- Price: From AU $25
- Duration: 1 hour
- What’s included: Entry to Lake Cave, a 1-hour tour led by expert guides, access to the sunken forest and staircase entrance, the underground chamber with its tranquil lake and delicate crystal formations, plus entry to the cave’s interpretive centre.
- Best for: Travellers wanting an immersive, educational experience, perfect for photography enthusiasts, geology lovers, and anyone looking to explore one of Margaret River’s most stunning underground environments.
Lake Cave tours: Underground mirror lake & “suspended table”
See one of Western Australia’s most accessible show caves on a self-guided Mammoth Cave tour near Margaret River. Wander through vast limestone chambers along boardwalks and gentle pathways, surrounded by rock formations. The audio guide reveals the cave’s geology and stories of extinct megafauna. After resurfacing, enjoy a peaceful walk through towering karri and marri forest.
- Distance from Margaret River: 20 km
- Travel time: 20 minutes by car
- Tour duration: 1-hour fully guided cave tour
- Meeting / drop-off point: Lake Cave Visitor Centre (Caves Rd & Conto Rd, Forest Grove WA 6286)
- Key highlights: Influent underground lake, rare “suspended table” formation, reflective water surface under stalactites, karri forest surroundings.
6 reasons Lake Cave belongs on your Margaret River bucket list
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Mirror-like underground lake
See the crystal-clear waters reflecting stalactites and rock formations, creating a surreal, almost magical atmosphere.
Suspended table formation
Look at one of the world’s rarest cave features, a limestone formation seemingly floating above the lake.
Guided insights
Expert guides share the cave’s geology, history, and fascinating stories about its formation and natural features.
Towering karri forest above
The cave sits beneath lush forest, adding to the scenic experience and perfect for nature photography.
Easy access from Margaret River
Only about 20 minutes by car, making it perfect for a short adventure or as part of a full-day cave tour.
Part of a cave network
Easily combined with nearby Mammoth, Jewel, or Ngilgi Cave tours for a full-day underground adventure.
Everything that’s included in your Lake Cave experience
Guided Lake Cave tour
Combos
- Price: From AU $50
- Duration: 1 - 4 hours
- What’s included: A guided tour of Lake Cave and a self-guided audio tour of Mammoth Cave. Explore rare megafauna fossils and dramatic limestone chambers at Mammoth Cave at your own pace, then descend into Lake Cave’s sunken forest, crystal formations and tranquil underground lake with expert commentary. Includes multilingual audio guide, visitor centre access and forest-walk exit trails.
- Best for: Travellers who want to see two of Margaret River’s most iconic caves in one seamless booking, combining science, nature, and spectacular underground scenery.
What you’ll experience on your Lake Cave tour
Check-in & arrival
Arrive at the Lake Cave Visitor Centre (Caves Rd, Forest Grove), show your ticket or voucher, and check in with staff. You’ll receive a short introduction and safety briefing before beginning the descent into the cave.Arrive at the Lake Cave Visitor Centre (Caves Rd, Forest Grove), show your ticket or voucher, and check in with staff. You’ll receive a short introduction and safety briefing before beginning the descent into the cave.
Guided cave tour
Walk down the dramatic stairway through the sunken forest entrance and into the illuminated underground chamber. Follow your expert guide through the cave’s pathways as they highlight crystal formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and the dazzling underground lake. The tour includes lighting demonstrations that showcase the cave’s rare “Suspended Table” formation hovering above still reflective water.
Interpretive centre
After the tour, explore the interpretive centre to learn more about cave geology, formation processes, and conservation work in the Margaret River region.
Experience-specific add-ons
Pair the guided tour of Lake Cave with a self-guided audio tour through Mammoth Cave’s fossil-rich chambers.
End of tour
Tours conclude at the Lake Cave Visitor Centre, or at the final stop of your combo experience, depending on the itinerary selected.
Top sights to see inside Lake Cave
Mirror-still underground lake
Creates perfect reflections of the cave ceiling and crystal formations; a highlight for photography.
Plan your tour
- Duration: Guided tour lasts about 1 hour; allow 1.5–3 hours if adding the optional forest walk or combo experiences.
- Opening hours: Daily 9am – 5pm (last entry approx. 4pm).
- Distance: Lake Cave is roughly 20 minutes by car from Margaret River.
- Check-in: Arrive at the Lake Cave Visitor Centre, present your booking or voucher, and check in with staff.
- Transfers: Entry is self-drive only for standard tickets. Combo packages may involve self-drive linking between caves or attractions depending on the option selected.
- Warm clothing or jumper: Cave temperature stays around 12–14°C year-round, so a light jacket or jumper keeps you comfortable during your visit.
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes: Boardwalks and stairs can be slightly damp, so wear shoes with good grip. Avoid sandals or slip-on footwear.
- Camera or smartphone: Capture the dazzling underground lake, suspended table, and crystal formations. Handheld devices recommended; tripods and professional equipment are not permitted.
- Refillable water bottle: Water is allowed inside the cave; stay hydrated before or after the tour.
- Small backpack: Convenient for carrying essentials like water, jacket, and personal items.
- Headphones (optional): If doing a combo experience with audio guides at other caves.
- Visitor centre: Provides tickets, restrooms, a small retail shop, and staff assistance for tours and combo bookings.
- Boardwalk & cave pathways: Well-lit, gently sloping paths make it moderately accessible, though stairs are required.
- Forest walk exit: Optional scenic walk through towering karri and marri trees back to the carpark, providing a peaceful end to your underground adventure.
- Parking: Free parking available for cars, caravans, and tour vehicles.
- Accessibility: Not suitable for wheelchairs or prams due to stairs and uneven surfaces; moderate mobility recommended.
- No touching formations: Oils from hands can permanently damage stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and the suspended table.
- No food, drink, or smoking: Only water is permitted inside the cave to protect the fragile ecosystem.
- Photography rules: Handheld cameras and smartphones allowed; tripods, flashes, or professional gear are prohibited.
- Follow staff instructions: Ensures safety and preserves cave integrity, especially during combo tours or forest walks.
- Catch the perfect lake reflection: Visit during calm periods (morning or late afternoon) to see the underground lake mirror the ceiling formations perfectly.
- Use stair viewpoints for photos: Several landings along the timber staircase provide excellent vantage points of the lake and formations without disturbing other visitors.
- Look for mineral color variations: Notice the orange, ivory, and gold flowstones, which are accentuated by the cave’s lighting — a feature specific to Lake Cave’s active mineral deposits.
- Observe the ceiling details: Look up to see tiny soda straw stalactites and delicate mineral growths, which are fragile and unique to Lake Cave.
- Look for seasonal touches: In some months, sunlight filtering into the doline highlights forest colors, adding to the dramatic entrance experience.
Read More
Mammoth Cave
Jewel Cave
Ngilgi Cave
Getting There
Frequently asked questions about Lake Cave tours
The guided tour lasts about 1 hour. If you include the optional forest walk exit or a combo with other caves, allow 1.5–3 hours in total.
Lake Cave is open daily from 9am to 5pm, with the last entry around 4pm.
The cave is approximately 20 minutes by car from Margaret River. Check in at the Lake Cave Visitor Centre before your tour.
Yes, the guided tour is family-friendly, though it includes stairs. Children should be accompanied and wear closed-toe shoes.
No touching as oils from hands can damage stalactites, stalagmites, and the Suspended Table. Photography is allowed, but tripods and professional equipment are prohibited.
No, the tour involves stairs and uneven surfaces, so it’s not suitable for wheelchairs or prams. Moderate mobility is recommended.
Yes, the lighting is designed for handheld photography. Capture reflections on the underground lake, crystal formations, and the Suspended Table without using flash.
Lake Cave is known for its mirror-like underground lake, rare Suspended Table formation, delicate stalactites, and active dripping formations, all beneath a sunken karri forest.
Lake Cave is a fully guided tour, unlike Mammoth Cave which offers a self-guided audio option. Guides provide geological, historical, and ecological insights throughout the tour.
Early morning or late afternoon is best for reflections on the lake and fewer crowds. Lighting is ideal for photography, and the experience is more tranquil.
While inside the cave wildlife isn’t visible, the forest walk exit offers chances to spot birds, kangaroos, and native flora.
