Margaret River Caves (Most Popular, How to Get There & More)

There are some unbelievable, thrilling sights to be seen in the caves around Margaret River. A day’s excursion into one of Margaret River’s caves is an exploration back in time. To assist in your cave exploration plans, we recommend the following 2 Margaret River caves that are very popular with both local residents and tourists. Note: Due to the many numbers of steps, inclines and declines within the caves, always wear sturdy, hiking shoes or boots when visiting the underground caves. The caves are not equipped to handle wheelchairs or other mobile devices, but anyone able to handle steps and walking paths with the assistance of a walking stick or cane will enjoy the adventure.

Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup

This ancient cave lays beneath the natural limestone ridge in Cape Naturaliste. Beyond its centuries old crystal arrays of stalactites and stalagmites, Ngilgi Cave has a long history steeped in Aborigine culture. The local legend associated with this cave is the age old battle between good, Ngilgi, and evil, Wolgine. Naturally, as with all good lessons in morality, Ngilgi won and peace was restored. There is an Aboriginal belief that the spirit of Ngilgi still lives in the cave and is now referred to as the Great Spirit of the Ocean.

The Ngilgi Cave is more than 500,000 years old, and it was rediscovered by Edward Dawson in 1899. It was, and still remains, one of the oldest and largest caves open to the public in Western Australia. Over the century since its opening, there have a number of animal fossils found that include those of a Tasmanian tiger and ancient kangaroos.

Driving Direction

Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup from Margaret River Visitor Centre, 100 Bussell Highway

Head west on Bussell Highway to exit onto Caves Rd. Stay on Caves Rd. until you arrive at Yallingup Caves Rd. in Yallingup, then turn left on Yallingup Caves Rd. and you’ll arrive at Ngilgi Cave. The distance is approximately 30 KM and will take about 26 minutes to get there.

Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup from Forest Rise, 231 Yelverton Road

Follow Caves Rd. to Yallingup Caves Rd. in Yallingup, then turn left on Yallingup Caves Rd. and you’ll arrive at Ngilgi Cave. The distance is approximately 25 KM and will take about 24 minutes to get there.

Mammoth Cave, Forest Grove

The configuration inside this very large, very old limestone cave has remained unaltered by time or human alterations. You will see, feel, and experience what Western Australia history was like nearly 500,000 years ago. Over 10,000 fossils of prehistoric, giant animals, that have long been extinct, have been found in this cave since it was discovered by modern man in the 1850s. One spectacular fossil is the jawbone of a Zygomaturus that remains embedded in a wall inside the cave. A Zygomaturus was a very large wombat that roamed throughout Australia over 50,000 years ago. These species of Australian Megafauna, extinct marsupials, died off at about the time that the first aborigines came to the shores of Australia.

The main chamber of the cave is wheelchair accessible. The remaining chambers and pathways have lots of stairs, some being very steep and not accessible to individuals with walking problems. Visitors to the cave need to wear comfortable, walking or hiking shoes. The temperature inside the cave is on the cool to cold side, so take a jacket or sweater with you. During the warmer seasons, there is a section of the cave that is swampy, so take the precaution of using insect repellent before entering the cave. During the winter season, a shallow stream flows through the cave, and the water takes on a red color from the natural ores in the ground. The result is a beautiful reflection of colour onto the cave walls.

Driving Direction

Mammoth Cave is a 15-minute drive south of Margaret River along Caves Road
Mammoth Cave is a large limestone cave 21 km south of the town of Margaret River in south-western Western Australia, and about 300 km south of Perth. It lies within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and is surrounded by karri and marri forest. There have been extinct animal fossils found in Mammoth Cave.

Caves Rd, Forest Grove WA 6286