Lake Cave is a highly decorated limestone show cave featuring a permanent underground lake, located in Forest Grove, Western Australia. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport or parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
To secure your preferred time slot, book your Lake Cave tour online.
This comprehensive visitor guide was updated in May 2026 to confirm the strict entry requirement that completely prohibits the use of backpack-style baby carriers during the tour.
Quick facts
| Feature | Details |
| Opening hours | Monday to Sunday: 09:00 to 17:00. |
| Ticket prices | Adults: $26. Seniors: $24. Children (4 to 16): $13. |
| Address | Caves Road and Conto Road, Forest Grove, WA 6286. |
| Nearest public transport or parking | On-site visitor car park off Caves Road. |
| Typical time needed to visit | One hour for the fully guided tour. |
Lake Cave opening hours
The site is open to the public every day of the week, year-round, from 09:00 until 17:00. The only day the attraction is completely closed to visitors is Christmas Day.
The final guided tour departs at 16:00, which is exactly one hour before the gates close. Because all entry is strictly by guided tour, you must arrive well before your scheduled departure time to use the facilities.
5 great Margaret River region experiences worth booking
- 🍷 Hop between world class wineries on a classic Margaret River wine tour.
- 🍺 Go beyond the wine-tasting with a wineries, breweries and distilleries tour.
- 🚙 Take a 4WD tour to the region’s natural highlights, uncovering the local secrets.
- 🏄 Learn how to catch a wave with a beginner’s surfing lesson.
- 🛶 Enjoy a canoe tour through the forest along the Margaret River.
Lake Cave ticket prices
Standard adult admission costs $26, while seniors aged 65 and over pay a reduced rate of $24. Tickets for children between four and 16 years old cost $13, and children aged three and under enter for free.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in May 2026.
The attraction is included in the Capes Foundation Multi-Cave Pass, which also grants discounted admission to other nearby regional sites. This combined ticket scheme allows visitors to also explore Mammoth Cave, Jewel Cave, and Ngilgi Cave over a span of seven days.
How to get to Lake Cave
The site is situated within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, approximately 20 minutes south of Margaret River. There is no public bus or train service connecting to the cave, making a private vehicle or a booked tour coach absolutely essential.
Visitors typically drive from Margaret River by heading south along Caves Road until they reach the intersection with Conto Road. You will find clear signage directing you from the highway to the main entrance building.
Parking at Lake Cave
Free parking is provided for all visitors in a designated lot located immediately adjacent to the main ticketing building. The parking area features a sealed hard surface, with dedicated bays available for larger caravans and motorhomes.
Designated accessible parking bays are situated closest to the main entrance for visitors with the appropriate permits. You cannot leave your vehicle in the visitor car park overnight.
How long to spend at Lake Cave
You should allocate a strict minimum of one hour to complete the fully guided underground tour. The visitor experience is entirely structured, and you cannot explore the subterranean chambers independently without the official guide.
If you plan to view the above-ground Interpretive Centre, browse the gift shop, and rest after the climb, you should allow an extra 30 minutes.
Accessibility at Lake Cave
Because it is a deep subterranean environment, the cavern is completely inaccessible for wheelchair users, prams, and individuals with severe mobility limitations. The above-ground Interpretive Centre and the main toilet facilities are fully accessible with step-free entry.
Entering the subterranean chamber requires navigating exactly 325 steep stairs down into a large sinkhole, known as a doline. You must be able to climb these same 325 stairs to exit the site, requiring a moderate level of physical fitness.
Inside / what to see at Lake Cave
The visitor experience begins above ground at the Interpretive Centre, which details the geological history and formation of the region’s limestone ridge. From there, your guide leads you outside to the edge of an ancient doline, which is a massive collapsed sinkhole.
Visitors descend hundreds of stairs down the side of this steep, forest-covered sinkhole, passing enormous karri trees growing from the collapsed floor. The actual entrance to the subterranean system is located at the very bottom of this deep natural depression.
Inside the cavern, the primary highlight is the permanent underground lake that perfectly reflects the delicate crystal formations suspended above it. The site is uniquely known for the Suspended Table, a massive limestone decoration that hangs from the ceiling and hovers just above the water.
Your guide uses targeted lighting installations to highlight various stalactites, stalagmites, and crystal formations while explaining the geological history of the space.
To preserve the extremely fragile environment, you cannot touch any of the rock formations or bring food into the chamber.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip category | Advice |
| Timing | Book the earliest 09:00 tour to avoid the midday heat when climbing the 325 stairs out of the sinkhole. |
| Crowds | Visit during the week outside of Western Australian school holidays for a quieter experience with smaller tour groups. |
| Layout | Wear sturdy, flat-soled enclosed shoes with good grip to navigate the damp and uneven stairs safely. |
| Entry process | Purchase your tour tickets online in advance, as the strictly limited group sizes frequently sell out during peak seasons. |
| On-site logistics | Leave any backpack-style baby carriers in your vehicle, as only front-worn baby carriers are permitted down the narrow stairs. |
Frequently asked questions about Lake Cave
| Question | Answer |
| Is Lake Cave suitable for children? | Yes, but children must be capable of climbing the 325 stairs independently, or you must use a front-worn baby carrier. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Lake Cave? | Yes, booking online in advance is highly recommended to secure your place on the mandatory guided tour. |
| Is Lake Cave open on Sundays? | Yes, the attraction operates seven days a week, opening at 09:00 every Sunday. |
| Are bags allowed at Lake Cave? | Small day bags and water bottles are permitted, but bulky luggage and backpack-style baby carriers are not allowed. |
| Are dogs allowed at Lake Cave? | No, pets are strictly prohibited from entering the national park, the visitor centre, and the underground cavern. |
Things to do near Lake Cave
- Mammoth Cave: A large, highly accessible limestone cave located just up the road that allows visitors to explore via self-guided audio tours.
- Capes Raptor Centre: A wildlife sanctuary in Margaret River offering daily flying displays and close encounters with native Australian birds of prey.
- Boranup Karri Forest: A towering old-growth forest featuring scenic drives, bushwalking trails, and a dedicated lookout over the massive trees.
- Giants Cave: A deep, rugged cave system in the Boranup forest offering a physically demanding self-guided adventure requiring helmets and torches.
- Leeuwin Estate: A renowned Margaret River winery offering premium wine tastings, a fine dining restaurant, and a contemporary art gallery.
What to visit tomorrow
- Ngilgi Cave: A highly decorated show cave in Yallingup featuring extensive boardwalks and the above-ground Ancient Lands Experience.
- Jewel Cave: The largest show cave in Western Australia, located near Augusta, known for its massive, pristine crystal decorations.
- Calgardup Cave: A self-guided natural cave requiring visitors to use torches and hardhats to explore the unlit boardwalks.
- Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse: A historic, fully operational lighthouse situated on a rugged promontory offering guided tower climbs and ocean views.
- Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse: The tallest mainland lighthouse in Australia, located at the meeting point of the Indian and Southern Oceans.
More Western Australia travel
Other Western Australia travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Meet the kangaroos at Yalgardup Falls in Margaret River.
- Wildlife and adventure in Margaret River.
- Stare out over the Indian Ocean from the Wilyabrup Cliffs or Canal Rocks.
- Guide to visiting the Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury.
- What to expect at the Museum of the Great Southern in Albany.
