Cape to Cape Track, Cape Mentelle Coast House hike - Gina Hancock and Mitch Teudt
‘Simply Amazing’, were the two words used to describe the experience of recent Cape Mentelle ‘Coast House, Ultimate Coastal Lifestyle Experience winners Gina Hancock (24) and Mitch Teudt (25) of Sydney, Australia.
The Ultimate Coastal Lifestyle winners received the following package;
Return transfers between the winner’s place of residence and their closest Australian capital city airport, an Audi with which to escape Perth and head to Margaret River, 2 nights accommodation at the amazing ‘Coast House’ property, a 750ml bottle of Cape Mentelle wine on arrival, an on-site 3 course gourmet dinner experience with a private chef and a 1 hour on-site massage, gourmet breakfast at the White Elephant Cafe, Gnarabup Beach, a 1 hour private guided walk with Cape to Cape Explorer Tours to Cape Mentelle itself, 2 hour private Cape Mentelle winery tour including return transfers between the Coast House property and Cape Mentelle winery, dinner and a movie screening at Cape Mentelle winery; and a 20 minute scenic helicopter flight.
Gina and Mitch were only on day two when they caught up with Cape to Cape Explorer Tours’ Managing Director Gene Hardy, for their one and a half hour hike through the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park and out to view the amazing vistas of Cape Mentelle itself.
“It’s been so relaxing and so well put together”, smiled Gina. “We hardly have time to look at the itinerary we were so busy at work before we headed off, but it has all just been totally smooth.”
“As soon as we reached Margaret River, it was time for our body melting massages, and then our executive chef came soon after to cook our dinner…bliss!”
After a great breakfast at the nearby White Elephant, the pair headed off with Gene to see the sites around Cape Mentelle.
The hike starts with an outstanding overview of this beautiful part of the world, known for world-class surf breaks, wines, quality food, and the stunning Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
Next they explore the coast that produces some of the World’s most consistent surf! Facing the roaring 40’s, Margaret River Mainbreak gets year round large swells from the huge storms to the south. Then it was on to the Cape to Cape track. This 135km track traverses the coastline over granite boulders, limestone cliffs, karri forest, and coastal scrub. It was officially opened in 2001, but has been used by Noongar people (the local Aboriginal group) since time immemorial.
The Track is also part of the ‘biodiversity hotspot’. This is an internationally recognised status, given to only 34 places in the world. The criteria are that you have over 1,400 endemic land-based plant species, and that these species are highly threatened by land-clearing. We meet this criteria by being biologically rich but under threat. In fact we have over 8,000 local species, half of which are found NOWHERE else on earth or in Australia. And with the land clearing that occurred over the 1900’s the small amount that remains is highly valuable. At this point on the track Gina and Mitch tasted some of this biodiversity – which is a great way to experience it – sampling the fruit of the pig face or Bain plant.
The tours finale was at Cape Mentelle, where the couple learnt about the legacy of Jean-Remy Moet, one of the first and most notable producers of Champagne in France, his friendship with Napoleon Bonaparte, and their link to Captain Baudin’s scientific journey to Australia, which ultimately named the point and later the vineyard.
All in all, a magnificent morning! Thanks to Gina and Mitch for being such great clients and Moet Hennesey and Cape Mentelle for including Cape to Cape Explorer Tours in such a great promotion!
To experience the best of the Cape to Cape Track and Margaret River region yourself please book a spot on one of our great tours by calling 0459 452 038 or emailing info@capetocapetours.com.au