For The Crystal Caves, Atherton Tablelands
The beloved Crystal Caves ‘Rock Car’, a local landmark known for its quirky Flintstones-style appearance, will roll into a new era in 2026 thanks to a creative facelift by Magnetic Island artist John Pavart.
Pavart, once a Lightning Ridge opal miner and now an artist who spent three decades studying under Tasmanian mentor the late Jorge Andersche, is best known for his whimsical ‘random acts of art’; hand-painted coconut shells tucked into unexpected places for people to find.
Now, the travelling creative and self-proclaimed grey nomad has swapped coconuts for car panels, transforming the famous rock-covered Suzuki Sierra into a kaleidoscope of colour and imagination.
Crystal Caves Manager Ghis Gallo said the rock car, which has been a fixture in Atherton’s main street since 1992, was towed away to begin its transformation late last year.
“It’s been part of our family’s story for more than 30 years — originally my mum’s car before Dad, René, decided to coat it in leftover polyurethane foam from the cave build,” Gallo laughed.
“Mum wasn’t thrilled at the time, but the car became a local icon,” she said.
Over the decades, the rock car has had many facelifts, but this one promises to be its ambitious and creative yet.
Pavart’s reimagined design features Crystal Caves’ favourite attractions, including the giant amethyst geode, crystal ball, fossilised ammonite, and the ever-popular and inimitable ‘crack-a-geode’ experience.
Gallo said the commission felt like a perfect creative fit.
The Crystal Caves’ rock car renovation project highlights the attraction’s reputation for blending science, storytelling, and surprise, which aligns very much with Pavart’s whimsical art practice.
Located in the heart of Atherton, the Crystal Caves is home to thousands of crystals, fossils, and minerals collected by founder René Boissevain, and continues to be one of the Tablelands’ most awarded and distinctive tourism experiences.
Open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm, The Crystal Caves is situated at 69 Main Street, Atherton. For more, visit www.crystalcaves.com.au
