Adventuresome caving trips will let many explore the wonderful world of caves. Half-day permits offers the chance to experience stalactites, stalagmites and other natural wonders.

Taking place in a variety of caves in the Leeuwin Naturalist National Park, 300km south of Perth, Western Australia.

Groups are restricted to small numbers and led C.A.L.M registered guides.

A Department of Conservation and Land Management Cave Permit is required for entry to locked caves.

Features

• half-day permits.

LEEUWIN CAVES

General Description
The Leeuwin Naturalist Park runs for 120km along the coast of WA. from north of Margaret River to Cape Leeuwin. The area is full of caves and sink holes and combines a scenic coast with wildflowers and tall timbers of Karri and Jarrah forests.

Bride Cave is so called because in earlier times a couple were married there. The cave is 60m deep and the only way into this place is to lower yourself across a rocky overhang 33m into the sink hole or over a great ugly metal ramp and then abseil 15m into the sink hole. It is a free fall abseil where feet do not touch the wall, so you are like "a spider lowering on its thread."

The big crater entry was caused by a stream flowing beneath the soft but hardening aeolian sand dune system. Inevitable collapses and subsequent stream diversions eventuating in a widening of the chamber. The land above it eventually collapsed and the hole that was left is more than 30m deep, but the cave goes much deeper.

The main features of the cave are gigantic flow stone and stalactites and stalagmites. Inside the sink hole, you walk along defined paths into an enormous chamber more than 60m below the surface.

The exit is via a rope haulage system or aluminium and wire flexible ladder and safety belay system. This climb out requires a great deal of commitment and reasonable body weight to strength ratio.

If you are unfit you should think twice about this exit. Ensure an emergency haulage system is always placed at the cave for each usage occasion, so that it is possible for the trip organizer to haul a tired person to the surface.