In 2017 I went on my first below ground adventure at one of the many limestone caves that lie beneath the surface in the Margaret River Region. It was at the time, and still remains, one of my favourite activities in the region. Since that initial trip many years ago, I’ve relocated to live in Margaret River and have visited all the caves – some more than once!
Each cave offers a unique adventure, as no two are quite alike. In this guide, I’ll walk you through all you need to know before visiting the caves to help you decide which one to visit, along with my recommendations for the best cave for different types of travellers.
Quick Summary – Best Caves in Margaret River
Short on time? Here’s a quick summary and my picks for the best caves to visit in Margaret River.
While each cave is wonderful for its own reasons, hopefully, this will help you narrow it down if you only have time to visit one when visiting Margaret River.
- Best Overall Cave: Lake Cave (my top pick if you’re only going to visit one cave!)
- Best for Families / Kid-Friendly: Mammoth Cave or Ngilgi Cave
- Best for Indigenous Culture: Ngilgi Cave
- Best for Adventurers: Giants Cave
| Cave | Tour Type | Distance from Margaret River | Fee (per adult) | Unique Features |
| Ngilgi Cave | Semi-guided | 40 km | $32 | Amphitheatre Chamber Kids tunnel Interactive outdoor installations |
| Mammoth Cave | Self-guided | 15 km | $24 | Audio commentary Ancient Fossils Scenic Bushwalk |
| Lake Cave | Guided | 19 km | $25 | Suspended tabletop feature over the lake Lots of stairs! |
| Jewel Cave | Guided | 45 km | $25 | Largest cave Many unique formations |
| Calgardup Cave | Self-guided | 14 km | $19 | Raw and natural cave |
| Giants Cave | Self-guided | 19 km | $19 | Deepest cave Adventure caving experience |
Margaret River Caves Map
Before we jump into the specifics of each cave, it’s worth noting that some of the caves are further apart than others. Namely, Ngilgi Cave near Yallingup and Jewel Cave near Augusta are the outliers, whereas the others are clustered closer to Margaret River town.
Summarised in the table above is the distance from Margaret River town. If you’re staying in Yallingup, Dunsborough or Busselton, Ngilgi Cave is the closest cave.
Ngilgi Cave
Ngilgi Cave was the first show cave in Western Australia and a popular honeymoon destination for newlyweds from Perth, who would stay at the nearby Caves House Hotel, dating back to the early 1900s!
This cave offers a unique above-ground experience in addition to the underground exploration.
Beginning with a stroll on the elevated boardwalk through native bushland, discover over 600 million years of stories through interactive installations. Learn about the formation of the region, the stories of the traditional Wadandi people, and their connection to the land, flora and fauna.
Below ground, the cave experience begins as you descend into the amphitheatre-like main chamber with its remarkable acoustics (concerts have even been held here!).
The next part of the cave features colourful shawls, impressive stalactites and stalagmites, and even a tunnel kids can crawl through, which is quite fun (yes, these big kids did it too!).
You’ll be accompanied by a guide to the entrance of the cave and given an overview before finishing the cave tour on a self-guided basis.
Good to Know: There are quite a lot of steps to navigate at the entrance, and small children will need to be carried as prams can’t be taken into the cave.
Koomal Dreaming offers dedicated cultural tours with a Wandani traditional custodian (separate from the Ancient Lands Experience).
Bookings: Bookings are recommended on weekends and during school holidays, and can be made online
Opening Hours: Open 9 am – 5 pm daily (closed Christmas Day)
📍 Location: 76 Yallingup Caves Rd, Yallingup
Jewel Cave
Jewel Cave holds the title of the largest public cave in Western Australia.
With three enormous chambers, I think this spectacular cave is a close favourite of mine (after Lake Cave). You’ll find Jewel Cave at the southern end of the region near Hamelin Bay, 10 minutes from the sleepy coastal town of Augusta.
You’ll begin by walking through the cave mid-air over a suspended walkway in the main chamber, which features some of the longest measured stalactites in the country. There’s a few steep ladders to descend into the smaller chambers.
Your guide will point out other fascinating features in the cave on this guided tour, including formations such as the stunning stone forest, cascading flowstone waterfall and stalactite organ pipes.
Good to Know: There is a cafe on site serving light lunch, refreshments and coffee. While you’re in the area, visit the nearby Hamelin Bay if weather permits for a chance to see the friendly stingrays that frequent the shoreline (it’s one of my top things to do in Margaret River!)
Bookings: Bookings are recommended due to the guided nature of the tour. Reserve your spot here
Opening Hours: Open 9 am – 5 pm daily (closed Christmas Day)
📍 Location: Jewel Caves Rd, Deepdene
Lake Cave
Lake Cave takes the title in my books for the most visually impressive cave, despite being one of the smaller caves in the region. If you’re only going to visit one cave, I usually recommend Lake Cave as my top pick.
The adventure begins with navigating a steep set of 350 wooden stairs into a giant sinkhole (known as a doline), passing towering karri trees growing from the bottom before reaching the cave mouth.
Follow your guide along the walkway before reaching the jaw-dropping attraction of the cave – a permanent lake that brilliantly reflects the surrounding cave and the suspended table formation floating over the lake.
Good to Know: The guide will turn off all lights for a minute or so to allow guests to take in the sounds of the cave in an immersive experience – this might not be the most suitable cave for younger children if they’re scared of the dark. A moderate level of fitness is required, given the number of stairs.
This cave gets quite chilly, so bring a jumper.
Bookings: I recommend booking in advance for Lake Cave as it is one of the more popular caves with limited numbers on the guided tour.
Opening Hours: Open 9 am – 5 pm daily (closed Christmas Day)
📍 Location: Conto Rd, Forest Grove
Here’s a short video from our last visit at Lake Cave to give you an idea of what to expect!
Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave is the only cave that is self-guided tour which has audio commentary provided through a headset.
You can go at your own pace of discovery as you explore the 500-metre-long chamber, home to ancient fossil remains including a 50,000-year-old jawbone of an ancient giant marsupial.
The path is one-way, and you exit the cave at a different point to the entrance. Upon surfacing, there is a pleasant short bush walk through the karri and marri forest before reaching the starting point.
When visiting this cave in October during wildflower season, we spotted numerous native orchids in the bush, including pink fairy orchids and cheery-yellow donkey orchids.
This is one of the more family-friendly caves as there aren’t many steep stairs, and being self-guided, you can take it at your own pace without worrying about keeping up with a tour group.
Good to Know: Mammoth Cave features wheelchair access to the first chamber. The audio headsets are available in English, French, German, Malay and Mandarin.
If visiting during the cooler months, you may witness a winter stream running through the cave!
Bookings: Optional, can be made online here
Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily (closed Christmas Day)
📍 Location: Caves Rd, Forest Grove
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Calgardup Cave
Calgardup Cave is a great choice for those looking for a fully self-guided adventure. This cave is more raw and natural than the other show caves in the region as the only lighting is from torchlight.
The cave features well-maintained boardwalks and platforms, making it accessible for most visitors. As you wander through the passages, you’ll notice the impressive formations of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as beautiful calcite shawls that adorn the cave walls.
Good to Know: You’ll be given a helmet and torch at the entrance.
Bookings: No bookings required
Opening Hours: Open 9 am – 4:15 pm daily (last entrance)
📍 Location: 7199 Caves Rd, Forest Grove
Giants Cave
Giants Cave is the cave for thrill-seekers and those looking for an adventure. A friend and I had so much fun exploring this huge cave with its many twists and turns, ladders and tight spaces. Giants Cave is 86 metres at its deepest point (equivalent to nearly a 30-storey building!)
Your journey begins with a descent into the cave via a series of ladders and stairways. As you navigate through the depths of the cave, you’ll encounter large chambers, tight squeezes, and tree roots dangling overhead. This is a true caving experience where you’ll need to climb, scramble, and duck your way through the passages unguided, navigating by torchlight alone.
Once you surface above ground, there’s a short walk through the bush, crossing over Caves Rd, back to the entrance and reception.
Good to Know: Giants Cave is not for the faint-hearted or those with mobility issues. It requires a moderate level of fitness, and I definitely wouldn’t recommend it if you’re not comfortable with climbing ladders and getting on your hands and knees.
Helmets and torches are provided at the entrance, and you’ll need to wear sturdy footwear and comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty. The minimum age for this cave is 6 years old.
Insider Tip: The last entrance is at 3.15 pm – when we arrived at 3.10 pm we found we had the whole cave to ourselves, which made for a pretty special experience!
Bookings: No bookings required, but take note of the limited operating hours during winter.
Opening Hours:
High season (generally October – April): Open 9.30 am – 3.15 pm (last entrance) every day
Low season (generally May – September): Open 9.30 am – 3.15 pm (last entrance) on weekends only – but open daily during the school holiday period
📍 Location: 7769 Caves Rd, Forest Grove
Watch a video from our Giants Cave adventure here!
How to Book Tickets
Bookings are optional but recommended, particularly for the more popular Lake Cave, Ngilgi Cave and Jewel Cave which as guided tours, have capped group sizes.
You can book tickets online for Ngilgi Cave, Jewel Cave, Lake Cave and Mammoth Cave or simply buy tickets upon arrival at the entrance for all caves (subject to availability).
Final Thoughts
That wraps up all you need to know in choosing which cave is right for you. Of course, if time and budget permit, I recommend visiting more than one cave! It’s quite spectacular to see with your own eyes the remarkable displays of nature and geology on show mere metres beneath the surface.
Check out my other guides to help you plan your adventures in Margaret River, and feel free to leave any questions in the comments below.
Exploring the Margaret River Region:
- 35 Best Things to Do in Margaret River
- The Ultimate 3 Day Margaret River Itinerary (From A Local!)
- 7 Must-See Stops on a Perth to Margaret River Road Trip
- Quinninup Falls: Hiking to Margaret River’s Secret Waterfall
- The Aquarium, Yallingup: Complete Visitors Guide
- Injidup Natural Spa: Essential Tips For Your Visit
- Cape to Cape Walk Track: Ultimate Guide
- Best of South West WA: One Week Road Trip Itinerary
- How to Spend 6 Soulful Days Exploring WA’s South West