Which is the Best Cave in Margaret River: Locals Guide 2024
Trying to decide which Margaret River caves are best? You’ve come to the right place. As locals, we’ve visited all the show caves in the Margaret Region and want to share with you our thoughts.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✅ Excellent guided tour
✅ Spectacular features
✅ Largest Margaret River show cave
Margaret River Caves
1. Jewel Cave
⭐️ RATING: 5/5 Stars | ✅ Book it!
Summary
Location
Jewel Caves Rd, Deepdene (10 minutes drive from Augusta)
Tour Prices
Adult: A$24.00
Child (4-16yrs): A$12.00
Seniors: A$22.00
Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Facilities & Amenities
- Café
- Shop
- Interpretive Centre
- Toilets
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Spectacular formations: Jewel Cave is known for its stunning stalactites, stalagmites, and delicate calcite crystals, creating a breathtaking underground spectacle.
- Guided tours: The guided tours provide informative insights into the cave’s history, geology, and unique features.
- Accessibility: Jewel Cave has well-maintained walkways and is generally considered accessible for visitors of different ages and physical abilities.
- Visitor amenities: The cave has good visitor facilities, including a visitor center, parking, and restrooms.
⛔️ Cons
- Crowds: Being one of the most popular caves, Jewel Cave can get crowded during peak tourist seasons.
- Tour availability: Due to its popularity, tour availability might be limited, so book now to secure a spot.
Read this full review of Jewel Cave for more information.
2. Lake Cave
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ✅ Book it!
Summary
Location
Caves Rd & Conto Rd, Forest Grove (20 minutes drive south from Margaret River)
Tour Prices
Adult: A$24.00
Child (4-16yrs): A$12.00
Seniors: A$22.00
Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Facilities & Amenities
- Shop
- Interpretive Centre
- Toilets
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Sunken lake: Lake Cave is known for its beautiful sunken lake, which creates stunning reflections of the cave formations, adding to the magical ambience of the cave.
- Guided tours: The cave has guided tours, providing you with informative insights into the cave’s geological history, unique formations, and the significance of the sunken lake.
- Crystal formations: Lake Cave features impressive crystal formations, including delicate stalactites and stalagmites, making it a treat for those interested in cave geology and formations.
- Cave platform: The cave has a raised platform that allows you to view the lake and formations from a convenient and safe vantage point.
⛔️ Cons
- Size: Lake Cave is smaller than Jewel Cave.
- Tour limits: This tour has a maximum of 30 visitors, so book now so you don’t miss out!
Read this full review of Lake Cave for more information.
3. Mammoth Cave
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ✅ Book it!
Summary
Location
Caves Rd, Forest Grove (15 minutes drive south from Margaret River)
Tour Prices
Adult: A$24.00
Child (4-16yrs): A$12.00
Seniors: A$22.00
Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Facilities & Amenities
- Visitor Centre
- Gift Shop (including snacks & drinks)
- Toilets
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Self-guided tours: Unlike Jewel and Lake Caves, Mammoth Cave has self-guided tours, allowing you to explore the cave at your own pace.
- Fossil discoveries: Mammoth Cave has been the site of significant fossil discoveries, including extinct megafauna, providing an educational experience for visitors interested in paleontology and prehistoric life.
- Accessibility: Mammoth Cave is generally considered more accessible than the other caves, with a fully accessible boardwalk to the first cavern.
⛔️ Cons
- Limited formations: While Mammoth Cave is impressive in size and history, it has fewer delicate and intricate formations compared to some other caves in the region.
- No sunken lake: Unlike Lake Cave, Mammoth Cave doesn’t feature a sunken lake with stunning reflections, which might be a factor for visitors seeking that particular experience.
- Self-guided: Some people would prefer a guided tour to ask questions relating to the cave.
Read this full review of Mammoth Cave for more information.
4. Ngilgi Cave
⭐️ RATING: 4.5/5 Stars | ✅ Book it!
Summary
Location
76 Yallingup Caves Rd, Forest Grove (5 minutes drive south from Yallingup)
Tour Prices
Adult: A$24.00
Child (4-16yrs): A$12.00
Seniors: A$22.00
Children under 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Facilities & Amenities
- Gift Shop
- Toilets
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Cultural significance: Ngilgi Cave holds great cultural importance to the local Wadandi people, with ancient Dreamtime stories associated with it. Book a Cultural Tour with Koomal Dreaming to learn about the Aboriginal heritage and legends tied to the cave.
- Semi-guided tours: The cave has semi-guided tours that provide valuable insights into the cave’s geological history, cultural significance, and the unique formations found within.
- Accessibility: Ngilgi Cave is considered relatively accessible, with walkways and stairs, making it suitable for most visitors (no wheelchair access though).
- Kid-friendly: Children will love the junior explorer’s tunnel, the show table, and the lighting which illuminates hidden marvels and crystals.
⛔️ Cons
- Limited tour availability: Tour availability might be limited, so book now so you don’t miss out.
- Accessibility: While Mammoth Cave is partly accessible, Ngilgi Cave has stairs that is less accommodating for visitors with mobility challenges.
Read this full review of Ngilgi Cave for more information.
🤩 Or Book a Ngilgi Cave Cultural Tour with Koomal Dreaming here!
So, these are our Margaret River caves listed in order of preference. However, they are all excellent, and I recommend visiting at least one during your trip to the South West region.
Have you been to one of these caves? What did you think? Please leave a review with a photo in our Facebook group to help others decide which Margaret River Cave to visit.
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FAQs for Margaret River Caves
Which caves are the most popular to visit in the Margaret River region?
The most popular caves in the Margaret River region are Jewel Cave, Lake Cave, Mammoth Cave, and Ngilgi Cave (also known as Yallingup Cave). These caves offer unique geological formations, cultural significance, and guided tour experiences.
Are the caves suitable for children and elderly visitors?
Some caves in the region are suitable for children and elderly visitors. Mammoth Cave and Ngilgi Cave have well-maintained walkways and are relatively accessible.
Can I visit the caves without a guided tour?
Mammoth Cave has self-guided tours, but Jewel Cave and Lake Cave require guided tours to preserve the delicate formations and ensure visitor safety.
Do I need to book tickets for the cave tours in advance?
It’s advisable to book cave tour tickets in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons. Popular caves like Jewel Cave and Lake Cave can get crowded, and pre-booking ensures you secure a spot on the guided tour of your choice.
What should I wear and bring when visiting the caves?
Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for walking on uneven surfaces. Bring a light jacket, as cave temperatures can be cooler than the outside weather. Avoid bringing large bags or backpacks, as they might not be allowed inside the caves.
Are the caves open year-round?
The caves are open daily except for Christmas Day.
10. Can I bring food and drinks into the caves?
Food and drinks (except water) are not allowed inside the caves to preserve their natural environment. However, most caves have designated picnic areas where visitors can enjoy snacks before or after the cave tour.