We will be driving from Split, up the coast to Istria and then to Zagreb in early May. One of our party does not like long hikes, short ones are okay. So maybe one or two kilometres max. We would love to see the waterfalls and caves though. Can we expect a long walk from the car park to see any sights? Are any caves good for less mobile people?
She is okay with stopping somewhere while we continue on. If there’s a rest area or coffee shop or something.
My husband is in his late 80's, and had no problem (using his cane) on the raised boardwalks and stone/gravel paths in Plitvice. Even with the crowds and when wet, it wasn't hard to walk. I don't know how many km's it is, but he usually goes about 3 miles before needing a rest, and he didn't need one there. Plitvice does have a couple of in-park refreshment stands, which are basic but not bad.
Accessibility from the parking there, or the park hotels, is pretty easy. Unfortunately, we don't have any experience with caves in Croatia, so can't help you there.
You can see if the caves have a train ride. Postojna caves in Slovenia does. You need to go to Plitvice at a less busy time, such as late afternoon.
We recently visited Plitvice National Park and Sckojan Caves. I think you would be fine at Plitvice. Even if you can't walk far, it's beautiful right from the beginning with benches along the way. The Sckojan Caves requires a bit of walking up and down steps and inclines. It was beautiful but perhaps the other cave, Postojna, which has a train would be a better choice. If you have more time, we also spent a week in Ljubliana, Slovenia and loved it.
