Wednesday 6th March 2013

We packed up, or I packed up the tent and sleeping equipment into the car which I have already re-arranged twice since leaving Perth and we headed to Yallingup which passes through Dunsborough.

It was a short 30 minute drive and the campsite was a lot greener than in Busselton. After setting up camp we headed to the light house, which was back in Dunsborough, which is still in operation now, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is situated at the most south westerly tip of Australia, standing at the point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet - 8 kilometres west of Augusta. The tower stands 39 metres high from ground level and 56 metres above sea level. Its piercing beam, which has an intensity of one million candles, shines over the surrounding rugged sea and landscape for 26 nautical miles or 48 kilometres.We decided to go for a walk instead of going up the light house, we did the 2.4km walk to the whale watching outpost. Wrong season to go whale watching but the views out to sea were amazing and nice to get some peace and quiet.

We headed back to the car, which seemed shorter walk than the jetty, the highlight of our walk was being squared of by what I can only describe is a giant hornet. We managed to get passed running and screaming to get away from this pesky beast!

We headed all the way back to Yallingup and heading into 'town'. Town consisted of the beach, a car park, a few BBQs, a little ice cream/general store and house. After googling the nearest supermarket it was in Dunsborough...! We headed all the way back to Dunsborough before going back to Yallingup! It was the same distance to go my house to Stu's or even to Tescos in Reading, but it felt like a right ol' pain!

We eventually had dinner and went to our bed of pain..

Thursday 7th March 2013

Today we headed to Ngili caves which is literally down the road from the campsite. Ngilgi Cave is associated with a rich Aboriginal legend describing a battle between a good and an evil spirit. The local Wardandi people tell the story as:

Ngilgi, a good warrior spirit, lived near the sea and Wolgine, an evil spirit, lived in the cave.

Concerned for the welfare of his people, Ngilgi gathered together the spirits of the waves, lightning, rain, thunder and wind and they created a huge storm. Ngilgi attacked Wolgine and he gradually drove Wolgine back through the cave. So fierce was the battle 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. Eventually Wolgine was driven up through the earth creating the present entrance.

Wolgine was banished from the cave and Ngilgi claimed it as his own thus the cave became known as Ngilgis Nurilem (cave). A solitary figure is lowered into the pitch black of a dank, mysterious underworld. For the first time light penetrates the dark of an environment formed over eons to reveal beautiful shapes and formations.

We can only imagine how that lone figure must have felt and that experience in 1899 proved to be the catalyst for the beginning of formalised tourism in the South West of Western Australia.

So taken was he with his find that Edward Dawson began to set in motion plans to open the cave to the public. The caverns at Yallingup were opened for public inspection in 1900.

There are a number of stories of how Yallingup Cave was found. The most common story tells of how Edward Dawson was out looking for stray horses and came upon the present entrance, curiosity got the better of him and the next day he returned with two friends, who assisted with the initial exploration on October 11, 1899.

Edward Dawson began conducting tours through the cave in 1900 and served as its head guide until 1937. The popularity of the tours conducted by Dawson resulted in the establishment of the Caves Hotel in 1905.

In 1903, Yallingup Cave was the first cave in Western Australia to have electric lights installed. It has been the site of two world cave sitting records, numerous weddings and it is believed that Dame Nellie Melba gave a concert before she went on to become a world famous opera singer.

It was extremely impressive cave, we were left to our own devices in the cave after given a brief history of the cave. We went into the cave which was quite humid and damp, which is quite expected really! The stalligmites and stalacties were all lit up, tastefully, and made the experience all the better! There was some pretty tight corners and you had to crouch down a few times! It was very enjoyable day!

After our caves tour, we headed back to tent and grabbed our swimmers and headed to the beach. We found a brown snake on our way to the beach so we avoided it by a mile, stupid poisonous snake! The beach was gorgeous and the water was so green and clear! So inviting! We enjoyed our afternoon on the beach and tested out my gopro camera! It is pretty good!!!

We headed back to the campsite for a shower and some food and enjoyed our last night in the campsite before moving on again!