4 Best Caves in Margaret River

Explore underground on a Margaret River cave tour

A million years of mega sand dunes, soaking rain and crystal formation has led to over 100 caves in Margaret River, four of which are open to the public for us to explore. Ngilgi Cave, Mammoth Cave, Jewel Cave and Lake Cave are all completely different and all worth a look, but if you’re on a tight schedule, read on to see which is right for you.

Weather events helped mould the Leeuwin Naturaliste ridge, a 100km granite and limestone belt stretching from Cape Naturaliste in the north to Cape Leeuwin in the south. Caves Road – named for the spectacular hidden caves – connects the region, a scenic road trip through forest, just inland from the coast.

The caves are particularly important to our family, with Lincoln’s grandfather and Neil’s dad, Dudley McLeod, a former Mammoth and Lake Cave guide in the 1950s and early 60s who was instrumental in their promotion and preservation. He was President of the Margaret River Visitor Centre and (with his colleagues) lobbied to get the caves under Visitor Centre management in the 1950s. The successful campaign meant that future profits then went into maintaining the caves and promoting the region as a growing tourism hub.

Ancient Lands at Ngilgi Cave

Ngilgi Cave is located on Caves Road between Dunsborough and Yallingup, around a 35-minute drive north of Margaret River. A big and beautiful cave, Ngilgi was the first cave open to tourists in 1899 and has remained one of the most popular destinations in the region.

The self-guided tour begins on an accessible above-ground pathway called the Ancient Lands Experience, where visitors can discover the formation of the Leeuwin Naturaliste ridge over 600 million years ago through a series of interactive instalments. Arriving at the cave entrance, adventure down to the depths of the cave, where you’ll marvel at the stunning stalactites, stalagmites, helictites and beautifully coloured shawls scattered across the cave. It’s one of the most ‘adventurous’ caves, with narrow passages and an optional crawl tunnel that kids really love.

Ancient Lands opened in 2023, so it’s worth revisiting Ngilgi Cave if you haven’t been recently.

Self-guided tours available daily.

Mammoth Cave 

Nestled in the heart of the Boranup Forest, and living up to its name, Mammoth Cave is huge, stretching 500 metres in length and 30 metres in depth. It is also the only cave in the region with known megafauna fossil remains.

The self-guided audio tour is a magical experience, where visitors can explore along the boardwalks, platforms and the beautiful chambers of the cave. Learn about the different megafauna that used to call the area home over 46,000 years ago. The tour finishes with a nature walk through the regenerating karri forest.

Mammoth Cave is the only accessible cave, with the entry boardwalk and first huge chamber fully accessible for wheelchair users.

Self-guided audio tours available daily. The audio tour is available in five languages; English, French, German, Malay and Mandarin.

Lake Cave

Lave Cave is the most photogenic of the four caves, with a breathtaking 80-metre-wide doline entrance completely surrounded by karri forest. Set in the lush trees of Boranup, about a 20-minute drive south of Margaret River, Lake Cave takes its name for the slow moving underground stream that gives the impression of a lake in the main chamber.

Entry to the cave is through a large sinkhole, where you can admire the towering karri trees from above. Inside the cave, admire the dazzling crystal formations and the famous ‘Suspended Table’ formation that amazingly defies gravity above the lake. The cave is the smallest but deepest cave, with 350 steps to reach its depths.

There are guided tours available daily from 9am – 5pm.

Jewel Cave

Located in the southern parts of the Margaret River region near Augusta, Jewel Cave is the biggest show cave in Western Australia, with three massive chambers filled with awe-inspiring beauty. Recognised as being one of the world’s most spectacular caves, the crystal laden palace is home to one of the longest stalactites in the world.

Fully guided tours will take you down into the heart of Jewel Cave, where you’ll learn about the fascinating crystal forms scattered across the chambers. You’ll also learn of the now-extinct Tasmanian Tigers that fell into the cave and perished.

Jewel is a personal favourite for us; the cave has been carefully preserved since its 1959 discovery. By comparison, early visitors to Ngilgi were allowed to pocket a piece of slow-growing stalactite as a souvenir, which is hard to believe now!

There are guided tours available daily from 9am – 5pm.

Which Margaret River caves should we visit?

Deciding which cave to visit can be hard, especially if you’re only visiting the region for a short period of time. Each of the breathtaking caves offers a unique chance to explore and learn about the region’s history, so be rest-assured that whichever one you choose – it’ll be awe-inspiring.

McLeod Tours goes to Mammoth Cave on our 3-day Margaret River Escape for a number of reasons – the fascinating megafauna and palaeontology, the accessibility of the cave and of the McLeod family connection.

Learn more about our Margaret River tours here – https://mcleodtours.com.au/margaret-river-tours/