Ultimate Guide to the Margaret River Caves

Margaret River, located roughly 300km south of Perth, is the perfect destination for your next WA escape. There is something here for everyone – world-class wineries, adrenalin-pumping adventure activities and spectacular natural landscapes just waiting to be explored. 

Nature lovers and outdoorsy folks will delight in everything Margaret River offers. Picturesque beaches with crisp white sands and bright turquoise water, peaceful forests of towering karri trees and, of course, the labyrinth of ancient limestone caves that lay below its surface. 

Visitors won’t be disappointed by a visit to the caves in Margaret River. Read on for all the information on the best caves in Margaret River and the best caves near Margaret River. In addition, you’ll discover all the details on what to bring on your Margaret River caves adventure and the best caves tours Margaret River has to offer.

Why visit the Margaret River Caves?

The caves in Margaret River are a must-see attraction for your next weekend getaway to Western Australia’s South West region. 

Wandering through these stunning geological formations offers a unique and captivating natural experience that can’t be repeated anywhere else. The caves are home to calcite crystal stalactites, stalagmites, and other impressive geological features. Plus over 10 000 fossils, including those of rare Australian megafauna (giant animals), have been discovered in the caves, many of which are visible during your tour. 

Visitors will have the chance to explore underground and see the beauty of nature from a different perspective while wandering through the peaceful darkness and marvelling at beautiful crystal formations.

In addition, the caves offer a range of activities for visitors, including guided tours, audio tours, caving expeditions and abseiling experiences. Overall, the caves in Margaret River offer an unforgettable experience that tourists won’t want to miss.

How to get from Perth to Margaret River

Margaret River is roughly 300km south of Perth. There are two main ways to get from Perth to Margaret River – driving or by bus. 

If you choose to drive, head south on the Forrest Highway, which will take you directly to Margaret River. The drive is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, and there are plenty of spots to stop along the way for a break, a coffee, or to refuel. 

TransWA operates regular bus services from Perth to Margaret River if you prefer to take the bus. The journey takes around 4 hours, departs from East Perth Terminal, and tickets are about $50 each way (there are discounts for concession card holders). It’s recommended to book tickets in advance, as services can be popular and fill up quickly.

Best time of year to visit the Margaret River caves

The Margaret River caves are open all year round (excluding Christmas Day). Margaret River’s peak tourism season is during Summer, but it’s a fantastic destination year-round.

Guide to the Margaret River Caves

There are four main caves in Margaret River open to visitors – Jewel Cave, Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave and Ngilgi Cave. Each is home to unique geological formations, plenty of fossils and cave wildlife. 

Please note that each cave tour requires mobility up and down stairs; however, the first chamber of Mammoth Cave is accessible by wheelchair via the boardwalk. 

Keep in mind that formations within the caves are incredibly delicate and irreplaceable. So take care when moving through the caves, and resist the urge to touch the impressive formations. 

Read on for all the information you’ll need to explore the Margaret River Caves. 

Things to Bring with you when exploring the Margaret River Caves

It’s recommended that visitors only take a little into the caves as the natural structures within are incredibly delicate, and any damage is irreversible.

Closed-in shoes are recommended (but not necessary) as most tours involve many steps.

Bring a camera and plenty of water to drink while you walk. Depending on the weather, visitors may want to bring wet weather gear, a wind jacket, hat, sunscreen, or a jacket, as it does get cold in the caves.

No food or drink is permitted within the caves.

Jewel Cave

As its name suggests, Jewel Cave is a crystal-encrusted cave located in the Margaret River region about 10 kilometres north of Augusta. 

The cave was discovered in the late 1950s and has been open to the public since 1959. These days it’s a popular tourist destination in Western Australia, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

Jewel Cave spans more than 2 kilometres, has a depth of 42 metres and is known for its stunning calcite crystals and a huge variety of formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones. Plenty of fossils have been discovered in Jewel Cave, including a Tasmanian Tiger and brush-tail possum, it’s also home to a number of bat species that visitors may be lucky enough to spot.

Fully guided tours are an hour in length. Make sure you check out the colossal stalagmite named ‘The Karri Forrest’ and the flowstones named ‘The Frozen Waterfall’ and ‘The Organ Pipes’. And be sure to look at the delicate stalactite ‘straws’ – they’re the longest ones found in any cave open for tourists in Australia. 

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm each day (excluding Christmas Day)

Address: Jewel Caves Road, Deepdene, WA 6290

Facilities: Onsite cafe, gift shop and toilets

Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible

Mammoth Cave

Located a short 15-minute drive south of Margaret River, Mammoth Cave is sure to impress! 

It’s one of the more significant caves in the region, at a whopping 500 metres long and 30 metres in depth. It was first explored in 1900 and opened to the public in 1904. Around 10,000 fossils were discovered when the cave was excavated, including bones belonging to megafauna, like giant pythons, echidnas and kangaroos!

Visitors can take the hour-long audio tour in English, French, German, Malay or Mandarin while peacefully wandering through the enormous caverns at their own pace. Stop and marvel at the display of a 50,000-year-old zygomaturus (think – massive 1m tall wombat) jawbone. 

Mammoth cave is the most accessible cave in the region, with the first chamber accessible by wheelchair following the boardwalk. However, subsequent sections require the use of stairs. The tour ends with a calming walk through Marri Forest, so visitors can feel truly in touch with nature. 

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm each day (excluding Christmas Day)

Address: Caves Road, Forest Grove, WA 6286

Facilities: Gift shop, toilets

Accessibility: Mammoth Cave is the only wheelchair-accessible cave in the region. There is a boardwalk into the first chamber, however, consecutive sections are only accessible by stairs. 

Lake Cave

Lake Cave is known for its large underground lake, located in the main chamber and surrounded by dazzling calcite crystal formations.

While wandering through Lake Cave, you’ll get the chance to spot plenty of unique crystal formations like columns formed when stalactites and stalagmites join together. 

Lake Cave is open to the public and can be explored on guided tours. During the tour, visitors can learn about the cave’s geology, history, and the flora and fauna that live within it. For example, the cave is home to several species of bats and other animals that have adapted to life in the underground environment. 

Overall, Lake Cave is a unique and beautiful natural attraction that is well worth a visit for anyone interested in geology or natural history.

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm each day (excluding Christmas Day)

Address: Caves Road & Conto Road, Forest Grove WA 6286

Facilities: Gift Shop, toilet

Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible

Ngilgi Cave

Ngilgi Cave, also known as Yallingup Cave, is a limestone cave in the town of Yallingup. The cave is considered a significant cultural and natural landmark in the region and is a popular tourist destination. The cave was discovered in 1899 and was named after the Ngilgi Dreaming, a Noongar story about the cave and its spiritual significance.

One of the unique features of Ngilgi Cave is its stalactites and stalagmites, which are formed over thousands of years as water dripping from the cave ceiling mixed with minerals in the limestone. The cave also contains a variety of other formations, including impressive columns where stalactites and stalagmites meet, flowstones that resemble waterfalls, and branching helictites.

In addition to its geological features, Ngilgi Cave is also home to a diverse range of fauna, including bats, cave crickets, and spiders. 

Visitors to Ngilgi Cave can take guided tours of the cave, which last approximately one hour. The tours provide an in-depth look at the cave’s history and geology, as well as the cultural significance of the cave to the local Noongar people.

Overall, Ngilgi Cave is a must-see destination for anyone visiting the Yallingup region of Western Australia. Its unique geological features, cultural significance, and natural beauty make it a truly unforgettable experience.

Opening hours: 9:00am-5:00pm each day (excluding Christmas Day)

Address: 76 Yallingup Caves Road, Yallingup WA 6282

Facilities: Gift shop, toilet

Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible

Last words on Guide to Margaret River Caves

The Margaret River caves are a must-see attraction on your next trip to Western Australia’s South West region. Geology and nature lovers will enjoy walking through the beautiful crystal formations, spotting fossils and exploring an utterly unique landscape. 

Have you visited any of the Margaret River Caves? Which was your favourite? Comment below!

More Weekend Inspiration

Are you looking for more places to explore and activities in WA’s South West region? Why not go fishing in Augusta? Or go whale watching in Dunsborough, and while there, check out the best things to do in Dunsborough; maybe you’d like to meet the Hamelin Bay Stingrays. If you’re keen on travelling a little further, try snorkelling in Exmouth.

Recommended: