Beneath the limestone ridge which forms Cape Naturaliste lies Ngilgi Cave at Yallingup. Discovered in 1899; Ngilgi Cave (formerly known as Yallingup Cave) remains one of the Capes most visited attractions. Year 2000 marked one hundred years of operation as a tourism attraction.

Located off Caves Road, a short distance north of Yallingup, Ngilgi Cave is named because of its association with a rich Aboriginal legend describing the battle between a good spirit (Ngilgi) and an evil spirit (Wolgine).

Ngilgi Cave offers visitors a stunning display of stalactite, stalagmite, helictite and shawl formations plus an interpretative area detailing the caves rich history.

A cafe, playground, barbecue facilities and walk trails make a visit Ngilgi Cave an excellent family outing.

Ngilgi Cave is open 7 DAYS A WEEK with entry to the Cave for SHOW CAVE tours every half hour.

These tours are semi-guided with Guides available to answer questions and explain points of interest. Group concessions and fully guided tours are available.

Adventure Tours involve two and half hours of crawling and rock climbing to explore the deepest, darkest depths of one of the regions most beautiful caves. Book in advance.

Torchlight Tours are held in the evening when the cave is closed to the public. Torchlight tours run for an hour and half and are fully guided. Book in advance.

NGILGI CAVE HISTORY

A solitary figure is lowered into the pitch black of a dank, mysterious underworld. For the first time light penetrates the dark of an environment formed over eons to reveal beautiful shapes and formations.

We can only imagine how that lone figure must have felt and that experience in 1899 proved to be the catalyst for the beginning of formalised tourism in the South West of Western Australia.

So taken was he with his find that Edward Dawson began to set in motion plans to open the cave to the public. The caverns at Yallingup were opened for public inspection in 1900.

There are a number of stories of how Yallingup Cave was found. The most common story tells of how Edward Dawson was out looking for stray horses and came upon the present entrance, curiosity got the better of him and the next day he returned with two friends, who assisted with the initial exploration on October 11, 1899.

Edward Dawson began conducting tours through the cave in 1900 and served as its head guide until 1937. The popularity of the tours conducted by Dawson resulted in the establishment of the Caves Hotel in 1905.

In 1903, Yallingup Cave was the first cave in Western Australia to have electric lights installed. It has been the site of two world cave sitting records, numerous weddings and it is believed that Dame Nellie Melba gave a concert before she went to to become a world famous opera singer.

CAVE GEOLOGY

Development
As with other limestone caves along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, Ngilgi Cave has developed within a thick layer of aeolian calcarenites formed during the Pleistocene Epoch some one to two million years ago. This limestone ridge which formed and consolidated over thousands and thousand of years, overlays a base of metamorphic rocks of Precambrian Time.

Geology & Geomorphology
Ngilgi Cave is a stream cave formed progressively through the abrasive and corrosive effect of water. As passages have widened stresses were created in the overlying limestone resulting in many collapses, the collapses have then either settled or been gradually broken down by the action of water. The age of the cave is approximately 500,000 years old. The oldest piece of decoration has been dated at 318,000 years old.
Decorations & Formations
The development of cave decoration begins when rainwater seeps through the top-soil which is rich in carbon dioxide, due to the action of plants and rotting vegetation. The water and carbon dioxide form a weak acidic solution which percolates through the limestone dissolving the calcium carbonate. If the solution reaches a cavity some carbon dioxide is lost to the atmosphere and becomes less capable of holding the dissolved calcium carbonate and some of it precipitates out and we have the beginning of a decoration. The term used by speleologists to describe these cave decorations or formations is speleotherms and refers to any cave decoration for example: shawls, flowstone, stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, pendulums, straw, columns and pillars etc. Ngilgi Cave is renowned for the large amount and diversity of its shawls.

The caves of the South West have yielded treasure troves of material that have both archaeological and palaeontological significance. Digs at Ngilgi Cave have uncovered the remains of a Tasmanian Tiger or Thylacine, as well as the remains of possums, bats, kangaroos, etc. Fossils found in caves are generally well preserved due to the absence of sunlight, rain and wind which break down and dissolve many surface fossils.

Cave Fauna
There are three zones within a cave: the daylight zone which is around the entrance to the cave, the twilight zone, where there is a small amount of light filtering down and the dark zone, where there is absence of all light.
Within each of these zones, different types of fauna can be found. Depending upon the type of entrance, fauna at the daylight zone includes small marsupials, insects and spiders.
In the twilight zone, native cockroaches which venture into the dark zone for food can be found along with a similar range of fauna as in the daylight zone.
It is the dark zone where the true cave fauna can be found, these include centipedes, spiders, millipedes, isopods, and mites. Many of these have evolved from creatures found on the surface but have evolved longer legs and feelers as well as loss of pigmentation and sometimes sight.

Cave Flora
Around the entrance at Ngilgi Cave there are shelves of limestone that have been filled with soil and orchids, mosses, lichen and ferns have established themselves in this region. Within the twilight zone fungi can be found whereas in the dark zone, there is an absence of flora, except for the trees which put down roots in search of water. The exception to this rule is a tourist cave that due to the lighting, a fungi commonly known as lampflora can be found. This is an environmental problem that has to be addressed through good management practices.

Other caves within the region

Calgardup and Giants Cave
Calgardup and Giants Cave are two unlit self-guided caves. Both of these were tourist caves early in the last century and have recently been re-opened.

Calgardup Cave is spectacular to see as the floor of both of its two main caverns is covered in water. The water throws up beautiful reflections and elevated platforms have been built to enable visitors to enjoy this spectacle at their own pace. Educational signs have been placed throughout the cave ensuring visitors do not get lost. Some more adventurous sections of the cave are available with a guide.

Giants Cave is unique as it is a cave you can walk ‘through’ meaning you enter on one side and reappear out of another opening. Elevated platforms and marked paths are provided along its 800 metres. There are numerous spots to stop, relax and absorb the world-class cave.

Torches and helmets are provided and it is best to wear old clothing and sturdy footwear. Opening times vary depending on the season and both are operated by CALM.

Jewel Cave
Jewel Cave is just north of Augusta and is home to one of the longest straw stalactites to be found in any tourist cave. Jewel Cave dwarfs visitors with its lofty chambers and now has a three metre transparent acrylic tunnel section, the only one of its kind in a tourist cave in Australia. The tunnel allows visitors to pass though several fragile sections of the cave without any damage occurring to formations, but still allowing complete viewing of cave features. Guided tours operate through the cave on a regular basis.

Lake Cave
Lake Cave is a stunning pristine chamber deep beneath the earth south of the town of Margaret River. Visitors descend a staircase to access the cave which is surrounded by towering karri trees. Inside the cave a tranquil lake, hence its name.

Lake Cave celebrated it's 100th year as a tourist cave in 2002 and is arguably one of the most beautiful small limestone caves in Australia. Guided tours also operate through this cave on a regular basis.

Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave has formed a natural time capsule, it houses the ancient fossil remains of numerous extinct animals. Visitors can journey through this cave at their own pace with a self-guiding audio system.
Mammoth is one of few Caves that has disabled access, allowing it to be enjoyed by all.