Mammoth Cave: A Story Of Regeneration

Mammoth Cave is nestled in the heart of a region of outstanding beauty – above and below ground. It is situated only 15-minutes south of Margaret River and explorers of all ages and abilities can discover and connect with nature at the most easily accessible cave in the South West.

• Many species of native Australian plants have adaptations that help the species to survive fire. Heat from fires trigger seed pods to slowly open and once the fire has passed, the seeds will be released into the freshly cleared soil, making it the perfect place for new plants to germinate and grow.
• Mammoth Cave was Western Australia’s first palaeontology site. Palaeontology is the study of ancient life based on the examination of fossils.

Mammoth Cave is the most easily assessable cave in the south west and an exciting adventure for families with young children. The journey begins on an elevated boardwalk that leads you towards the entrance of the cave, where you are immediately immersed into the depths of the enormous first chamber.

There’s no doubt that nature tells the best stories, and the stunning surroundings of the cave have been brought to life via an informative audio tour provided through an MP3 player, a big hit for the kids. The self-guided tour allows you to explore the cave at your own pace and the cool temperature (which ranges from 6°c in winter to 15°c in summer) is a welcome reprieve on a hot day.

For budding young fossil hunters, Mammoth Cave is an opportunity to make childhood dreams come true. With over 10,000 fossils having once accumulated within the cave, young cave explorers can discover ancient Australian Megafauna fossils and search for the 50,000 year old ‘zygomaturus’ jawbone (a relative of today’s wombat and one of the largest marsupials that have ever lived!).

As the boardwalks and staircases lead you through the enormity of the cave, you find yourself dwarfed, standing at the centre of a huge natural formation. The base of a large doline (a type of sinkhole) opens up to a naturally framed vista of the towering forest trees above and commences the start of the Marri Walk Trail.

The Marri Walk Trail is a reminder of how resilient this landscape is and how quickly nature can respond and rejuvenate. Flourishing new growth lines the paths edges and climbs the trunks of the towering trees. This walk is worthy of your full attention and as you slow down and take a closer look, you will be able discover incredible species.

There’s no better place to appreciate life that has started to spring anew, and the longstanding transformative role that fire has on this landscape.

Mammoth Cave is open 7 days a week from 9am-5pm, and offers self-guided tours with a suggested duration of 1-2 hours.