They are a must-see part of any visit to the Margaret River Region – but which of the six ancient caves will suit you best?
“Which cave shall we visit?” is a question often asked by visitors to the region.
There are six caves open to the public in the Margaret River Region, and each is beautiful and unique. Tours range from ‘at your own pace’ self-guided experiences to fully guided tours. So, whether you’re travelling with children, prefer a slower pace or want an immersive guided experience, read on to find the perfect one for you.
Ngilgi Cave is big and beautiful, with an abundance of crystal formations to admire as you venture 36 metres underground. The self-guided experience begins on an accessible above-ground pathway called the Ancient Lands Experience, where you can discover stories associated with the land and its ancient history through a series of interactive installations. As you reach the entrance to Ngilgi Cave, you’re free to continue to explore at your own pace, making this cave perfect for visitors of all ages. A guide stationed in the main chamber of the cave can answer your questions and point out hidden features.
For those who like a little extra adventure, there’s even a crawl tunnel at the entrance – always a favourite.
Extra insight: There is a nature playground in the bushland for kids to enjoy once you’ve completed the Ngilgi Cave and Ancient Lands Experience.
Stroll down into magnificently decorated chambers to discover colourful crystals, stalactites, stalagmites and walls of flowstone. Relax in seating throughout the 300-metre-long cave that branches into two wings. Easily accessed on boardwalks and stairs with handrails, Calgardup is suitable for all ages. Interpretive signs explain the cave’s formation and role as habitat for cave fauna, some of which is endangered. Finish with a rooftop walk over the cave to see enchanting spring wildflower displays.
Lake Cave is seriously spectacular. It’s set in lush karri forest and has a dramatic entrance through a sinkhole called a doline, with a ‘Suspended Table’ crystal decoration hanging above a permanent lake. It’s the most actively dripping cave in the region, and hearing the drips is remarkably peaceful.
The fully guided experience ensures you won’t miss a thing. Your expert guide will share fascinating stories about the cave’s history, geology and delicate formations. Once the tour finishes, you can make your way back up the doline at your own pace. Along the way, there are several spots designed for pausing and taking in the lush microclimate before continuing on.
Mammoth Cave is home to megafauna fossils – giant creatures that roamed the forest 50,000 years ago. Tasmanian devil and thylacine bones have also been unearthed.
It’s a self-guided experience with an audio headset available. Cruise through at your own speed, and while you explore, let the bones and fossils on display drive your imagination.
Enter the first chamber along a gently sloping boardwalk. There are stairs throughout the remaining sections of the cave, and you emerge on the other side through a doline into a beautiful forest. Finish the tour by crossing Caves Road and wandering the Marri Walk through the native forest to gaze at the towering trees and the lush forest understorey.
Enjoy a unique physical experience as you negotiate a marked trail. Expect vertical ladder climbs, rock scrambles, tight squeezes and giant chambers inside Giants Cave. Traverse more than half a kilometre of natural cave floor and constructed boardwalks, descending to 86 metres deep. Marvel at ancient tree roots encrusted with colourful calcite along the way. After roughly an hour, emerge and stroll back to the guide hut through the magnificent karri forest. Friendly staff provide helmets, torches and a briefing before you head in. Children under six aren’t permitted, and opening times are seasonal, so check before you go.
Set among the towering karri forests of Augusta, Jewel Cave is the largest show cave in Western Australia and home to one of the longest straw stalactites in any tourist cave in Australia. The fully guided tour lasts about an hour and offers an awe-inspiring look at breathtaking crystal formations and the cave’s hidden wonders.
Your guide will bring the experience to life with stories of geology, discovery and preservation, making this tour as informative as it is spectacular.
There is an optional one-kilometre Karri Walk through the surrounding forest, where you can see the original ‘wind hole’ entrance to the cave, and a spectacular array of wildflowers in spring.
