Cape to Cape Track

The Cape to Cape Track is a 135 km point-to-point coastal trail in Western Australia, gaining roughly 2,400 m of cumulative elevation over 5 to 8 days. Rated moderate, it links the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, blending wide cliff tracks, soft beach walking and forest paths above the Indian and Southern Oceans.

About the Cape to Cape Track

The Cape to Cape Track runs the full length of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge in the south-west corner of Western Australia, about 250 km south of Perth. It connects two of the continent's most photographed lighthouses: the squat Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse in the north and the towering Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in the south, the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean. Most walkers cover the route in 5 to 8 days, averaging 18 to 22 km per day across a mix of cliff-top track, sandy beach and tall coastal forest.

The trail crosses land used for thousands of years by the Wardandi people of the Noongar nation. European contact began when the French explorer Nicolas Baudin charted the coast in 1801, and early settlers were traversing sections by 1831, taking roughly six days to reach Cape Naturaliste on foot. The modern track owes much to local resident Jane Scott, who mapped walkable routes through the 1980s. Construction began in 1988 with government funding, and the completed Cape to Cape Track officially opened in April 2001. Today it sits almost entirely within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and is managed by the state conservation authority.

What sets the route apart is its variety packed into a short distance. You move from exposed granite headlands to the karri and marri canopy of Boranup Forest, then onto long surf beaches where the only footprints may be your own. The Margaret River wine region sits just inland, so the track is unusually well served by towns, cafes and accommodation for an Australian long-distance walk. If you are building wider fitness for multi-day coastal terrain, our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day is a useful primer before you start loading a pack with food.

Route Overview & Stages

The official track is divided into seven sections, each ending at or near a campsite or trailhead with road access. Distances below follow the standard guidebook breakdown; figures are approximate and shift slightly with beach conditions and tide.

Walked north to south, the track saves its grand finale for last: the windswept tip of Cape Leeuwin, where two oceans collide and a calcified water wheel marks the end of 135 km of coastline. Many walkers prefer this direction because the prevailing south-westerly winds then push at your back rather than your face.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse — The 20 m northern terminus, built in 1903, with sweeping views over Geographe Bay and a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk for the first section toward Sugarloaf Rock.
• Sugarloaf Rock — A dramatic granite island just offshore and one of the most photographed landmarks on the entire West Australian coast, especially at sunset.
• Canal Rocks — Interlocking granite formations near Yallingup where the ocean surges through natural channels; a short detour off the track.
• Margaret River mouth — At Prevelly, the river meets the sea beside Surfers Point, host to world-tour surfing competitions and a natural rest stop.
• Boranup Forest — A regrowth karri forest where pale-trunked trees rise more than 60 m, offering the track's only substantial shade and a striking change from open coast.
• Boranup Beach — A vast, often empty stretch of sand backed by towering white dunes, one of the longest continuous beach walks on the route.
• Hamelin Bay — A sheltered cove famous for the smooth stingrays that glide into the shallows beside the old timber jetty ruins.
• Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse & water wheel — The 39 m southern terminus, the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia, beside the calcified wooden water wheel that once supplied the keepers.

Best Time to Hike the Cape to Cape Track

The region has a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Frost is rare and snow has never been recorded, so the track is technically walkable year-round, but conditions vary sharply by season. Summer (December to February) brings temperatures that occasionally approach 40 °C (104 °F), little natural shade and a daily water requirement of at least 3 litres, making long beach sections genuinely punishing. Winter (June to August) is green and quiet but delivers the bulk of the annual rainfall, with cold fronts driving rain and strong winds in off the Southern Ocean.

The clear sweet spot is the shoulder seasons. The single best month to hike the Cape to Cape Track is October, when spring wildflowers carpet the coastal heath, daytime temperatures sit comfortably around 18–22 °C, rainfall is easing and the wind is generally lighter than in deep winter. September and November are close seconds, and April to May offers a milder, stable autumn alternative with warm ocean water still good for swimming. As of 2026, the conservation authority continues to recommend spring and autumn for the most reliable combination of firm trail, manageable temperatures and accessible water at campsites. Whenever you go, carry a wind shell — the exposed cliff sections catch weather that the forecast for nearby towns rarely captures.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The track has eight designated bush campsites spaced roughly a day's walk apart, each with a basic shelter, tank water (not always reliable) and a long-drop toilet. Camping at these sites is low-cost, typically around €8–€12 per person per night, payable through the national park booking system. Because the trail threads past several towns, many walkers split nights between camps and indoor stays in Yallingup, Gracetown, Prevelly and Hamelin Bay. Expect to pay roughly €30–€45 for a hostel or basic cabin bed and €90–€160 for a guesthouse or motel room in the Margaret River area, with prices peaking over the Australian summer holidays. "End-to-end" supported packages that move your bags and book lodgings cost considerably more but remove the need to carry a tent.

Getting There & Back

The nearest major gateway is Perth Airport, about 3 to 3.5 hours' drive (270 km) north of Cape Naturaliste. There is no train to the trailheads; the practical options are a hire car, the regional coach service to Dunsborough and Augusta, or a private shuttle. Busselton is the nearest large town to the northern terminus, roughly 30 minutes from Cape Naturaliste, while Augusta sits close to Cape Leeuwin in the south. Because the track is point-to-point, plan your return logistics in advance: shuttle operators run transfers between the two capes and the Margaret River townsites, and pre-booking is essential in peak spring weeks.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the Cape to Cape Track itself, and there is no fee to access the trail. You do, however, pay per-night camping fees at the designated sites, and these should be booked ahead online during busy periods. Standard Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park day-entry vehicle fees apply if you drive into certain car parks and lighthouses; a separate ticket covers climbing the Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouses. Always check current conditions before you set out, as prescribed burns and storm damage can close sections at short notice.

Gear & Packing List

The Cape to Cape is a temperate coastal walk, not an alpine epic, so the priority is sun protection, wind defence and water capacity rather than heavy insulation. Carry 3 litres of water capacity for summer days, a sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen, a reliable wind-and-rain shell, and sturdy trail shoes that drain well after beach and creek crossings. Gaiters help keep soft sand out on the long dune sections.

For a 5 to 8 day self-supported carry, a pack in the 45–60 litre range is ideal. The lightweight, water-resistant Arc Haul Ultra 60L suits walkers carrying a tent and several days of food, while the 3400 Windrider is a proven roll-top option that shrugs off sea spray. If you are travelling lighter with town resupplies, the 2400 Windrider or the comfort-focused Atmos AG 50 both handle the load comfortably. For a deeper comparison, see our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 before committing. Plan your food carefully too — the long shadeless beach stages burn energy fast, so our guide to daily hiking calories will help you avoid both overpacking and bonking.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the Cape to Cape leaves you hungry for more Australian long-distance walking, the same coast and outback offer several natural follow-ups. The Bibbulmun Track starts not far inland and runs nearly 1,000 km through the south-west forests, while the nearby Three Capes Track in Tasmania delivers a shorter, hut-based clifftop experience. For a complete contrast in the arid centre, the Larapinta Trail and its opening Larapinta Trail Section 1 trade ocean for desert ranges, and the alpine Overland Track section 6 rounds out a tour of Australia's most celebrated multi-day routes. Closer to home in Europe, our walkthrough of the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania scratches a similar point-to-point itch.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Cape to Cape Track?
October is the single best month, with spring wildflowers, daytime temperatures around 18–22 °C and easing rainfall. September, November and the autumn window of April to May are strong alternatives. Avoid mid-summer, when temperatures near 40 °C and shadeless beach sections become dangerously hot, and deep winter, which brings the heaviest rain and strongest coastal winds.

How difficult is the Cape to Cape Track?
It is rated moderate. There is no serious altitude and the cumulative climb is only around 2,400 m over 135 km, but the difficulty lies in distance, exposure and surface variety. Long stretches of soft sand, occasional rocky scrambles and limited shade make full days tiring. With reasonable fitness and a sensibly light pack, most walkers complete it comfortably in 5 to 8 days.

How many kilometres per day will I walk?
Most hikers cover 18 to 22 km per day, completing the 135 km route in five to seven walking days. The official seven-section breakdown ranges from a short 14 km stage between Prevelly and Contos to longer 21–22 km days. You can shorten daily distances by adding nights, since road access at several points lets you split sections or arrange resupply.

Where do I sleep along the track?
There are eight designated bush campsites with basic shelters, tank water and toilets, spaced about a day apart and costing roughly €8–€12 per night. Because the trail passes through Yallingup, Gracetown, Prevelly and Hamelin Bay, you can also mix in hostels, cabins and guesthouses, typically €30–€160 per night. Supported packages with bag transfers and booked lodging are available at higher cost.

Do I need a permit for the Cape to Cape Track?
No permit is required to walk the track and there is no fee to access the trail itself. You do pay per-night camping fees at the designated sites, which should be booked online in busy spring periods. National park vehicle day-entry fees apply at some car parks and lighthouses, and a separate ticket is needed to climb the Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste lighthouses.

For official route updates, closures and campsite bookings, consult the Cape to Cape Track authority and the Western Australian parks service via Explore Parks WA before you set out.