In the far southwest corner of Western Australia, a broad peninsula projects into the Indian Ocean. It is ancient, wild and stunning – and home to an amazing array on fauna. Running north to south along its western edge is the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park: the setting of the 124km Cape to Cape walk and backdrop to the Margaret River region.
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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. Scenic coastal paths lined with the region’s iconic orchids and wildflowers. The region has a fascinating indigenous and European history.
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And it’s home to an incredibly rich diversity of wildlife, which this blog post will look at in more detail.
Bountiful bird life on the Cape to Cape walk
Bird life is plentiful thanks to the abundance of heathland on the Cape to Cape walk. Colourful residents include splendid and red-winged wrens, scarlet, white-breasted and yellow robins, golden whistlers, New Holland honeyeaters and spinebills. Parrots and black cockatoos are colourful, numerous and noisy.
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Meanwhile, spectacular birds of prey are often seen soaring over the cliffs – nankeen kestrels, ospreys and kites. While shore birds like cormorants, oystercatchers, reef herons, and red-capped and hooded plovers inhabit the rocks and beaches.
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Lizards and reptiles on the Cape to Cape walk
On sunny days the open trails of the Cape to Cape walk are ideal lazying spots for many different species of lizards. And some snakes, including dugites, carpet pythons and tiger snakes. Colourful bobtail lizards are a regular feature on the Track, are as curious heath monitors up to 2m in length.
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Shy mammals returning to the Cape to Cape Track
Small mammals like the southern brown bandicoot and quenda declined due to predation from feral cats and foxes in decades past. But successful baiting programs mean these species can increasingly be spotted – if you’re lucky!
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Also keep an eye out for the tracks of nocturnal brush-tailed phasgogales, chuditch and ring-tailed possums. One species you will see is an Aussie favourite – the western grey kangaroo!
Sea life in the Ngari Capes Marine Park
Most of the 124km Cape to Cape walk hugs the coastline, which is protected marine park. It’s where pods of frolicking dolphins and majestic humpback and southern right whales can be spied.
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Oh, and don’t miss the friendly stingrays at Hamelin Bay! For more on Hamelin Bay’s stingrays, read our dedicated blog post HERE.
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At Cape To Cape Explorer Tours, we’re passionate about the Cape to Cape walk and the Margaret River region. Come on a guided or self-guided hike with us, ranging from day tours to highlights tours. Or the full 124km end-to-end experience. We’d love to see your photos of fauna, flora, hiking and scenery too! So tag us or use the #capetocapeexplorertours hashtag when posting on Facebook or Instagram. Happy hiking!
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