October 2016
Ngilgi Cave, previously known as Yallingup Cave, is located in the Geographe Bay just off Caves Road, in the southwest of Western Australia. It is an underground cave with a depth of 42m at the deepest and is reputedly 500,000 years old. Discovered in 1899, Ngilgi Cave is home to stunning stalactite, stalagmite and shawl formations.
Semi-guided tour of the cave is available which gives you basic knowledge and cave history from the guide before you start. Thereafter, you are at your own time to explore the cave. Chances of getting lost is slim to none if you follow the wooden boardwalk and railed passage which does a loop inside the cave.
Vegetation from the car park to the cave ticket office.
Route from Busselton Jetty to Ngilgi Cave.
Rules to observe.
The ticket office.
Participants meeting point before taken by the cave guide to cave entrance.
Clearing to the cave entrance amidst trees and shrubs.
Guide taking participants down the stairs into the cave. T-shirt & track shoes will suffice.
Plaque in remembrance of Edward Dawson who discovered the cave.
Extensive boardwalk and a number of stairs lead you through the cave chambers. Along the passage, bench are available for you to rest if you require. The whole passage in the cave are dry and makes walking and climbing safe. It took us about an hour to see the two chambers in the cave. At some point of the passage, it does get narrow and at other point you do need to bend over to avoid the overhanging formation but we never felt claustrophobic. Initially we though the cave will be cold but as we went deeper, its gets warmer. Wearing T-shirt would suffice.
Down the stairs into the cave.
The smaller chamber to the left of the entrance. A 10 minutes walk-around is all that is required here.
Stalactites of the smaller chamber.
Close-up of the stalactite.
Taking the passage to the right of the entrance will lead you to the main chamber.
When you go deeper into the main chamber, there’s a station where another guide (waiting all day) will show you different crystal formation and detailing it’s creation. They are passionate about the cave and their work and the knowledge they impart makes things interesting.
The lighting system in the cave are good. Throughout the cave, spotlight highlight the amazing formations. The lighting is bright enough for you to take great pictures without the need to use flash but you do need steady hands. Coloured lights at a couple of spots gives a magical atmosphere to your exploration. All pictures below are taken on auto setting with available lighting. No tripod or selfie stick allowed in the cave.
More stalactite on the way to the main chamber.
Colorful lighting at a couple of spots.
The passage getting deeper and more beautiful.
Starting to see stalagmite.
Another section of the main chamber.
Beautiful overhanging crystal formation.
Formation above the boardwalk.
Close-up of the crystal formation.
Boardwalk in the main chamber.
Like a film set in Indiana Jones.
One of those steep but manageable stairs in the main chamber.
