- Price: From AU $25
- Duration: 1 hour
- What’s included: Entry to Mammoth Cave, audio guide in multiple languages (English, French, German, Malay, Mandarin), access to cave chambers via boardwalks and gentle slopes.
- Best for: Visitors wanting to explore at their own pace and those curious about ancient megafauna fossils.
Mammoth Cave tours: Megafauna fossils & vast limestone chambers
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: 21 km
- Travel time: 13–15 minutes by car
- Tour duration: 60 minutes self-guided audio tour + optional forest walk
- Meeting / drop-off point: Mammoth Cave Visitor Centre, Caves Road
- Key highlights: Megafauna fossil remains, limestone formations, seasonal underground stream, karri & marri forest walk.
7 reasons why Mammoth Cave should be in your itinerary
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Natural time capsule & megafauna fossils
See a real 50,000-year-old jawbone of extinct megafauna embedded in the cave wall, offering a rare prehistoric insight.
Self-guided audio experience
Explore at your own pace along boardwalks and gentle paths, with an audio guide narrating geology and ancient history in multiple languages.
Easy access from Margaret River
Located just 15 minutes by car, ideal for a short adventure or an add-on to a day exploring the region.
Seasonal underground stream
In winter and spring, water flows through parts of the cave, transforming the atmosphere and enhancing the echoing acoustics.
Family-friendly & accessible layout
Boardwalks, low gradients, and wide paths make the cave suitable for most ages and fitness levels.
Rich scientific significance
Still studied by researchers for evidence of climate patterns, extinct species, and the region’s early ecological history.
Cool year-round temperatures
Enjoy a refreshing natural underground climate, perfect for hot summer days.
Everything that’s part of your Mammoth Cave experience
Self-guided audio tour
Combos
- Price: From AU 44.80 - AU $50
- Duration: 1 - 4 hours
- What’s included: Combine the self-guided audio tour of Mammoth Cave with guided tours of Jewel Cave, Lake Cave, or Ngilgi Cave, or add a visit to the Capes Raptor Centre. Depending on the combo, you’ll get access to all cave chambers, visitor centres, multilingual audio guides, and wildlife experiences.
- Best for: Travellers looking for a tailored adventure — explore Mammoth at your own pace, combine it with other caves, or add wildlife at Capes Raptor Centre for a full underground and nature experience.
Inside your Mammoth Cave tour
Check-in & arrival
Arrive at the Mammoth Cave visitor centre (Caves Rd, Forest Grove), show your ticket or voucher, and collect your audio guide and headset. Staff will give a brief intro and safety instructions before you begin.
Guided cave tour
Walk along gently sloping boardwalks and stairs through chambers filled with limestone formations, stalactites, stalagmites — and even fossil remains of ancient megafauna (including a 50,000‑year‑old zygomaturus jawbone). Audio commentary (available in multiple languages) guides you through geology, paleontology and cave history as you explore at your own pace.
Forest walk exit
After the cave tour, enjoy a peaceful walk through towering karri and marri trees, a scenic way to re-emerge from underground and experience the surrounding forest.
Experience-specific add-ons
Combine the Mammoth Cave tour with Jewel, Lake, or Ngilgi Caves for guided tours of crystal chambers and crawl-through passages, or add the Capes Raptor Centre for birds-of-prey shows and close encounters.
End of tour
Tours conclude at the Mammoth Cave Visitor Centre, or at the final stop of your combo experience, such as Jewel Cave, Lake Cave, Ngilgi Cave, or the Capes Raptor Centre.
Key attractions inside Mammoth Cave
Ancient megafauna fossils
The cave contains remains of long‑extinct Australian megafauna; a 50,000‑year‑old jawbone of a giant wombat-like creature (Zygomaturus) remains embedded in the cave wall.
Plan your tour
- Duration: Self-guided audio tour takes around 1 hour; allow 1.5–3 hours if adding forest walk or combo experiences.
- Opening hours: Daily 9am – 5pm (last entry approx. 4pm).
- Distance: Mammoth Cave is about 17 km from Margaret River, roughly a 15–20 minute drive.
- Check-in: Arrive at the Mammoth Cave Visitor Centre, present your booking or voucher, and collect your audio guide and headset.
- 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 – Caves stay cool year-round at around 12–14°C. Bring a light jacket or jumper to stay comfortable during the walk.
- Comfortable closed-toe shoes – Boardwalks, stairs, and damp surfaces require good grip. Avoid sandals or slippery footwear.
- Camera or smartphone – Capture the dramatic formations and underground chambers. Secure straps recommended; tripods and professional photography gear are not permitted.
- Refillable water bottle – Stay hydrated before or after the tour; water is the only drink permitted inside the cave.
- Small backpack – Carry essentials conveniently, including water, jacket, and personal items.
- Headphones (optional) – If you prefer using your own for the audio guide; standard headsets are provided.
- Portable power bank – Keep devices charged, especially for visitors doing multiple attractions or combo experiences.
- Visitor Centre – Ticketing desk, restrooms, and a small retail shop with souvenirs and educational displays. Staff assist with audio guides and combo info.
- Audio Guides – Self-guided audio tour included, available in multiple languages, offering geology and megafauna insights while moving at your own pace.
- Boardwalk & Cave Pathways – Well-lit boardwalks and gently sloping paths make Mammoth Cave one of the most accessible caves to explore independently.
- Forest Walk Exit – Optional self-guided walk through karri and marri forest from the cave exit back to the carpark and visitor centre.
- Parking & Facilities – Free parking for cars, caravans, and tour vehicles, with designated combo pick-up / continuation points.
- Accessibility – Not suitable for wheelchairs or prams due to stairs and uneven surfaces; moderate mobility recommended for full completion.
- No touching formations – Oils from hands stop growth and permanently damage stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and fossil surfaces.
- No food, drink, or smoking – Only water is permitted inside; food, snacks, and smoking are strictly prohibited to protect the ecosystem.
- Photography rules apply – Handheld cameras and phones are allowed; no tripods, flashes, or professional gear to prevent obstruction and damage.
- Follow staff instructions – For safety and a smooth experience, adhere to guidance from rangers and visitor centre staff, especially during combos.
- Visit early or late for quieter paths: Avoid peak late-morning crowds and enjoy more space for photography and audio listening.
- Use the audio guide fully: Pause at numbered markers to deepen your understanding of geology, climate history, and prehistoric fauna.
- Plan combo schedules wisely: Leave buffer time for driving or transfers when pairing Mammoth with Jewel, Ngilgi, or Cape Naturaliste.
- Watch for wildlife outside: The forest walk is a good chance to see birds, kangaroos, wildflowers, and towering karri and marri trees.
- Use the cave acoustics: Softly clap or speak once in the main chamber to hear the natural echo—an impressive demonstration of its size.
- Walk the forest loop clockwise: Better lighting for photography of towering karri trees in the late afternoon.
Read More
Jewel Cave
Lake Cave
Ngilgi Cave
Timings
Frequently asked questions about Mammoth Cave tours
Mammoth Cave offers a self-guided audio tour. You get an audio guide (in several languages) and explore the cave at your own pace.
The audio tour itself takes about 1 hour. If you also include the forest walk at the end, plan for up to 1.5–2 hours.
Entry to Mammoth Cave with the audio tour starts from AU $25 for adults.
No, the tour is self-guided. You will use the provided audio guide to learn about geology, fossils, and cave history as you walk.
The first chamber is accessible via a boardwalk, but deeper inside there are steps and stairs, so full cave access is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
You’ll see prehistoric fossil remains (from extinct megafauna such as a 50,000-year-old jawbone), limestone formations, stalactites, stalagmites. In wetter months ,even a seasonal stream running through parts of the cave.
Yes, the visitor centre offers restrooms, a ticketing desk, and a small shop / information area. There is also parking available for cars and tour vehicles.
No, the ticket covers only entry and audio tour. Visitors must arrange their own transport to/from the cave.
It’s recommended to book online in advance. While the cave offers self-guided entry, high visitor numbers can sometimes lead to delays or unavailability. Booking ahead helps guarantee entry.
Yes. There are combo options pairing Mammoth Cave with other attractions like another cave (e.g. Ngilgi Cave “Ancient Lands” experience), giving you entry to both and allowing you to explore different cave environments.
Yes. After exiting the cave, there is a forested area with karri and marri trees, a pleasant nature walk that often forms part of the overall experience.
Yes, in late winter and early spring, a seasonal stream sometimes flows through parts of the cave, adding a unique water feature and changing the cave’s atmosphere.
Yes. The cave interior stays naturally cool. It’s recommended to bring a light jacket or jumper even in summer.
