As we descended the steep steps towards the entrance of the cave, I began to feel a little nervous. The towering Karri trees that surrounded the path seemed to close in, as we were led through a small fissure in the rocks and into what felt like the centre of the earth.

The temperature dropped rapidly as we climbed down the steel ladder into the cave, hearing the clinking of our shoes on the steps echoing through the chamber. From the darkness there was a clattering crash as someone´s sunglasses fell off their head. The laughter broke the nervous tension, but the tour guide wasn´t too impressed.

The Lake Cave, as it´s name suggests, is so called because of the large lake which fills it´s chamber. We were guided around the outside of the lake, close to the slimy, cold walls of the cave and looked in awe at the magnificent stalagmites and straw stalactites, which had taken hundreds of years to form.

These prehistoric looking formations were beautifully reflected in the still, clear waters of the lake, courtesy of some clever artificial lighting. A suspended table, created by two huge stalactites joined at the bottom, hung above the lake as if by magic and one formation appeared to resemble the head of a fiery dragon.

We were asked to sit down at the far end of the great chamber, as the lights were turned off and we were plunged into inky blackness, hearing the occasional drip of water as it filtered through the layers of rock above. My heart thudded in my chest, as I strained to see through the suffocating darkness.

There was a collective exhale of breath as the lights came back on and we were slowly led back out of the eerie coldness into the sunlight.