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Western Australia is dotted with caves and underground systems that provide a unique glimpse into our state’s rich history.
Be it archaeological fossils or Indigenous Dreamtime rock art, there’s plenty to explore in caves underneath our State’s surface.
So if you're heading off on a WA road trip, here are 10 of our favourite caves to visit.
Carved into the Wanaamin Miliwundi Ranges by water some 350 million years ago, Tunnel Creek Cave is considered WA’s oldest cave system.
It’s a 750-metre-long trek and wade through the cave and its shallow water pools, which leads you to the other side of the Napier Range, 110km northwest of Fitzroy Crossing. On your way through, you’ll be privy to colonies of bats, ancient Aboriginal artworks, and even some freshwater crocodiles that have taken up residency inside the cave (brush up on 
Access to the park is via Gibb River Road and requires a four-wheel drive, though it’s generally inaccessible during the wet season. National park fees apply.
Jingemia Cave is a highly distinctive natural feature within the Watheroo National Park, 2.5 hours northeast of Perth. Comprised of textured chert (an organic sedimentary rock) and other ancient rock types, the cave is significant not only for its unique appearance, but also for its association with the Yued People and the highly localised flora that only grows where chert is present. If visiting in the wildflower season (late July to early November), keep an eye out for the purple or scarlet flowers of the Compact Poverty Bush, which grows among the tumbled boulders around the cave.
To access the cave entrance, park in the nearby carpark and set off on the 150-metre-long walking trail. As the trail covers uneven ground and loose surfaces, sturdy footwear is recommended. National park fees apply.
More than 350 million years ago, the Kimberley region sat beneath a shallow tropical sea. Life abounded in the sea, sustained by the Devonian Great Barrier Reef, which now forms the basis of the Mimbi cave system, some 50km from Fitzroy Crossing. The caves, of deep spiritual significance to the Gooniyandi people, are considered a world-class example of a fossilised reef.
To explore the system thoroughly, book a tour with a Gooniyandi guide. Along the way, you’ll enjoy traditional billie tea and damper, learn about the native flora and fauna found around the cave system, and hear Gooniyandi Dreaming stories by the campfire. Afterwards, you’ll have the chance to cool off in one of the nearby freshwater pools.
The caves are an hour’s drive south-east of Fitzroy Crossing, and are accessible by all vehicle types.
The Stockyard Gully Cave System lies within Stockyard Gully National Park, three hours north of Perth. It’s remote and relatively untouched, making for a peaceful day out in nature. The main, 300-metre-long limestone cave leads to an impressive river system, with numerous smaller, less accessible caves branching off from the main attraction.
Unlike the caves of the Margaret River region, Stockyard Gully hasn’t yet become a major tourist attraction, so a sense of adventure—and some general knowledge about staying safe in remote WA—is required when visiting. You’ll need a four-wheel drive to reach the cave car park, as the tracks are soft sand and limestone road base. Bring plenty of fresh water and remember to leave the site as you found it.
Yanchep National Park is home to Perth’s only publicly accessible cave system, of which Crystal Cave is a part. Dubbed a ‘jewelled city’, this sparkling limestone hollow is full of elaborate stalactites, stalagmites, and helictites, all naturally formed over hundreds of thousands of years.
45-minute-long guided tours depart between 10:00am and 3:00pm every day of the year, with tickets available online or from the visitor centre. Tickets are purchased separately from the national park entrance fee, which you must pay upon entry to Yanchep National Park. Nine different walking trails weave around the park’s large number of collapsed cave systems if you fancy making the most of your visit.
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Just 20 minutes south of Margaret River is Lake Cave, a sparkling, crystal-like chamber hidden 350 steps below a sunken forest. Named for the rare, permanent lake inside, the cave is known for its ‘suspended table’ illusion, created by uniquely shaped stalactites hanging from the ceiling and reflecting off the lake’s mirror-like surface.
Joining a fully guided tour is the only way to explore this cave. Operating daily, this one-hour tour includes a unique ‘underground ambience’ experience, where the guide adjusts the cave lighting to highlight certain natural features.
Ngilgi Cave has a rich history. Named after one of the Dreamtime spirits that once inhabited the area, the cave holds particular significance for the Wardandi Aboriginal people. It was also the first cave in WA to open for tourists. On Caves Road in Yallingup, visitors flock to Ngilgi Cave for its easily accessible location and the ornate natural stalactites and shawls inside.
Exploring Ngilgi Cave isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. Join a 1.5-hour Ancient Lands Experience, and your tour starts with a walk through native bushland, where interactive installations tell the story of the area’s creation. Then, you’ll descend into the belly of the cave. Guides are stationed throughout to assist with any queries you may have. For a more in-depth cultural experience, Koomal Dreaming offers 2.5-hour tours that include a bush walk, interpretation of Aboriginal artefacts and tools, and musical performances, alongside cave entry.
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Surrounded by towering marri and karri trees just south of the Margaret River township, Mammoth Cave is not just a cave system, but the site of some of the state’s most significant palaeontological digs. Around 10,000 fossil specimens have been excavated from the rock walls, which still contain the 50,000-year-old fossilised jawbone of the long-extinct zygomaturus (a large, wombat-like herbivore).
You’ll see the jawbone on a self-guided tour of the cave, accompanied by an audio description which is available in several languages. The hollow is the most accessible of all caves in the Margaret River region, with the first 30m being wheelchair-friendly (and free of charge to enter).
With three cavernous chambers, Jewel Cave in Augusta is the largest show cave in the state. It’s also one of the most beautiful, dripping with twisted and glittering helictites, cave coral, pendulites, and flowstone. Perhaps the most unique features of this grotto are its few fossilised Tasmanian Tiger remains, one of which is on display in the information centre.
There’s so much to see here that a fully guided tour is the best way to take it all in. The 1-hour tours (which run from 9:00am to 4:00pm daily) take you through all three of the cave’s chambers and allow you to get up close and personal with one of the longest straw stalactites found in any tourist cave in Australia.
Within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Giants Cave is one of the State’s most immersive caving adventures. At 86m underground, it’s the deepest cave in the park. And, thanks to its vertical ladders, rock scrambles, and minimal lighting, it isn’t an experience for the faint of heart.
As you make your way down ladders and through the half-kilometre-long cavern, you’ll find yourself in a few tight spots. For this reason, children under the age of six aren’t permitted to enter the attraction. Staff provide helmets, torches, and a safety briefing, and you’ll need to wear enclosed footwear.
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