Ngili Caves & Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse
-
Port
Busselton, Australia
-
Activity Level
Moderate Activity
-
Excursion Type
All
-
Wheelchair Accessible
No
-
Starting At (prices in USD)
$120
-
Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
-
Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
-
Meals Included
Meals not included
Embrace the Aboriginal culture, phenomenal beauty and history of Australia’s South West with a four-hour excursion that offers nature-made and man-made attractions. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes (the cave’s temperature averages 68 degrees) and bring along a camera to capture each mesmerizing moment.
From the jetty you’ll drive along the coast of Geographe Bay before journeying inland to an area just outside the town of Yallingup, an Aboriginal word meaning “Place of Love.” An area noted for captivating Aboriginal mythological stories, it’s only fitting that your journey begins here.
Tucked inside Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, Yallingup is surrounded by significant stands of eucalyptus forests and an extensive network of caves. The most famous is Ngilgi Cave (pronounced Neelgee). Shrouded in ancient Aborigine myth, it’s the perfect place to get acquainted with Australia’s indigenous people.
For the Wardandi tribe, like most Indigenous Australians, the land is the core of all spirituality and 500,000-year-old Ngilgi Cave is no exception. According to ancient legend, a good spirit named Ngilgi lived near the sea and Wolgine, an evil spirit, lived in the cave. Concerned for the welfare of his people, Ngilgi gathered the spirits of the waves, lightning, rain, thunder and wind to create a huge storm. Ngilgi attacked Wolgine and he gradually drove Wolgine back through the cave. The battle was so fierce that a tunnel collapsed, cutting the cave off from the sea (the collapsed tunnel can still be seen today as a deep gully a short distance from the cave). The entrance marks the spot where Wolgine was forced up through the earth and out.
Centuries later, a mortal named Edward Dawson discovered the cave and began conducting tours in 1900. In 1903, Ngilgi became the first cave in Western Australia to have electric lights installed and for over a century it’s been the site of two world cave sitting records and numerous weddings. Step into this subterranean world and you’ll see a stunning wonderland of stalactite, stalagmite, helictite and shawl formations. The most famous include the white Mother of Pearl Shawl, the equally beautiful Arab's Tent and Oriental Shawl. To learn more about the cave and its history be sure to visit the nearby interpretive center.
On the return trip to Busselton you’ll stop at the famed Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, which marks the northern tip of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Peering out over Geographe Bay at 403-feet above sea level, it was activated in 1904 and is a 66-foot-tall cylindrical tower built from limestone which was quarried from nearby Bunker Bay. Your visit to the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse includes a walk around the base of the structure. You are also welcome to make your way down the short path that leads from the Lighthouse for superb views of the stunning coastline.
At the end of your adventure you'll return to the pier enlightened and charmed by this unforgettable experience.
Please Note:
Visit to the Lighthouse include a Base Walk only. Guests are not permitted up the top of the Lighthouse.