Caves House Hotel & Apartments in Yallingup, Western Australia, opened its doors on 20 January 1903 as a government-built accommodation house for visitors to the newly discovered Ngilgi Cave. More than 120 years later, it operates as a heritage-listed hotel and pub that spans budget rooms, luxury suites, and self-contained apartments, making it a layered destination for travelers researching where to stay in the Margaret River region. This review draws on the property’s official history, government heritage records, regional news reports, and independent traveler accounts to give first-time visitors a grounded look at what to expect.
Last checked: 2026-09-21
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Property name: Caves House Hotel & Apartments · Location: Yallingup, Western Australia, Margaret River Region · Age: over 100 years old (early 1900s) · Accommodation types: budget rooms, luxury suites, self-contained apartments · Dining: pub-style dining with menu available as PDF · Contact: (08) 9750 1888
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-09-21.
Sources reviewed: official property website, Western Australian government heritage register (InHerit), Tourism Western Australia listing, regional news outlets (The West Australian, PerthNow), independent travel platforms.
- The first accommodation house at Yallingup was completed on 20 January 1903 at a reported cost of £2,729 and opened as Yallingup Cave Accommodation House (official history).
- Accommodation ranges from basic motel-style budget rooms to luxury suites with Art Deco interiors and fully self-contained apartments (property site).
- The Caves House Group was owned and developed by the Government of Western Australia from 1902 until 1968 to support the then-emerging cave tourism industry.
Caves House Hotel Yallingup does not offer rooms carved into a cave; rather, it takes its name from its original purpose as an accommodation house for visitors exploring the nearby Ngilgi Cave. As explained in the property’s official history, the hotel was purpose-built by the state government in 1903 to support the then-emerging cave tourism industry. The distinction matters for travelers: you are staying in a historic hotel built for cave explorers, not inside a cave itself.
Accommodation at Caves House covers a wide spectrum, from basic motel-style rooms to fully appointed luxury suites and self-contained apartments. The range reflects the property’s role as a multi-tier hospitality venue serving backpackers, families, couples, and group travelers.
Budget rooms
Budget rooms are typically the oldest part of the accommodation stock and do not include the heritage features of the main hotel building.
Luxury suites
Luxury suites feature Art Deco interiors and are housed within the heritage-listed main building.
Self-contained apartments
Self-contained apartments offer a modern, predictable standard with full kitchen and living facilities.
Damp note for first-time visitors — Because Caves House occupies a coastal site with a mix of century-old materials and modern construction, humidity can be a factor in the older motel-style and heritage rooms. The self-contained apartments are the safest choice for travelers who are sensitive to dampness or musty smells.
Over 100 years of history
The first accommodation house on the site was completed on 20 January 1903. The site was owned by the Government of Western Australia from 1902 until 1968, making it one of the earliest and longest-running examples of government-led tourism development in the state.
Caves House Hotel is not an adults-only property. While the pub and bar area draw a primarily adult crowd, the self-contained apartments and a portion of the budget rooms are marketed to families and groups. Travelers looking for an adults-only atmosphere in the Margaret River region will need to look at smaller boutique properties.
Price range for budget rooms
Based on the accommodation mix described in property and news sources, budget rooms represent the most affordable entry point and are comparable to standard motel pricing in regional Western Australia.
Price range for luxury suites
Luxury suites command a premium reflective of their heritage setting, Art Deco details, and proximity to the main hotel amenities.
Price range for self-contained apartments
Self-contained apartments are priced as a mid-to-upper-tier option, suitable for families or longer stays where self-catering is a priority.
Get current prices — Caves House does not list real-time nightly rates on its informational pages. Specific closing times are not published in the sources reviewed, but the kitchen typically operates through the evening happy-hour window.
Menu tip — The Caves House Yallingup menu PDF is published on the property’s website, allowing guests to review pricing and meal options before arriving.
Caves House Hotel Yallingup is located in the town of Yallingup in the Margaret River Region of Western Australia. For visitors flying in, the nearest major airport is Perth Airport (PER), with regional flights also servicing Busselton Margaret River Airport (BQR) approximately 35 minutes away.
For travelers who book based on a property’s story rather than its star rating, Caves House Hotel Yallingup delivers an uncommon depth of character.
- Afternoon — walk to Ngilgi Cave (a few minutes by car or a 20-minute walk) for a self-guided tour of the limestone show cave that gave the hotel its original reason for existing.
Caves House Hotel Yallingup is not a literal cave house; it is a historic hotel named after its role as accommodation for visitors to Ngilgi Cave.
At Caves House Yallingup, the self-contained apartment wing uses modern construction to avoid this, while the older heritage and budget rooms may show signs of dampness due to age and the coastal location.
Caves House Hotel is not adults-only.
inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au, inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au, inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au, inherit.dplh.wa.gov.au, thewest.com.au, perthnow.com.au, starratings.com.au, trip.com, thetraveler.org, travelswithali.com