The Cape to Cape track is an epic 125-kilometre coastal walk trail from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin in the Margaret River Region of Western Australia.
Beginning from the lighthouse found at each respective cape, the trail takes you through the mind-boggling natural scenery of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.
You’ll navigate sweeping coastal cliffs and towering Karri forests, all the while never straying too far from the azure ocean waters of the Indian Ocean.
There are many options to tackle this memorable trail, ranging from self-guided overnight camping, day walks and guided tours tackling the whole track over 5-9 days.
My best friends and I decided to go all in, and in September 2022 headed down to Margaret River with loaded hiking packs and everything we needed for the next 7 days as we set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
This is my detailed guide on all you need to know about the Cape to Cape (WA) walk track, and how to plan your own self-guided Cape to Cape walk.
This blog post was originally posted in October 2022, and updated in September 2023.
Just a reminder, hikers should use the information here as guidance and as always, take personal responsibility for your own safety. To check current track conditions call the DPAW Busselton office on (08) 9752 5555.
Cape to Cape Walk Distance
The official Cape to Cape track distances seem to vary slightly depending on what you read.
Before undertaking the Cape to Cape trail myself, my understanding was it was 135 kilometres long (from the Margaret River website). This is what is written on signs on the trail itself too.
However, organisations like Parks and Wildlife Service WA state the track is 130 kilometres long. I used an app to navigate on the trail (more on that soon), which listed the distance as 125 kilometres.
I tracked the distances each day, and we did cover 125 kilometres of official Cape to Cape trail but ended up walking 129 kilometres in total due to some unplanned and optional detours.
Did you know? The Cape to Cape is a walker-only track, meaning no wheeled vehicles or bicycles are permitted on the track. No dogs are permitted either, being within a National Park.
How many days does the Cape to Cape take?
Most walkers will take between 5-9 days to complete the trail. I have included our 7 day itinerary below, which was 4 full days of walking and 3 half days. On average, we covered just under 18 kilometres a day.
How difficult is Cape to Cape?
The Cape to Cape is considered a moderate trail.
Whilst the distance is long, the elevation is fairly moderate and the track is mostly easy walking apart from a few rocky sections where you’ll need to do a bit of rock scrambling.
There are also a few sections of beach walking in soft sand, the most challenging being the Boranup Beach section (~7km) just before Hamelin Bay (when walking North to South).
As three fairly fit and active 30 year old’s, my friends and I didn’t do too much training in the lead up.
It is recommended to get some beach walking practice in, and normal walking with a heavy pack, to build stamina and get used to carrying the extra weight (if camping on the trail like us).
Cape to Cape Walk Map
I found it difficult to find a Cape to Cape map online showing the track in its entirety.
Most available online resources show the trail broken down into Cape to Cape sections, like on the official Cape to Cape website.
Below is a screenshot of the Cape to Cape track map from the app I used.
The Cape to Cape app also has detailed maps for each section and shows the location of the nearest facilities and accommodations.
This was an extremely useful resource for both planning the trip and navigating once on the tail. I recommend this app, it has a one-off cost of ~$20 but is well worth the investment.
Paper maps can also be purchased from the Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River Visitor Centres. You can also purchase guidebooks, but I prefer using the online app.
Whilst the track is well signposted, it is useful to help plan your itinerary and distances to cover each day (or just follow along with my 7-day itinerary below!).
Best Time to Hike the Cape to Cape
Whilst the Cape to Cape is accessible all year round, the best time to do it is in spring. During this time, the trail is blooming with native wildflowers and you often see whales splashing in the distance.
Autumn and winter are also suitable times to hike the track. Winter is the least busy time of the year, so you might find you have sections of the track all to yourself. It can rain quite heavily in the area, so plan around the forecast.
I wouldn’t recommend hiking the trail in peak summer, unless you are planning on doing shorter sections as day trips.
Firstly, there isn’t a lot of shade on a lot of the track. Doing the hike in September 2022, we had two days of 25-degree Celsius weather, and this, coupled with our heavy packs made those days so much harder.
Secondly, if you are camping on the trail, the water tanks at the designated Cape to Cape campsites aren’t guaranteed to be full.
This means you need to carry extra water, which would also add a lot more weight to your packs.
Cape to Cape Walk Accommodation
There is a range of accommodation options on the trail, ranging from free and cheap camping to mid-range hotels to luxury options.
Camping on the Cape to Cape
There are four free, Cape to Cape track campsites available for Cape to Cape hikers.
They are (in order from North to South):
- Mt Duckworth
- Moses Rock
- Ellensbrook
- Deepdene
At these designated Cape to Cape campsites, you’ll find a single drop toilet (BYO toilet paper), a couple of picnic tables and a rainwater tank.
Water taken from here needs to be treated or boiled before consumption (I used Aquatabs).
There are paid camping options with full facilities like shower blocks and camp kitchens.
These include two caravan parks at Yallingup, Prevelly Caravan Park, Gracetown Caravan Park and Hamelin Bay Caravan Park. There is also the DPAW-run Contos Campground.
For our 7-day camping itinerary, we spent three nights in the free Cape 2 Cape campsites, one night in Yallingup Caves Caravan Park, one night at Contos Campground and one night in (relative) luxury with a treat night at Surfpoint Resort in Gnarabup.
Accommodation on the Cape to Cape
When undertaking the Cape to Cape walk, Margaret River town might seem like the best spot for accommodation but there are other options available in the region that are closer to the trail.
Popular accommodation choices with Cape to Cape hikers on or close to the track are outlined below.
| Property | Area | Type | Description | Booking |
| Cabins at Yallingup Beach Caravan Park | Yallingup | Budget | Beach-front caravan park with 1 & 2-bedroom cabins | Check price |
| Seashells Yallingup | Yallingup | Mid-Range | Serviced apartments with kitchenettes located next to Caves House pub | Check price |
| Canal Rocks Beachfront Apartments | Yallingup | Mid-Range | A mid-range option located near Smiths Beach Resort with ocean views | Check price |
| Smiths Beach Resort | Yallingup | Luxury | Luxury apartments in the heart of Smiths Beach, a 10-minute drive from Yallingup | Check price |
| Margarets Beach Resort | Gnarabup | Mid-Range | Comfortable studios, 1 and 2-bedroom apartments just 500m from Gnarabup Beach | Check price |
| Surfpoint Resort | Gnarabup | Budget | Comfortable and clean accommodation with a shared kitchen and common area. | Check price |
| Augusta Hotel Motel | Augusta | Budget | The main option for hikers in the small town of Augusta (after finishing the track | Check price |
Otherwise, click here to browse the largest range of accommodation option available in the Margaret River Region.
Cape to Cape 7 Day Itinerary
I did lots of research online, read the Cape to Cape guidebook and researched posts on the C2C Facebook group to come up with the below Cape to Cape self guided itinerary.
| Day | Section | Distance | Stay |
| 1 | Cape Naturaliste – Yallingup | 14km | Yallingup Caves Caravan Park (paid camping, booking required) |
| 2 | Yallingup – Moses Rock | 20km | Moses Rock C2C Campsite (free, no booking) |
| 3 | Moses Rock – Ellensbrook | 19km | Ellensbrook C2C Campsite (free, no booking) |
| 4 | Ellensbrook – Gnarabup | 13km | Surfpoint Resort (accommodation, booking required). |
| 5 | Gnarabup – Contos | 16km | Contos Campground (paid camping, booking required) |
| 6 | Contos – Deepdene | 30km | Deepdene C2C Campsite (free, no booking) |
| 7 | Deepdene – Cape Leeuwin | 17km | Drive back or stay in Augusta |
Adjust this Cape to Cape walk itinerary to your own needs as required. On reflection for us, it was pretty much perfect for our needs.
Day 4 was only a half day and acted as our rest day. We had booked accommodation at Surfpoint Resort for that night so we could have a hot shower (bliss!) and sleep in real beds for one night.
Margarets Beach Resort is located next door as another accommodation option too.
Alternatively, you could stay at Prevelly Caravan Park instead of booking accommodation in Gnarabup.
For us, the opportunity to get a proper night’s rest was well appreciated and we had no regrets!
Day 6 was the toughest day – based on the kilometres and the fact that there was a lot of beach walking on this day.
Day 7 was also surprisingly tougher than we expected, as we walked the first 1.5 hours along the beach in a strong headwind before getting rained on all the rest of the way to Cape Leeuwin!
For those considering doing Cape to Cape day walks, and getting dropped in and out each day, this same itinerary would mostly work.
You would just need to tweak Day 6 to be picked up from Hamelin Bay (for a 21km day) or Cosy Corner (for a 25km day) since there is no road access at Deepdene.
Tip: When I was looking online at camping options in the Yallingup Caravan Parks, they were showing fully booked 2 weeks beforehand due to being a long weekend and school holidays.
If you email or call up beforehand, they will squeeze you in and find a space for you due to being a Cape to Cape hiker (mention this when booking).
What to Bring for Camping on the Cape to Cape
Here is my checklist of Cape to Cape essentials.
My newsletter subscribers can download my full Cape to Cape packing checklist here!
If you haven’t hiked and camped before, you’ll quickly learn that you want the lightest possible gear – regular sleeping bags for example won’t cut it due to their size and weight.
Make sure you use a proper hiking backpack, and you know how to adjust the straps etc to make sure it is well fitted. There are lots of handy video tutorials online to help you do this.
| Item | Product Recommendations & Notes |
| Backpack | I hired a 60L backpack in Perth from the Bibbulum Track Foundation. This was a good size for me, as I wouldn’t want to carry to much more weight given my size and was sharing equipment with my friends. If you are doing the hike solo, you will likely need a 70L+ bag. Like most quality hiking gear, backpacks can be expensive. If you are interested in buying one for longer term use, I was very happy with my Deuter Aircontact Lite. The pockets along the waist band came in super handy for storing snacks and other easy-to-grab essentials. I’m a big fan of Osprey bags for travel. They have some popular hiking models, such as the Osprey Ariel 55L for Women and the Osprey Aether 65L for Men which both comes in two different options for sizes. |
| Sleeping Bag | Check the forecast night time temperatures and make sure your sleeping bag is rated accordingly. I purchased this Sea to Summit Trailhead synthetic sleeping bag with a comfort rating to 5 degrees Celsius that came with a compression stuff sack bag. For a more budget option, this one is super lightweight, compact and rated to 5 degrees Celsius. |
| Sleeping Mat | I recommend the Sea to Summit range. You can get self-inflating models which made setting up a breeze. I purchased this one which was thicker (I’m a side sleeper) and also insulated to keep you warmer at night. A budget option would be something like this one. |
| Hiking Tent | Budget option: Click here for 1-person or click here for 2-person – these are reasonable weight, cheap but well built and reasonable size. Mid-Range: Big Agnes come recommended by fellow hikers, and have a large range of options from mid-range to more deluxe options. Consider this for 1-person, or this for 2-persons. |
| Inflatable Pillow | I used this one and it was super comfortable for an air pillow! |
| Stove & Pot | We used this Furno 360 Set and it did the job great! We also saw many other campers using the highly-rated JetBoil system. |
| Water Bladder | My friends had hydration backpacks that attached to their main backpacks, and made staying hydrated so much easier. I had to stop and take off my backpack to reach my water bottle each time which was super annoying! |
| Water Purification tablets | I purchased a packet of Aquatabs like these or you can get these small bottles here |
| Rubbish Bags | There are no bins at the C2C campsites, you’ll need to carry your rubbish out of the campsite with you until you come across a bin, |
| Meal Camp Set | I packed this set, but I only used the mug & bowl for our morning coffee and breakfast. |
| Aeropress | An essential to make our hot morning coffee. I prefer the aeropress as it is extremely lightweight but produces quality filter coffee. You can check prices here. |
| Head Torch | Another essential. Hands free is the way to go, particularly for cooking in the dark, or late night wee breaks. Check prices here |
| First Aid Kit | Thankfully we didn’t need it (other than band-aids), but make sure you pack the essentials. You can also get a prepacked kit like this one here. Also consider taking a snake bit bandage. |
| Powerbank | I’ve got this Belkin one, and it charges my phone fully at least 2-3+ times, |
| Microfibre Towel | I packed a small microfibre towel for when we had showers at caravan parks. This one is super lightweight and packs down into almost nothing. |
| Personal Toiletries | Don’t forget the deodorant and baby wipes! |
| Socks & Underwear | Merino wool socks are recommended for maximum comfort and to reduce unpleasant smells. Fellow hikers also swear by the Injinji socks for preventing blisters! |
| Long pants, shorts, tops/shirts | I wore shorts and full-length tights. Both are fine, but there may be some sections of the trail that are overgrown and brush against your bare legs. |
| Warm Jacket or Jumper | |
| Rain Jacket | The weather can change quickly on the track. I would pack a light rain jacket unless you were hiking in summer and the weather forecast looks clear. |
| Hat & Sunglasses | |
| Flip Flops or Crocs | Give your feet a break from your shoes at the end of the day! |
| Food | Our dinners were dehydrated food, breakfast was oats and lunch varied day to day. We also packed high energy snacks like trail mix and nut bars. Sign up to my newsletter list to get sent my detailed packing list with what we packed for each meal. |
Other things to note:
- Many people take hiking poles. Of our group, only one used them. I think this is up to personal preference and also fitness/ stability levels.
My friend and I picked up sticks that we used along the way instead (nature’s version of hiking poles). If you want to try them out, you can get cheap ones that will do the job like these. - Gaiters: these are used to cover your lower legs, sitting around your leg with the elastic band and looped under your hiking boots/ sneakers.
The benefit of these are to provide some additional peace of mind for potential snake bites, and help keep sand out of your shoes. We didn’t wear these, mostly due to a lack of poor planning but seem to be pretty popular with other hikers we saw on the way. You can get some cheap ones online like these, or Sea to Summit also make these ones. - Gas Canisters: If you are flying into Perth, you can’t bring gas canisters with you. You can pick one up in Busselton at an outdoor store like Anaconda or BCF before starting the hike.
Other General FAQ
Route Direction
Most people tend to walk from North to South, so from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin. The reasons for doing this are;
- You walk with the sun behind you, instead of staring into the sun
- You do your easier days first, as the tougher sections of the track are towards the south end. By the time you tackle these harder sections, your fitness and stamina should be higher.
In hindsight, Day 6 and 7 with lots of beach walking were super tough. But, I think our strategy of going North to South worked.
I don’t know if I had the stamina at the start to do a 30km day on 2 if we had flipped the itinerary – plus it would have annoyed me walking into the sun all the time!
Parking
Our plan was to drive down from Perth on Day 1 and leave the car at Cape Naturaliste lighthouse.
We left Perth at 9am and were officially on the trail by 12.30pm, getting in at Yallingup Caravan Park just after 4.30pm.
We had no issues leaving my car at the lighthouse carpark, but the staff at the lighthouse recommended parking as close to the entrance as possible.
It is a large car park and if the car is tucked away out of site, there might be risk of theft for example.
Luckily for us we jagged a spot right near the front entrance, left no valuables in the car and it was fine when we got back to it 7 days later.
Some local businesses offer a drop-off service where you leave your car at their property and they drop you at the start of the trail. One business I’m aware of is Dunsborough Chauffers who offer a Secure Park & Transfer service to Cape Naturaliste lighthouse.
Transfers
We finished the track at Cape Leeuwin on a Saturday. I had been planning to get the TransWA bus from Augusta back to Dunsborough, and then get a taxi from Dunsborough to Cape Naturaliste where my car was parked.
Unfortunately at the time of writing, the weekend bus schedule departs on Saturdays at 8am, and Sunday at 3pm.
For us this made it awkward as we were due to finish the hike on Saturday afternoon – so make sure you check the bus times beforehand.
Here is the current schedule (you want the “From Pemberton” route).
Instead, I arranged a private transfer for the 1.5 hour drive directly from Cape Leeuwin back to Cape Naturaliste with Cy from South West Driving Services.
This service cost us $100 per person, but it was a 3-hour round trip for Cy from Augusta so I understand the cost of the service being what it is!
There are very limited taxis in the region, and I’m not sure if a taxi would even take you that far – so best to get the bus or arrange for a private transfer between the Capes.
I’ve also been warned you need to book the bus in advance, as it does get booked out so don’t just rock up on the day!
Other contact details below;
- Cy Fort at South West Driving Services: 0428 953 385
- Augusta Taxis: 131 008 or 0417 914 694
- Dunsborough Taxis: (08) 9756 8688
- DPAW Busselton office: (08) 9752 5555 (to check latest track updates/closures etc)
Resupply
To reduce the amount of food and other things you need to carry, consider doing a “resupply” drop at one of the paid places you are staying along the trail (e.g. Prevelly Caravan Park, Surfpoint Resort, Hamelin Bay Caravan Park etc).
We were able to drop a bag of our dinner meals (dehydrated meals), snacks and clean clothes off before we started our hike in order to reduce having to carry it all from the very start.
This was greatly appreciated and well worth the effort to do so!
Looking for ideas for things to do in the Margaret River Region after the hike?
Check out my guide of things to do in the Region.
Food & Meals
If following my 7-day itinerary above, you will need to bring food for four dinners.
We purchased dehydrated meals from a camping store, all you need to do is add boiling water, stir and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before eating out of the pouch.
On other nights, we were staying in a town and could purchase dinner from the pub (like at Caves House in Yallingup, and the Common Bistro in Gnarabup).
Breakfast consisted of quick porridge oat sachets (add boiling water) or a muesli bar eaten on the trail.
Lunch plans were sorted as we would purchase in the morning at towns we passed through. You can have lunch at Gracie’s general store on Day 3, and Sea Garden Café in Prevelly on Day 4.
If like me, you NEED your morning coffee to get started with the day, our aeropress was a lifesaver. I love the Aeropress as it is lightweight, easy to use and produces quality filter coffee.
Read this guide for other options for the best camping coffee makers.
Bring ground coffee beans in a ziplock bag, aeropress filters and just add boiling water for a delicious hot coffee to kickstart your day.
Power
I took my portable battery pack with me, and recharged it at Surfpoint on Day 4. Caravan Parks offer a place to recharge, or you could ask nicely at any of the breakfast or lunch spots you visit.
When walking we kept our phones on airplane mode to reduce battery drain, as there is limited reception on the track outside of the towns anyway.
I didn’t take my camera (weight is key!), and just used my iPhone to take all the photos in this article.
Toilets
There are drop toilets at the free Cape to Cape campsites and Contos campground.
Due to the trail hugging the coast, we never wanted for a bathroom stop as there are drop toilets located as most major beaches, even the more remote ones accessed only by 4WDs.
If you have the Cape to Cape guidebook app, you will be able to see toilet locations on the trail.
River Crossings
Day 4 of my 7-day itinerary includes crossing the Margaret River Rivermouth.
This is the largest and potentially deepest creek crossing you will need to do, but there are other smaller ones throughout the entire track.
In winter and around periods of rain, the Margaret River Rivermouth may be uncrossable.
There is a 1.5 kilometre “Winter Diversion” track in place, you’ll see the sign clearly when you reach the point where you need to decide to make the detour or not.
You can check for updates in the Margaret River Rivermouth Facebook group to help you decide on the day or day before.
Visitor Numbers
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions collects data on visitor numbers based on the log books on the trail.
Between July 2021 and July 2022, there were 144,071 visitors recorded (up from ~85,000 the previous year!).
Other Resources
As mentioned, it is well worth purchasing and downloading the Cape to Cape Guidebook app (~$20) to help plan your trip as well as use their offline GPS map (doesn’t require internet) when you are on the track.
You can use the in-built functionality to locate where you are relative to the track. It also has a heap more general information on water stops, toilet locations, shop locations etc as well as more useful information.
It also lets you know how far you are away from your next stop, a functionality I used religiously to count down how long until we made it to camp each night.
The other main resource is the free Cape to Cape Facebook group – I got a lot of value out of reading the experiences of, and questions raised by others, in this community resource.
Short Day Walks
For those of you wanting a taste of the Cape to Cape, but not quite ready for the full thing, here are some of my favourite short sections of the Cape to Cape (day walk friendly). You can do these as return trails, or if you have two vehicles, leave one car at the end point and drive together to the starting point.
- Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock (Access for More Trail): from Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to Sugarloaf Rock is the “access for more” trail that is fully sealed and wheelchair accessible. The walk has stunning coastal views and some lovely flora and fauna, especially if you visit during wildflower season. This is the easiest section of the Cape to Cape.
Distance: 3.5km (one-way)
- Smiths Point to Canal Rocks (via the Aquarium): the first part of this trail (departing from Smiths Point near Smiths Beach) begins with a steep climb up a rocky path. You are rewarded with a panoramic view across the coast.
You then descend down into the peppermint trees below, passing the pristine Yallingup Aquarium (a popular swimming and snorkelling spot). For a shorter walk, you can choose to return back to your starting point, or continue on to Canal Rocks. While the rest of the walk is moderate, the first part of the trail is higher difficulty due to the rocky and steep incline.
Distance: 2.7km (one-way)
- Canal Rocks to Indijup Natural Spa: This 2km section of the trail hugs the coastline and offers sweeping coastal views. I would consider it moderate difficulty. You’ll find the track begins about 50-100m up the road from the Canal Rocks car park. You can park at one end of either Canal Rocks or Indijup Natural Spa.
Distance: 2km (one-way)
- Quinninup Falls: This is quite a popular spot and can get busy on weekends. The return distance is just under 4km and has a variety of terrain. I would consider it moderate difficulty. For more information about this hike and the falls, check out my detailed guide here.
Distance: 4km (return, can’t be done as one-way).
Cape to Cape Tours
Companies offering tours for the Cape to Cape include; Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, Inspiration Outdoors and Walk into Luxury.
Many of these tours will arrange accommodation as part of their packages (some of them actually use Surfpoint Resort!).
In addition to guided tours, Cape to Cape Explorer Tours also offer a self-guided service.
They drop you off and pick you up each day, taking you back to the accommodation they have organised to save you having to carry camping gear and food with you.
My friend Amanda from the Thoughtful Travel Podcast did a tour with Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, you can listen to her experience here.
Driving to the Cape to Cape Each Day
We met some ladies doing the hike together in day sections. They each had a car, and would drop one car off at the end point of the trail, then driving to the starting point for the day together.
This way, they could stay in accommodation in the Margaret River Region without needing to be too close to the trail.
This method allows you to do the hike self-guided at your own pace, without needing to pay for transfers.
You’ll just need to plan your starting and ending points each day are accessible to cars.
This might look something like this (following my 7-day itinerary). All locations are 2WD accessible:
- Cape Naturalist Lighthouse to Yallingup
- Yallingup to Moses Rock Car Park
- Moses Rock Car Park to Ellensbrook Homestead
- Ellensbrook Homestead to Prevelly/Gnarabup
- Gnarabup to Contos Road (parking on the side of the road near here)
- Contos Road to either Hamelin Bay or Cosy Corner Road
- Hamelin Bay or Cosy Corner Road to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
Final Thoughts
In summary, I have absolutely zero regrets about doing the Cape to Cape walk independently. The nights spent at the free walk-in campsites with only other hikers around were some of the highlights of the trip.
Yes, it took a lot more energy and effort, and there were a lot of times I regretted having to carry the big pack on my back, but it was totally worth it at the end of the day for us.
Waking up to the sun rising through the bush, and setting over the ocean each day was an absolutely magical experience, and I will forever treasure our memories of adventures on the Cape to Cape track!
Let me know in the comments below what you thought of this article, and if you have any further questions!
I’ve created a free planning spreadsheet (including a Cape to Cape packing list!) for my newsletter subscribers. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
Summary FAQ
What are the best Cape to Cape walk sections? My favourite section of the Cape to Cape trail was from Moses Rock to Ellensbrook. This section has sweeping coastal views through flowering shrubs. There is also a small section that felt like a magical forest, with wooden staircases and bridges over small streams sheltered under a canopy of wizened trees.
How long is the Cape to Cape walk? The 125km Cape to Cape trail takes most hikers from 5 up to 9 days to complete.
What’s the usual Cape to Cape Itinerary? The most common itinerary for the Cape to Cape is a 7 day itinerary starting from Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and heading south. See my suggested 7 day itinerary here.
What is the Cape to Cape distance? The official Cape to Cape trail is 125 kilometres. In total, due to some optional detours, it took me 129 kilometres over 7 days to complete the trail.
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