Tarragal Caves, Limestone cave network in Discovery Bay Coastal Park, Victoria, Australia
Tarragal Caves is a limestone cave network in Discovery Bay Coastal Park, in southwestern Victoria, with multiple chambers and several openings at the surface. From these openings, visitors can look out over the surrounding lakes and the flat landscape of the region.
Excavations in the 1970s uncovered shell middens and earth ovens pointing to human occupation going back more than 11,300 years. These finds make the site one of the oldest known places of occupation in this part of Australia.
Aboriginal peoples treated these caves as sacred places and left offerings of wood at the sinkhole entrance to express their connection to the land. This practice shows how central these chambers were to the spiritual life of the communities who lived here.
The caves are reached by walking tracks from Bridgewater Lakes Road, and all-terrain wheelchairs are available for visitors who need mobility support. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as the ground around the openings can be uneven.
One of the larger caves has a sinkhole opening that creates a steady air current flowing through the limestone formation. This natural draft is still noticeable when you step inside the cave today.
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