Insider tips from local guides on hiking the famous Cape to Cape Track.
The Cape to Cape Track is hands-down one of the best multi-day hikes in the world.
“It’s got everything from towering forests to some of the best beaches you’ll find anywhere,” says Cape to Cape Explorer Tours Director Gene Hardy.
“Amazing wildflowers and orchids, epic coastal views and challenging terrain from limestone cliffs to huge granite marbles dating back 600 million years. It’s mind-blowing!”
Gene and other Cape to Cape guides provided some top tips on how to tackle this hike.
“If you’re keen, you can hike the Track carrying all your own food, water and sleeping gear. But it’s a slog!” says Gene Hardy. “We take care of everything so they can walk with just a daypack and really enjoy the magic of the Track!”
Check out Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, Walk Into Luxury and Cape2Camp who offer a range of day and half-day hikes, 3-5 day highlights tours, or the entire 123 km over a week.
Search Facebook for ‘Cape to Cape Track (Western Australia)’, a public group where you can ask questions and read about other people’s experiences. Wondering where to leave your car, or whether a particular river crossing is possible – consult the brains trust.
The Cape to Cape Track Guidebook features detailed descriptions, distance tables and maps. It shares tips about camping and water refill stations as well as how to break the 123 km track into manageable day hikes. You can pick up copies of the book and map from Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and the local Visitor Centres in Busselton and Margaret River. Need a copy before you travel? Contact the Visitor Centres directly and they’ll send one in the post!
“We always urge our hikers to put in some training and preparation before they come. Particularly, do some beach walking as there is a bit of soft sand. Wear comfortable shoes that are worn in and take a backup pair of runners if you start to get any hot spots on your feet,” said Gene Hardy.
Autumn and spring are ideal; ‘goldilocks’ weather and the wildflowers are glorious. Winter can be great too, watching whales pass by. But if you’re hiking in summer? “I started on a 36-degree day, and if you can delay your walk by a day, I’d recommend it. Otherwise, start your day at 4.30/5am and make sure you’re finished walking by 11ish.” says Jess Bear who hiked in January.
Depending on the length of your journey, the weight of your backpack will be no joke, especially if you’re planning to camp along the track and cook your own meals. Practise hiking with a similar weight on your back on shorter trips to see how you go. If you don’t mind leaving the track for meals and accommodation, making use of the fantastic offerings along the way would make your load a lot lighter as well, as you won’t have to carry as much food or a tent.
Cape2Camp’s self-guided tours allow you to stay on the track, as they carry your luggage for you, set up your tent and look after the catering. All you need to take with you is a daypack. “More time spent in nature allows hikers to remain in a nature bubble for the whole adventure,” Cape2Camp operator Anne Nordgard says.
Mobile phone coverage is scarce on the track, so solo walker Jess Bear hired a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) as a precaution. “I carried a PLB that I hired from the Bibbulmun Foundation. It was $100 for two weeks. I’d recommend this for peace of mind.”
Prepare to see some wonderful critters along the way, says Hayley Betteridge of Walk Into Luxury. “Many animals along the track are nocturnal, so it can be quiet during the day, but look out for bandicoot, quenda, chuditch and brush-tail possums at dawn and dusk.”
Gene Hardy keeps an eye on the ocean; “It’s where pods of frolicking dolphins and majestic humpback and southern right whales can be spied!”
Strapped for time? Take a half or full-day hike with a guided group for an immersive experience, or try one of our favourite sections;
Keeping kids motivated can be a challenge, so keep the walks short, take snacks and pick somewhere safe for a swim. Start with a circuit near Meelup, and Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to Sugarloaf Rock is perfect if you’re pushing a pram as it is all fully paved.
There are families completing the end-to-end hike – look up their stories in the Facebook group. One family completed it in 9 days with kids aged 2, 5 and 7, with the youngest in a carrier and staying at caravan parks, where they picked up extra supplies of food and nappies.
When asked about special moments on the track, Gene Hardy couldn’t narrow it down to one, “There’s the kangaroo attack. The tsunami. And the storm. The main “aha” moment for me comes when I see the reaction from our hikers. They’re living busy lives and they get out on the Track and you can just see the change in their face, their mood and their entire being. Sharing that with people is incredible. It’s a privilege.”
Take home a memento with a range of merchandise from Friends of the Cape to Cape Track, a not-for-profit community group formed in 1998 to assist Parks and Wildlife Services in maintaining and developping the track. The official merchandise can be purchased from Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and the Margaret River Visitor Centres.
