Cape to Cape Track

The full Cape to Cape Track stretches approximately 123km along the stunning coastline of Western Australia, running from Cape Naturaliste in the north to Cape Leeuwin in the south. The trail weaves through the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, showcasing dramatic clifftops, pristine beaches, and native bushland.

The trail begins at Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, 13km from Dunsborough and 255km south of Perth. The trail ends at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Augusta, 306km south of Perth.

While you can walk the Cape to Cape Track in either direction, we recommend walking north to south, from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, and that’s the direction our itineraries follow.

Walking north to south means the sun is mostly at your back, the coastal views unfold more dramatically, and the prevailing winds are generally at your back — all of which make for a more enjoyable experience. It also aligns with how most guides and maps are structured, making navigation easier along the way.

The best time to walk the track is autumn from late March to late May and spring from late August to late November. Spring is the most popular time to walk the trail as wildflowers including orchids are abundant and whales are migrating along the coastline of WA. It is possible to walk the Cape to Cape Track year-round but you will encounter less extreme weather patterns if you avoid the wet winter months or extreme summer temperatures.

This walk is moderate to challenging. It’s best suited to hikers of reasonably good fitness and confidence on a trail as you are quite remote. As it’s a coastal walk, it involves a variety of trail conditions, from clifftop paths to inland tracks through forest, heathland, sandy paths and walks across open beaches. The latter can be quite energy sapping if you are walking on soft sand, which may slow you down a lot.

The Cape to Cape Track features distinctive and unique native species including the honey possum, western quoll, quenda and grey-bellied dunnart. You will most likely come across the western grey kangaroo and a wide variety of reptiles such as king skink, bobtail lizards, dugites, western tiger snake and southern carpet python. There’s plenty of birdlife to look out for too, including cockatoos, lorikeets, rosellas, fairy-wrens, oystercatchers, osprey and hooded plover.

You’ll go wild over the Cape to Cape’s wildflowers! The variety is staggering. From the tiniest snail orchid tucked onto the forest floor to tall kangaroo paws – wherever you look there are wildflowers, especially in spring when the bush lights up with colour along the track in one of the most spectacular displays on Earth. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) refers to the area as having the highest concentration of rare and endangered species on the entire continent. That’s enough reason to hit the trail!

The Cape to Cape walk can be changeable and unpredictable throughout the year. Come prepared – and expect sun, rain, strong sea breezes and squally fronts – and you will enjoy it. Although this region in Western Australia has a mild Mediterranean climate it can also experience hot spells and cool temperatures. Waterproof walking boots with full ankle support are recommended for this walk. Trekking poles are not essential for the Cape to Cape Track. However, they are helpful in the steeper sections.

Yes! There are Cape to Cape Track registration points at the northern and southern ends of the trail. It is important you register your intention to walk the track in case of emergency and to help measure the popularity of the track for funding purposes. 

Mobile phone reception is better towards the northern end of the track than the southern end. If you are on a guided trip, your leader will be equipped with tools to communicate with emergency services should the need arise. For self-guided walkers, we provide a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for use on the trail. They are designed to give out a distress call to emergency services with your location.