The Cape to Cape Track
In the far southwest corner of Western Australia, a broad peninsula projects into the Indian Ocean – ancient, wild and stunning.
Running north to south along its edge is the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park: the setting of the 132km Cape to Cape Track and backdrop to the Margaret River region.
“Explore the true nature of the Margaret River region”
About the Track
The Cape to Cape Track stretches between lighthouses at Cape Naturaliste in the north and Cape Leeuwin in the south, where the Indian meets the Southern Ocean.
It meanders through towering forests. Dreamy white-sand beaches. Six hundred million-year-old granite cliffs and marbles. And scenic coastal paths lined with the region’s iconic orchids and wildflowers. You’ll spy humpback whales leaping and surfers riding giant waves.
The Track is also home to an incredibly rich diversity of wildlife, with a fascinating indigenous and European history.
Location
A three-hour drive south of the Western Australian capital, Perth, lies the famous wine, food and surf region of Margaret River.
It’s renowned for stunning scenery, world-class beaches, gourmet food and fine wines.
And it’s also home of the Cape to Cape Track – one of the nation’s best the multi-day hiking trails through a recognised global biodiversity hotspot.
When to hike
Hikers visit year-round, but spring is one of the most popular seasons. From September-December, stunning wildflowers bloom and whales frolic at sea.
Autumn is also a magical time to hike. From March-May, sunny skies, light winds and beautiful mild temperatures make walking the Track a dream.
Tackling the Cape to Cape Track requires a moderate level of fitness.
Why Hike with us
The Track is free to access and open to everyone. It’s possible to hike the trail unassisted, camping at designated areas and carrying food, water and a tent. But the terrain includes soft sand sections and beach crossings, making this a difficult proposition.
With Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, experience the Track carrying just a day pack, with comfortable accommodation, catering, transfers and logistics taken care of. Choose from guided or self-guided experiences from 3 to 8 days. Or get a taste of the Track on a private day tour with our expert guides.
Fauna on the Track
Birdlife is plentiful thanks to the abundance of heathland and forest on the Track. Colourful residents include splendid and red-winged wrens, scarlet, white-breasted and yellow robins, golden whistlers, New Holland honeyeaters and spinebills. Spectacular birds of prey are often seen soaring over the cliffs while shore birds inhabit the rocks and beaches.
Numerous reptiles including colourful bobtail lizards and curious heath monitors can be seen, while mammals like the southern brown bandicoot, quenda, ring-tailed possums and western grey kangaroo also call the Track home.
Most of the 132km Track hugs the coastline, which is protected by the Ngari Capes Marine Park. It’s where pods of frolicking dolphins and majestic humpback and southern right whales can be spied. Oh, and don’t miss the friendly stingrays at Hamelin Bay!
Flora on the Track
One of the wonders of walking the Cape to Cape Track is the variety and diversity of vegetation, from coastal heathland and inland loops through woodland and forest. The region of Western Australia’s southwest including the Cape to Cape Track is recognised by Conservation International as one of less than 40 global biodiversity hotspots. To quality, one of the criteria is having at least 1500 endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. This region has more than 3500!
During spring the landscape erupts in a sea of colour, with carpets of wildflowers from yellow through to pink and purple. You’ll see pink pimelea, bright buttercups and shark’s tooth acacia, interspersed with woody species such as the Rottnest tea-tree, peppermint trees and groves of fruiting quandong.
The southern span of the Track is home to the stunning karri hardwoods in Boranup Forest – among the tallest flowering trees in the world. Don’t leave without hugging one! Many species of rare orchids can be found beneath the forest canopy, while other types grow among granite outcrops.
Flora on the Track
One of the wonders of walking the Cape to Cape Track is the variety and diversity of vegetation, from coastal heathland and inland loops through woodland and forest. The region of Western Australia’s southwest including the Cape to Cape Track is recognised by Conservation International as one of less than 40 global biodiversity hotspots. To quality, one of the criteria is having at least 1500 endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. This region has more than 3500!
During spring the landscape erupts in a sea of colour, with carpets of wildflowers from yellow through to pink and purple. You’ll see pink pimelea, bright buttercups and shark’s tooth acacia, interspersed with woody species such as the Rottnest tea-tree, peppermint trees and groves of fruiting quandong.
The southern span of the Track is home to the stunning karri hardwoods in Boranup Forest – among the tallest flowering trees in the world. Don’t leave without hugging one! Many species of rare orchids can be found beneath the forest canopy, while other types grow among granite outcrops.
Terrain on the Track
The Cape to Cape Track is an exhilarating trek open to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. We’ve had clients from 12 to 87 hike with us! But it is also a challenging walk at times due to the diversity and nature of the terrain. The experience ranges from extended soft sand beach walks, through to steep (but short) climbs over loose limestone. It involves long, extended hikes that will challenge even the fittest in the group. As such, pre-trip preparation is strongly recommended to make the trip enjoyable and to reduce the risk of injury!
The distances you walk vary on which tour you choose from our range of guided, self-guided and day tours. Some are just a few hours long and designed for all levels of fitness. Others are 20-30km a day.
News from the track
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Connect with us
Get in touch
Phone: 0459 452 038
Email: info@capetocapetours.com.au
Office and postal address: 1/24 Auger Way West, Margaret River, Western Australia 6285
