures of our stock available. We also offer postage at an additional cost.

Quite simply because founder René loves the Atherton Tablelands. Having travelled all over the world, he and his wife think the Atherton Tablelands is the most beautiful place on earth to live!

The first cave was built in 1987 using just René’s imagination – no architects, designers or builders. Five years later he decided to expand and make a series of caves and tunnels and chambers. This time he had a team of six including an engineer, electrician and carpenters. It was finished in 1992.

Some he dug out of the ground, some he swapped for Australian agate and others required remarkable persistence. In one deal, it took three years for René to convince a Hong Kong trader to sell him an ancient Lapis Lazuli carving so rare the antiquities powerhouse (auction house), Sotheby’s couldn’t identify it.

A 49kg Queensland agate nodule was unearthed in 1963 and was amongst the collection René took back to Holland in 1969 to help start a museum there. On returning to Queensland and starting his business in Atherton he pined for the big rock and in 2007, his wife Nelleke and daughter Ghis, managed to convince the new owner of the Dutch museum to return it back to Australia. Wine was involved. So, 44 years after it left Australia was returned home. Funnily enough, Quarantine held it and checked it for foreign soil when it came into Cairns. The blue monster is also the largest agate René has uncovered.

Tobacco grader, Palm tree grower, Coffee table creator, high pressure cleaner rep and scout for the Camel Trophy 4WD race.

Just a 33kg crystal ball, the jawbone of an Ice Age woolly mammoth, dinosaur eggs from China and an agate that’s had the same water slopping round inside for 80 million years.