Ngilgi Cave

Ngilgi Cave is a limestone show cave located in Yallingup within the City of Busselton, Western Australia, on the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge. First opened to tourists in 1900 as Yallingup Cave, it features extensive stalactite, stalagmite and shawl formations illuminated along boardwalks and stairways. The cave is known for its Aboriginal legend of Ngilgi and offers guided and semi-guided tours within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.

Visitors enter via a visitor centre and descend stairs and boardwalks into a series of decorated chambers with stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, shawls and flowstone. Tours are guided or semi-guided with interpretive lighting and commentary on geology and the Wardandi legend of Ngilgi. Above ground there is coastal heath, karri forest, picnic areas and views of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. The cave interior is cool and humid with narrow passages and steps throughout.

Discovered in 1899 by European settler Edward Dawson while searching for stray horses and first opened to tourists in 1900 as Yallingup Cave, making it Western Australia's first tourist cave. Developed with early timber stairways and lighting, it was renamed Ngilgi Cave in 2000 to honour the Wardandi legend. It is located within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and is managed as a significant geoheritage site.

Culturally significant to the Wardandi people of the Noongar nation. The cave is named after Ngilgi, a good spirit from Wardandi Dreaming who triumphed over the evil spirit Wolgine in a traditional legend. Aboriginal cultural tours share this story and the connection of the cave to Country.