Six limestone caves along one road, Caves Road, on the 90 km Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge between Yallingup and Augusta. Four are developed show caves run by the Capes Foundation – Jewel (the largest in Western Australia, guided), Lake (the suspended table over an underground stream, guided), Mammoth (megafauna fossils, audio-guided) and Ngilgi (the state's oldest tourist attraction, self-guided) – and two are unlit adventure caves run by Parks and Wildlife, Calgardup and Giants. In September 2026 Jewel, Lake and Mammoth cost A$26 for adults and Ngilgi A$32. There is no multi-cave pass and no family ticket, whatever older guides say. And the Jewel Cave here, near Augusta, has nothing to do with the far longer Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota.
- TicketsBook through the operator's calendar online, by phone or by email.
- PriceA$26 (€16.15 / $18.56) – Jewel Cave, Lake Cave or Mammoth Cave – adult (17+), each
- OpenThe four Capes Foundation caves keep identical hours: open every day, 9:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:00, including school and public holidays; closed on Christmas Day only.
- Best timeAny time of year: the caves stay between about 6 and 20 °C whatever the weather above, and the operator keeps them open in summer heat.
- ClaustrophobiaMammoth and Jewel have large chambers and wide boardwalks.
The six caves compared
Jewel Cave (Deepdene, near Augusta)
The largest show cave in Western Australia, reached through an artificial tunnel into the first of three large chambers. First entered in January 1957 when Cliff Spackman was lowered 12 m down a draughting hole known locally as the Wind Hole; he, Lex Bastian and Lloyd Robinson explored more than 2 km of passage in 1958, and the cave opened to the public on 26 December 1959. The lowest point is 42 m below the entrance. The boardwalk is raised on stilts above the floor.
One of the longest straw stalactites in any Australian show cave – the operator gives no length, and the published figures range from 5.40 m to 5.9 m. Skeletal remains of thylacines (Tasmanian tigers) were found in the cave in 1960 and are part of the tour story; thylacine footprints in the mud were reported in 2011. Tree roots from the karri forest above hang into the first chamber. The cave once had a lake, which disappeared as the water table dropped more than a metre by 1988. Cafe on site, the only Capes Foundation cave with one.
A$26 adult (€16.15 / $18.56), A$24 senior, A$13 child 4–16, under-4s free
Lake Cave (Forest Grove, Boranup)
A cave at the bottom of a collapsed doline, a former cavern whose roof fell in. You walk down 325 stairs through a sunken karri forest, then into a chamber where a shallow permanent stream – the guides say it should really be called Stream Cave – reflects the formations. The doline was first recorded in 1867 by 16-year-old Frances (Fanny) Bussell while she was looking for cattle; the cave opened to visitors in 1901. The December 2021 Boranup bushfire destroyed the stairs; the cave reopened in July 2022.
The suspended table: a slab of flowstone weighing more than five tonnes that once formed on the cave floor and now rests on two columns just above the water after the sediment beneath it was washed away. The operator calls Lake Cave the only show cave in the South West with a permanent underground lake and the most active dripping cave in Western Australia. Temperature 14–16 °C (57–61 °F).
A$26 adult (€16.15 / $18.56), A$24 senior, A$13 child 4–16, under-4s free
Mammoth Cave (Forest Grove, Boranup)
A large through-cave in the karri and marri forest, about 500 m long and 30 m deep, known to settlers from around 1850, explored in 1895 by Tim Connelly and lit electrically from 1904. You go in on a sloping boardwalk, follow stairs through the chambers with an audio headset and come out through a doline into Boranup Forest.
Megafauna. The Western Australian Museum excavated two sites here between 1909 and 1915 and recovered about 10,000 fossil specimens, including giant echidna (first identified from this cave in 1909), short-faced kangaroo, Thylacoleo (the marsupial lion), thylacine and Tasmanian devil. A Zygomaturus jawbone – a cow-sized, wombat-like herbivore – is still embedded in the cave wall; the operator dates it to 50,000 years, the MRBTA's megafauna article to about 44,000. The only cave with wheelchair access: the first 30 m, free. A stream runs through the cave from winter until late October or early November. Audio guide in five languages. Temperature 6–15 °C (43–59 °F).
A$26 adult (€16.15 / $18.56), A$24 senior, A$13 child 4–16, under-4s free
Ngilgi Cave and Ancient Lands Experience (Yallingup)
The northernmost cave, entered by Edward Dawson on 10 October 1899 while looking for stray horses; he guided visitors from 1900 to 1937, and the operator calls it Western Australia's oldest tourist attraction. Known as Yallingup Cave until it was renamed Ngilgi in 2000. The visit now starts with an above-ground interpretive trail, the Ancient Lands Experience, before you go down 350 steps into chambers with stalactites, helictites and coloured shawls. Staff are stationed in the cave; there is no set tour.
The name comes from a Wadandi story in which Ngilgi, a good spirit, drives an evil spirit called Wolgine out of the cave; it is told as part of the heritage of the Wadandi people, the Traditional Owners, and the Ancient Lands trail presents Wadandi place names and seasons. The main chamber, the Amphitheatre, is named for its acoustics and its musical history. In 1963 Dorothy Williams spent 90 days alone in the cave, briefly a world record, and dug up fossils for the Western Australian Museum. Warmest of the caves at about 20 °C (68 °F).
A$32 adult (€19.88 / $22.84), A$30 senior, A$16 child 4–16, under-4s free; Ancient Lands trail only A$16 / A$14 / A$8
Calgardup Cave (Forest Grove) – Parks and Wildlife
An unlit cave you explore with a helmet and torch after a safety briefing: 300 m long, down to 27 m, with boardwalks, stairs, handrails and seats, two wings and a lake that reflects the formations from winter into spring. Recorded by Grace Bussell in 1878 and developed by the state conservation department in 1995. A 1 km, 30-minute bush walk loops above the cave.
The nearest thing to real caving that suits all ages. Marri roots hang down into the water. Non-flushing toilets only.
A$19 adult (€11.80 / $13.56), A$12.50 concession, A$9.50 child, A$47.50 family; under-6s free
Giants Cave (Boranup) – Parks and Wildlife
The deepest cave on the ridge open to visitors, 86 m, entered down a long staircase into a large collapse doline. More than 500 m of natural floor and built walkways, with vertical ladders, rock scrambles and tight squeezes; you come out at a second entrance and walk back through the karri forest. Discovered in 1900 by the government surveyor Marmaduke Terry.
Adventure caving without a guide. Helmets and torches provided; bring your own enclosed shoes. The Ballroom, a 40 m sandy chamber, and calcite-encrusted tree roots in the Arborite Chamber.
A$19 adult (€11.80 / $13.56), A$12.50 concession, A$9.50 child, A$47.50 family; minimum age 6
Tickets and prices
Book through the operator's calendar online, by phone or by email. Free cancellation or date change on every Capes Foundation experience if done before 17:00 Western Australian time the day before, through the link in the confirmation email.
Official prices
- Jewel Cave, Lake Cave or Mammoth Cave – adult (17+), eachA$26 (€16.15 / $18.56)
- Jewel, Lake or Mammoth – senior (65+), eachA$24 (€14.91 / $17.13)
- Jewel, Lake or Mammoth – child 4–16, eachA$13 (€8.08 / $9.28)
- Ngilgi Cave and Ancient Lands Experience – adult (17+)A$32 (€19.88 / $22.84)
- Ngilgi – senior (65+)A$30 (€18.64 / $21.41)
- Ngilgi – child 4–16A$16 (€9.94 / $11.42)
- Ancient Lands Experience only, above ground, no cave (on site only) – adult / senior / child 4–16A$16 / A$14 / A$8 (€9.94 / €8.70 / €4.97; $11.42 / $9.99 / $5.71)
- All four Capes Foundation caves – children 0–3free
- Carer or companion of a national Companion Card holderfree (book by phone or email)
- Family ticket or multi-cave pass at the Capes Foundation cavesnone offered – the operator's FAQ says so in plain words
- All four Capes Foundation caves, one adult, bought separatelyA$110 (€68.33 / $78.51); one child 4–16: A$55 (€34.17 / $39.26)
- Megafauna Nightstalk at Mammoth Cave (school-holiday evenings) – adult / child 7–16A$28 / A$15 (€17.39 / €9.32; $19.99 / $10.71)
- Calgardup Cave or Giants Cave (Parks and Wildlife) – adult / concession / childA$19 / A$12.50 / A$9.50 (€11.80 / €7.76 / €5.90; $13.56 / $8.92 / $6.78)
- Calgardup Cave or Giants Cave – familyA$47.50 (€29.51 / $33.90); under-6s free at Calgardup, not admitted at Giants
- Entry to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Parkfree
- ConversionECB reference rates of 21 September 2026: €1 = A$1.6098, €1 = US$1.1490, hence A$1 = €0.6212 = US$0.7138. Rounded to the cent.
As of 09/2026 · source and direct booking: capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences
When everything is sold out
The operator says tours often sell out in peak periods. That means the Western Australian school holidays (in 2026: 3–19 April, 4–19 July, 26 September–11 October, and from 18 December) and summer weekends. Jewel and Lake, being guided, are the ones that fill.
Cave tickets, combos and day tours
For a single cave Tiqets costs the same as the operator: the Lake Cave guided tour is €16.15 there, exactly the Capes Foundation's A$26 (€16.15 / $18.56) at the ECB rate of 21 September 2026, and the Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience is €19.87 against A$32 (€19.88 / $22.84). Tiqets lists Mammoth and Jewel at €16.15 as well, again the same as A$26 direct. Where Tiqets is slightly cheaper is on two caves: its bundles – Jewel + Lake, Lake + Ngilgi, Jewel + Ngilgi – take 5 per cent off, about A$2.60 to A$2.90 per adult, and the operator itself sells no multi-cave pass at all. Booking direct gives you free cancellation until 17:00 the day before and the published child (A$13, Ngilgi A$16) and senior fares; check that a reseller offers the same categories before paying adult rates for children. Without a car, the only realistic option is a day tour: the Tiqets trip from Perth via Busselton Jetty, Mammoth Cave and Cape Leeuwin costs from €167.05 (about A$269 / $192) for 12½ hours with lunch, has no reviews yet, and gives you one cave. If you are driving yourself, buy the cave tickets and the Jewel and Lake time slots in advance, from whichever of the two you prefer.
Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience
Margaret River: Lake Cave Guided Tour
Australia: Mammoth Cave Self-Guided Audio Tour
Jewel Cave Guided Tour in Western Australia
Show all 5 offers
Margaret River, Mammoth Cave & Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse: Guided Tour + Lunch
Booked through Tiqets (affiliate link, advertising). Whether and until when you can cancel depends on the offer – please check the offer page before you buy. Prices as of 21 September 2026.
Opening hours and best time
The four Capes Foundation caves keep identical hours: open every day, 9:00 to 17:00, last entry 16:00, including school and public holidays; closed on Christmas Day only. That is what the operator publishes for Jewel, Lake, Mammoth and Ngilgi in September 2026, and the MRBTA's own listings say "open 7 days a week" too. (One regional tourism site still shows Jewel and Lake as Thursday to Monday only – see the corrections below.) The two Parks and Wildlife caves are different. Calgardup Cave is open daily from 9:00 with last entry at 16:00, closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Giants Cave follows the Western Australian school calendar: during school and public holidays daily from 9:30, last entry 15:15; in school terms 1 and 4 (roughly February to early April and mid-October to mid-December) daily but only from 10:00 with last entry at 13:00; in terms 2 and 3 (roughly late April to late September) at weekends only, 9:30 to last entry 15:15. It is also closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. In 2026 term 3 ends on Friday 25 September and the spring holidays run from 26 September to 11 October, so Giants opens daily again from 26 September. The Mammoth Cave Megafauna Nightstalk is a separate after-dark tour on set school-holiday evenings only (29 September, 1, 6 and 8 October 2026, 18:00–19:30).
When it is quietest
Any time of year: the caves stay between about 6 and 20 °C whatever the weather above, and the operator keeps them open in summer heat. Three things are worth planning around. First, the crowds: the operator says sessions sell out in peak periods, which means the Western Australian school holidays and summer; its own access guide names weekday mornings as the quietest time at Ngilgi, and the first tours of the day are the easiest to get at Jewel and Lake. Second, water: from June to August the winter rain starts a stream flowing through Mammoth Cave that usually keeps going until late October or early November, and in February 2026 the MRBTA reported the water in Lake Cave at its highest level in decades – late winter and spring are when both caves look their best. Third, Giants Cave: outside school holidays it opens only at weekends from late April to late September and only 10:00 to 13:00 on term-time weekdays in summer, so if you want it, go in the school holidays or on a weekend.
Who it suits
With children
All four Capes Foundation caves take children and none sets a minimum age. For small children the choice is simple: Mammoth (self-paced, audio guide, first chamber on a sloping boardwalk) or Ngilgi (self-paced, a crawl tunnel for children at the entrance, a nature play area at the end). An hour-long guided tour with 250 or 325 steps at Jewel or Lake is hard work for toddlers; front-worn carriers are allowed, backpack carriers are not. Calgardup suits all ages. Giants Cave does not admit anyone under 6.
Minimum age
None at Jewel, Lake, Mammoth, Ngilgi and Calgardup. Giants Cave: 6. Megafauna Nightstalk: 7.
Wheelchair
Only one cave has any wheelchair access underground: Mammoth, where a gently sloping boardwalk takes you about 30 m into the first chamber, free of charge – you can see stalactites, stalagmites and the stream bed from there. Phone ahead on +61 8 9757 7411. At Ngilgi the above-ground Ancient Lands Experience is step-free, but the cave is not. Jewel (250 steps) and Lake (325) are not accessible; the ticket areas, cafe and toilets are. Calgardup has no accessible parking bays and a staircase down to 27 m. Giants has ladders and rock scrambles.
Pushchair
Not allowed in any cave. Leave it in the car; there is no pram parking underground and no storage at the entrances is advertised.
Dogs
No. All six caves are in a national park and the operator does not allow pets on site. Certified assistance dogs are welcome on the sites but may not be able to go down the narrow stairwells; call ahead.
Claustrophobia
Mammoth and Jewel have large chambers and wide boardwalks. Lake Cave starts with a low spot the guides call Headache Rock, and the guide switches off the lights for a moment during the tour. Ngilgi has an optional crawl tunnel you can simply skip. Giants Cave has genuine tight squeezes and vertical ladders and is the wrong choice for anyone who dislikes confined spaces.
What to wear
Flat, enclosed shoes with grip – wet boardwalks and hundreds of steps. A layer: Jewel holds about 17 °C (63 °F), Lake 14–16 °C (57–61 °F), Mammoth between 6 °C (43 °F) in winter and 15 °C (59 °F) in summer, Ngilgi about 20 °C (68 °F) and humid. Leave backpacks in the car; only water may be taken into the caves. For Giants and Calgardup wear clothes that can get dirty.
Photography
Personal photography is allowed in all Capes Foundation caves, and so is flash. Selfie sticks and tripods are not. Drones are banned at every Capes Foundation site without written approval.
Getting there
By public transport
Realistically, no. The operator describes every one of its caves as self-drive only, and the MRBTA advises visitors not to rely on public transport in the region. The one partial exception is Ngilgi: Transwa's SW1 coach from Perth stops at Yallingup (Hall), and Ngilgi Cave is about 2 km from the village. On the current timetable the Sunday-to-Friday 09:00 departure from East Perth reaches Yallingup at 13:25; return coaches leave Yallingup at 09:25 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday) or 16:15 (Sunday to Friday). The same coach continues to Margaret River (14:05) and Augusta (14:35), but no service runs along Caves Road to Mammoth, Lake, Jewel, Calgardup or Giants. Day tours from Perth (Tiqets sells one via Australian Pinnacle Tours) cover the transport.
By car
Free car parks at every cave. The four Capes Foundation sites have ACROD (disability) bays and drop-off zones; Calgardup's car park is unmarked compacted sand and gravel, Giants' is unsealed but fine for a 2WD. Mammoth advises that long-vehicle parking is limited. Caves Road is sealed throughout.
From the nearest city
From Perth to Margaret River town is about three hours by car on the Forrest Highway (MRBTA), three to four hours to the region as a whole. From Busselton, by the operator's own figures: Ngilgi 32.4 km (35 min), Mammoth 65 km (1 h), Lake 69 km (1 h), Jewel 97 km (1 h 15). Mammoth and Lake are about 15–20 minutes south of Margaret River town, Calgardup is a minute north of Mammoth, Giants a few minutes south; Jewel is about 15 minutes from Augusta; Ngilgi about 10 minutes from Dunsborough. Jetstar flies from Sydney and Melbourne to Busselton-Margaret River Airport several days a week; car hire is available there. The drive from Ngilgi in the north to Jewel in the south takes about 1 h 15.
Tips for your visit
- Do not look for a cave pass – there isn't one. Four caves cost an adult A$110 (about €68 / $79) bought one by one. If you want two, Tiqets' bundles (Jewel + Lake, Lake + Ngilgi, Jewel + Ngilgi) are 5 per cent cheaper than two separate tickets.
- Book Jewel and Lake the day before at the latest in school holidays and summer. Cancellation is free until 17:00 Western Australian time the day before, so booking early costs you nothing.
- Plan geographically. Ngilgi is in the far north near Yallingup; Mammoth, Lake, Calgardup and Giants lie within a few minutes of each other south of Margaret River; Jewel is near Augusta, about 1 h 15 from Ngilgi. Two or three caves a day is plenty.
- Leave your daypack in the car before you get to the desk. Only water is allowed in the caves, backpacks and backpack baby carriers are not, and there are no lockers advertised.
- Wear enclosed shoes with grip and bring a layer. Mammoth drops to about 6 °C (43 °F) in winter; Ngilgi is about 20 °C (68 °F) and humid.
- For Giants Cave check the WA school calendar first. From late April to late September it opens on weekends only unless it is school holidays, and on summer term-time weekdays the last entry is 13:00.
- If you cannot manage stairs, go to Mammoth: the first 30 m are wheelchair accessible and free, and the operator asks you to phone ahead on +61 8 9757 7411.
- Late winter and spring are the best months underground: the Mammoth stream runs from roughly June or August until late October, and the MRBTA reported Lake Cave's water at its highest in decades in early 2026.
- Jewel Cave is the only one of the four with a proper cafe; at the others there are cold drinks and ice creams only.
What the internet gets wrong
No such passes exist. The operator's FAQ asks "Do Capes Foundation offer family passes or multi-site/multi-cave passes?" and answers: no family passes, no multi-site or multi-cave passes. Each cave is a separate A$26 ticket (Ngilgi A$32). The only discounted bundles are sold by resellers such as Tiqets and Headout.
Out of date. In September 2026 the Capes Foundation charges A$26 adult, A$24 senior and A$13 child at Jewel, Lake and Mammoth, and A$32 / A$30 / A$16 at Ngilgi (now including the Ancient Lands Experience).
Ngilgi no longer runs tours of any kind. The operator describes it as self-guided – you walk the Ancient Lands trail and go down into the cave at your own pace, with guides positioned along the way to answer questions. Allow 1.5 hours.
The operator labels the Jewel and Lake tours "Bookings essential" and warns that sessions often sell out in peak periods. You can still buy at the desk if a session has space.
The operator's own pages in September 2026 give Monday to Sunday, 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00, closed only on Christmas Day, and the MRBTA's listings say open seven days. Tiqets, which sells the operator's inventory, showed Tuesday sessions available.
Those are the dimensions of the entire Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, as the operator's cave-science text makes clear. Jewel Cave has a little over 2 km of known passage and its lowest point is 42 m below the entrance.
The operator claims only "one of the longest straw stalactites found in any tourist cave in Australia" and gives no length. Other published figures are 5.40 m (showcaves.com) and 5.43 m (westernaustraliaexpert.com). A world record is claimed by nobody who measured it.
Moondyne Cave is not among the eight experiences the Capes Foundation lists, nor among the six caves the operator and the MRBTA name as open to the public. There is nothing to book.
The operator sells exactly one product at Jewel Cave, the one-hour fully guided tour, at A$26 for adults. There is no wild cave tour, and you reach the chambers on stairs and boardwalks, not ladders.
Lake Cave is on Conto Road in Forest Grove, about 20 minutes south of Margaret River and 69 km from Busselton; it is Jewel Cave that lies near Augusta. The same page attaches the Ancient Lands Experience to Lake Cave – it is at Ngilgi, in Yallingup.
It does not hang from anything. It is a sheet of flowstone that formed on the old cave floor and is now held up by two columns after the sediment underneath was washed out, as the site's manager explains on margaretriver.com and showcaves.com describes. The operator puts its weight at more than five tonnes.
Parks and Wildlife opens Giants Cave on term-time weekdays in terms 1 and 4 only from 10:00 with last entry at 13:00. The 9:30–15:15 hours apply to school holidays, public holidays, and weekends in terms 2 and 3. Calgardup's last entry is 16:00, not the 16:15 some guides give.
History in brief
- The Wadandi (Wardandi) people are the Traditional Owners of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge. Excavations at Devil's Lair, a cave near Boranup, have dated human occupation back as far as about 48,000 years, one of the earliest sites in Australia.
- The megafauna whose bones fill Mammoth Cave died out around 46,000 years ago, according to the MRBTA's own summary – so for tens of thousands of years people and giant marsupials shared this ridge.
- Mammoth Cave was known to European settlers from about 1850 and explored in 1895 by Tim Connelly, who became its caretaker and led visitors by lamplight until electric lighting arrived in 1904.
- In 1867 sixteen-year-old Frances (Fanny) Bussell found the Lake Cave doline while searching for cattle; the family could not find it again for decades, and the cave opened to visitors in 1901, when it was a day's journey by train, horse and cart and horseback from Perth.
- On 10 October 1899 Edward Dawson entered what was then called Yallingup Cave while looking for horses; guided tours followed from 1900, and in 2000 the cave was renamed Ngilgi in recognition of its place in Wadandi tradition.
- Between 1909 and 1915 the Western Australian Museum excavated two sites in Mammoth Cave and recovered about 10,000 fossil specimens, including the first known giant echidna.
- Jewel Cave was entered in January 1957 by Cliff Spackman, explored with Lex Bastian and Lloyd Robinson in February 1958 and opened on 26 December 1959; thylacine remains were found there in 1960. It closed for six months in 2010–11 for a A$3.1 million renovation with a new entrance tunnel and LED lighting.
- In December 2021 a bushfire burned more than 6,000 hectares of Boranup forest and destroyed the stairs into the Lake Cave doline; the cave itself was untouched and reopened in July 2022. Today the four developed caves are run by the Capes Foundation, a division of the MRBTA, and Calgardup and Giants by Parks and Wildlife.
Frequent questions
How much do the Margaret River caves cost in 2026?
Jewel Cave, Lake Cave and Mammoth Cave each cost A$26 for adults (about €16.15 / $18.56), A$24 for seniors and A$13 for children aged 4 to 16; Ngilgi Cave costs A$32 (€19.88 / $22.84), A$30 and A$16. Under-4s are free. Calgardup and Giants, run by Parks and Wildlife, are A$19 for adults, A$9.50 for children and A$47.50 for a family. Conversions use the ECB rates of 21 September 2026.
Is there a pass for all the Margaret River caves?
No. The Capes Foundation, which runs Jewel, Lake, Mammoth and Ngilgi, says in its FAQ that it offers neither family passes nor multi-cave passes. The Grand Tour and Ultimate passes you may read about no longer exist. Resellers such as Tiqets sell two-cave bundles about 5 per cent below the combined price.
Which Margaret River cave is the best?
It depends on what you can manage. Lake Cave is the most striking – a sunken forest, an underground stream and the suspended table – but it costs you 325 stairs and a fixed one-hour tour. Jewel is the largest and most richly decorated. Mammoth is the easiest and the one for fossils; Ngilgi is the most relaxed for families. If you have time for one and good knees, Lake.
Do I need to book the caves in advance?
For Jewel and Lake, yes in practice – the operator marks both tours "Bookings essential" and says sessions often sell out in peak periods. Mammoth and Ngilgi you can usually buy at the desk, but the operator recommends booking online for all four. Cancellation is free until 17:00 the day before. Calgardup and Giants are pay on arrival.
How long does each cave take?
Jewel and Lake: a one-hour guided tour, plus time to climb out. Mammoth: allow an hour at your own pace. Ngilgi: about 1.5 hours including the Ancient Lands trail. Calgardup: 30 minutes to an hour. Giants: about an hour. Two or three caves in one day is realistic; all six is not.
Can you visit the caves without a guide?
At Mammoth (audio headset), Ngilgi (self-guided with staff in the cave), Calgardup and Giants (helmet and torch), yes. Jewel Cave and Lake Cave can only be seen on a fully guided one-hour tour.
Are the Margaret River caves suitable for children?
Yes, and none of the four Capes Foundation caves has a minimum age. Mammoth and Ngilgi are the easiest with small children because you set the pace; Ngilgi has a crawl tunnel and a play area. Front-worn baby carriers are allowed, backpack carriers and prams are not. Giants Cave does not admit children under 6.
Which cave is wheelchair accessible?
Only Mammoth Cave, and only its first chamber: a gently sloping boardwalk runs about 30 m in, and wheelchair access is free. Phone ahead on +61 8 9757 7411. The above-ground trail at Ngilgi is step-free, but the cave is not; Jewel and Lake involve 250 and 325 steps.
How cold is it inside the caves and what should I wear?
Jewel is about 17 °C (63 °F), Lake 14–16 °C (57–61 °F), Ngilgi about 20 °C (68 °F) and humid, and Mammoth varies from about 6 °C (43 °F) in winter to 15 °C (59 °F) in summer. Wear enclosed, flat shoes with grip and bring a layer. Leave backpacks in the car – only water may be taken in.
Is Jewel Cave in Western Australia the same as Jewel Cave in South Dakota?
No. Jewel Cave near Augusta is a show cave with about 2 km of passage, run by the Capes Foundation. Jewel Cave National Monument, near Custer in the Black Hills of South Dakota, is a US National Park Service site whose cave had 354.59 km (220.33 miles) of mapped passage by July 2025. Tickets, hours and tour details for one do not apply to the other.
Can I get to the caves without a car?
Hardly. The operator calls every site self-drive only and the regional tourism body advises against relying on public transport. Transwa's SW1 coach from Perth stops at Yallingup, about 2 km from Ngilgi Cave, but nothing runs along Caves Road to the other caves. The alternative is a day tour from Perth or a local tour with pick-up.
How far are the caves from Perth?
Margaret River town is about three hours' drive from Perth. Ngilgi, at Yallingup, is the closest cave; Mammoth and Lake are 15 to 20 minutes south of Margaret River; Jewel is near Augusta, about 1 h 15 from Busselton. By Transwa coach Perth to Yallingup takes about four and a half hours.
Can I take photos in the caves?
Yes. Personal photography is allowed in all four Capes Foundation caves, including with flash. Selfie sticks and tripods are not allowed underground, and drones need the operator's written approval.
Can I bring my dog?
No. All the caves are in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and pets are not allowed on site. Certified assistance dogs are welcome, but the narrow stairwells may stop them going underground; call ahead.
Are the caves open on Christmas Day?
No. Jewel, Lake, Mammoth and Ngilgi close on Christmas Day only and are otherwise open every day, 9:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00. Calgardup and Giants close on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Are Giants Cave and Calgardup Cave open?
Yes, both are listed with current hours by Parks and Wildlife in September 2026. Calgardup opens daily from 9:00 (last entry 16:00). Giants opens daily in school and public holidays, on term-time weekdays only in terms 1 and 4 (10:00, last entry 13:00), and only at weekends in terms 2 and 3.
Sources
Show 58 sources – every figure on this page is sourced
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/jewel-cave/ – Operator: Jewel Cave prices 2026 (A$26/24/13, 0–3 free), daily 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00, closed Christmas Day, fully guided one hour, bookings essential, 250 stairs, 17 °C, no wheelchairs, prams, dogs or drones, selfie sticks and tripods banned, cafe on site, one of the longest straws in Australia, thylacine story, distance from Busselton 97 km / 1 h 15, Capes Foundation is a division of MRBTA
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/lake-cave/ – Operator: Lake Cave prices 2026 (A$26/24/13), daily 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00, closed Christmas Day, fully guided one hour, bookings essential, 325 stairs, suspended table over five tonnes, only show cave in the South West with a permanent lake, most active dripping cave in WA
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/mammoth-cave/ – Operator: Mammoth Cave prices 2026 (A$26/24/13), daily hours, self-guided audio tour in English, French, German, Malay and Mandarin, 370 steps, wheelchair access to first 30 m free, 6–15 °C, over 10,000 fossils, 50,000-year-old Zygomaturus jawbone, seasonal stream, 65 km / 1 h from Busselton
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/ngilgi-cave/ – Operator: Ngilgi Cave prices 2026 (A$32/30/16), Ancient Lands only A$16/14/8, self-guided, allow 1.5 hours, 350 steps, 20 °C, guides positioned throughout, Amphitheatre, crawl tunnel, play area, WA's oldest tourist attraction, 32.4 km / 35 min from Busselton
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/faqs/ – Operator FAQ: no family passes and no multi-site or multi-cave passes; online booking recommended, desk sales if available; free cancellation before 17:00 AWST the day before; no pets (national park), service animals welcome; photography and flash allowed, no selfie sticks or tripods; drones need written approval; only water inside caves; prams and backpack carriers not permitted; cafes only at Jewel Cave and Cape Leeuwin
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/jewel-cave/accessi… – Jewel Cave access guide: self-drive only, about 15 minutes from Augusta, 250 stairs, no lift, around 17 °C, Companion Card carer free, assistance dogs
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/lake-cave/accessibility/ – Lake Cave access guide: about 20 minutes from Margaret River, self-drive only, 325 stairs, 14–16 °C, bookings essential
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/mammoth-cave/acces… – Mammoth Cave access guide: about 15 minutes from Margaret River, 370 steps, wheelchair access to first 30 m, no prams, 15 °C summer to 6 °C winter
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/ngilgi-cave/access… – Ngilgi access guide: about 10 minutes from Dunsborough, self-drive only, Ancient Lands step-free, cave 350 stairs and not wheelchair accessible, about 20 °C and humid, quietest times weekday mornings
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/megafauna-nightstalk/ – Megafauna Nightstalk at Mammoth Cave: A$28 adult, A$15 child 7–16, 1.5 hours, dates 29 Sep, 1, 6, 8 Oct 2026, 18:00–19:30
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/about-us/ – Capes Foundation manages Ngilgi, Lake, Mammoth and Jewel Caves, two lighthouses, Capes Raptor Centre and Forest Adventures; division of MRBTA
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/visit-experiences/ – List of the eight Capes Foundation experiences (no Moondyne Cave)
- www.capesfoundation.org.au/learn/discover-explore/a-cave-guide-… – Operator cave guide (5 Jan 2026): more than 100 caves on the ridge, six open to the public, all along Caves Road; Ngilgi guide in main chamber and crawl tunnel; Mammoth accessible entrance chamber and seasonal stream; Lake Cave suspended table, most active show cave
- exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/giants-cave – Parks and Wildlife: Giants Cave 86 m deep, over half a kilometre, self-guided one hour, minimum age 6, helmets and torches provided; hours by school term; closed Christmas and Boxing Day; A$19 / 12.50 / 9.50 / family 47.50; no dogs; park entry free; location on Caves Road
- exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/site/calgardup-cave-and-leeuwin-nat… – Parks and Wildlife: Calgardup Cave 27 m, 300 m, self-guided by torch, daily from 9:00 last entry 16:00, closed Christmas and Boxing Day, A$19 / 12.50 / 9.50 / 47.50, under-6s free, 1 km bush walk, no accessible parking
- www.education.wa.edu.au/future-term-dates – WA school term dates 2026: term 3 20 July–25 September, break 26 September–11 October, term 4 12 October–17 December
- www.margaretriver.com/things-to-do/attractions/caves/jewel-cave… – MRBTA listing: Jewel Cave one-hour guided tours, 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:00, closed Christmas Day; operator link to Capes Foundation; coordinates -34.2738, 115.0984; Lake and Mammoth 'Open 7 days a week'
- www.margaretriver.com/things-to-do/attractions/caves/which-cave… – MRBTA cave comparison (6 Feb 2026): Ngilgi 36 m, Calgardup 300 m with two wings, Lake Cave water highest in decades, Mammoth self-guided, Giants 86 m
- www.margaretriver.com/things-to-do/attractions/caves/ancient-oa… – MRBTA 2022: Frances Bussell 1867, opened 1901, 325 stairs, suspended table 'five and a half tonne' held by two columns, Headache Rock, 2021 bushfire damage, Devil's Lair 47,000 years
- www.margaretriver.com/things-to-do/attractions/caves/mammoth-ca… – MRBTA 2022: Mammoth stream June–August until late Oct/early Nov, 540 stairs, first chamber wheelchair accessible, WA Museum excavations 1909–1915, about 10,000 fossils, 'first fully self-guided audio tour in the world'
- www.margaretriver.com/things-to-do/attractions/caves/when-megaf… – MRBTA megafauna article: extinction about 46,000 years ago, Zygomaturus jawbone about 44,000 years, giant echidna first identified at Mammoth 1909, thylacine skeletons at the bottom of Jewel Cave
- www.margaretriver.com/plan-your-trip/getting-here-local-transport/ – Perth to Margaret River about three hours, three to four hours to the region; Jetstar to Busselton-Margaret River Airport from Sydney and Melbourne; public transport not recommended; Busselton to Augusta 1.5 hours
- www.transwa.wa.gov.au/plan-your-journey/coach-lines/sw1 – Transwa SW1 timetable: East Perth 09:00 Sun–Fri, Yallingup 13:25, Margaret River 14:05, Augusta 14:35; returns from Yallingup 09:25 and 16:15
- www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/eurofxref/eurofxref-daily.xml – ECB euro reference rates of 21 September 2026: USD 1.1490, AUD 1.6098
- api.frankfurter.dev/v1/latest?base=AUD&symbols=USD,EUR – Cross-check of ECB-based rates for 21 September 2026: A$1 = €0.6212 = US$0.71375
- www.tiqets.com/en/ngilgi-cave-tickets-l192466/ – Tiqets: Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience from €19.87 ($22.80), 4.6 from 69 reviews, max group 10; combos at -5 %: Jewel + Ngilgi and Lake + Ngilgi €34.22 instead of €36.02; description still says 'semi-guided tours'
- www.tiqets.com/en/lake-cave-tickets-l230526/ – Tiqets: Lake Cave Guided Tour from €16.15, 4.5 from 33 reviews, live guide in English; Jewel + Lake combo €30.68 instead of €32.29
- www.tiqets.com/en/mammoth-cave-tickets-l191987/ – Tiqets: Mammoth Cave Self-Guided Audio Tour from €16.15, 4.1 from 27 reviews
- www.tiqets.com/en/augusta-attractions-c131567/tickets-for-marga… – Tiqets day tour from Perth (Australian Pinnacle Tours): from €167.05, 08:00 start, 12 h 30, max 48, pick-up, lunch, Busselton Jetty, Mammoth Cave, Cape Leeuwin, back about 20:30, free cancellation 48 h
- www.showcaves.com/english/au/showcaves/Jewel.html – Jewel Cave history: discovered Jan 1957 by Cliff Spackman, explored Feb 1958, opened 26 Dec 1959, thylacine bones 1960 ('25,000 BP'), straw 5.40 m, 42 m deep, 2 km, lake gone by 1988, A$3.1 m renovation, closed Aug 2010–Feb 2011
- www.showcaves.com/english/au/showcaves/Lake.html – Lake Cave: Fanny Bussell 1867, 1901 staircase, suspended table about 10 m² and 20 cm above water; wrongly placed '5 km north of Augusta' and attaches the Ancient Lands Experience to Lake Cave
- www.showcaves.com/english/au/showcaves/Ngilgi.html – Ngilgi: discovered 10 Oct 1899 by Edward Dawson, first tours 1900; outline of the Ngilgi and Wolgine story
- www.showcaves.com/english/au/showcaves/Giants.html – Giants Cave: discovered 1900 by Marmaduke Terry, Ballroom 40 m, Arborite Chamber, ladders installed 1993, through-cave
- www.showcaves.com/english/au/showcaves/Calgardup.html – Calgardup: discovered 1878 by Grace Bussell, developed 1995, 27 m, marri roots in the lake
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammoth_Cave_(Western_Australia) – Mammoth Cave: 500 m long, 30 m deep, known from about 1850, explored 1895 by Tim Connelly, electric light 1904, about 300 km south of Perth
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ngilgi_Cave – Ngilgi: 730 m, 39 m, Edward Dawson 1899 and guide 1900–1937, renamed 2000, Ngilgi and Wolgine, Dorothy Williams 90 days in 1963
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeuwin-Naturaliste_National_Park – Park 267 km south of Perth, over 150 caves, six accessible; lists Calgardup twice, omits Giants, calls Ngilgi 'semi-guided'
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_Lair – Devil's Lair: occupation from about 48,000 years, excavated since the 1970s
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Cave_National_Monument – South Dakota: 354.59 km (220.33 miles) mapped as of July 2025, fifth longest cave in the world, 13 miles west of Custer
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busselton_Jetty – Busselton Jetty 1,841 m, underwater observatory opened 13 December 2003
- perthisok.com/news/lake-cave-reopens/ – December 2021 Boranup bushfire over 6,000 ha, Lake Cave stairs destroyed, reopened July 2022
- www.frommers.com/destinations/margaret-river-and-the-southwest/… – Claims a 'Grand Tour Pass' at A$48 and an 'Ultimate Pass', A$20 admissions, 'Booking is not required', Ngilgi A$19.50 semi-guided; Busselton observatory 8 m down
- www.streaterfinefurniture.com/journal/margaret-river-caves-compared – Claims 'The Capes Foundation runs a multi-cave pass that includes all four caves and the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse'; calls Ngilgi semi-guided
- editorials.localista.com.au/attractions/from-jewel-to-mammoth-c… – Claims 'the option for multi-cave passes, family passes' (updated 24 Aug 2023); Ngilgi semi-guided
- westernaustraliantravel.com/guide-to-the-margaret-river-caves/ – Updated 23 Jan 2026: prices '$25 for adults, $12.50 for Children (4-16), and $23 for Seniors'; lists Moondyne Cave at $18/$15; Calgardup '9:00 AM – 4:15 PM'; Giants '9:30 AM – 3:30 PM'
- westernaustraliaexpert.com/margaret-river-caves/ – A$24 adult / A$12 child / A$22 senior for all four caves; Ngilgi 'Semi-guided Tours'; Mammoth 370 steps including 170 to exit
- westernaustraliaexpert.com/jewel-cave-wa-review/ – Jewel Cave straw '5.43 metres long', tours every half hour 9:30–15:30 (2022), 250 stairs each way
- tessomewhere.com/margaret-river-caves/ – Jewel and Lake $25, Mammoth $24; Giants 'High season (generally October – April): Open 9.30 am – 3.15 pm (last entrance) every day'
- perthweekend.com.au/margaret-river-caves/ – Claims Ngilgi 'guided tours … approximately one hour'
- australiassouthwest.com/listings/jewel-cave/ – Jewel Cave 'Thursday – Monday', '90 kilometres long and 3 kilometres wide', straw '5.8 metres tall', 'longest … in the world'
- australiassouthwest.com/listings/lake-cave/ – Lake Cave 'Thursday – Monday'; suspended table 'hangs from the ceiling'
- www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/western-australia/augusta-around… – Jewel Cave '5.9m straw stalactite, so far the longest seen in a tourist cave', thylacine 'believed to be 3500 years old'
- kidbucketlist.com.au/visiting-jewel-cave-with-kids/ – Claims a 'Wild Cave Tour' at Jewel Cave and prices '$20 to $30'; thylacine 1960, footprints 2011
- www.atlasobscura.com/places/jewel-cave-deepdene – Jewel Cave thylacine skeleton found June 1960; thylacine footprints 2011
- southwestcoachlines.com.au/experiences/jewel-caves/ – Thylacine remains 'more than 3000 years' after mainland extinction; skeleton displayed at the Jewel Cave centre
- www.westernaustralia.com/us/attraction/jewel-cave/56b2669cd5f15… – Tourism Western Australia: Jewel Cave $26, children $13, closed Christmas Day
- www.margaretriverwesternaustralia.com.au/locations/jewel-cave – Jewel Cave 12 km north of Augusta, 38 km south of Margaret River, 250 steps, Karri Bush Trail to original entrance
- www.perth-tickets.com/margaret-river-caves/ – Headout reseller: '2 Caves Pass' (Lake + Mammoth) and combos, i.e. reseller bundles rather than an operator pass