Cape to Cape end-to-end | 8 Day Self Guided Walk

Group-guided

Self-guided

OVERVIEW

Walk the Cape to Cape Track end-to-end from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste with a light daypack and in comfort. Stay in Augusta and Margaret River for the whole trip in excellent apartments.

This extraordinary landscape offers great variety, spanning squeaky white sand beaches, secluded coves, towering forests and limestone caves. The surrounding offshore reefs, points and headlands are coveted by local surfers for their quality surf breaks.

Heading north on the Cape to Cape Track, the walk traverses clifftops, deserted beaches and villages. Coastal heathlands, peppermint tree woodlands and majestic Karri forests with tall open stands of eucalypt are also unique to this walk.

Highlights:

Hike this world-class 135km track from Lighthouse to Lighthouse – a great challenge.
Stay in good quality apartments in both Augusta and Margaret River, renowned for its excellent dining experiences with the added benefit of being located in the middle of town.
Cooked breakfasts each day at a local cafe in Margaret River.
Continental breakfast in Augusta and comprehensive walker’s lunch each day.
Support of our local team on the ground all the way.
Be transferred each day to the start of the walk-in conjunction with using your own vehicle. If you arrive by public transport, there’s an additional cost for being transferred both ways. Please note the alternative Cape to Cape in Style trip reduces the time in a vehicle considerably as it has you shifted along the track to different accommodations, includes most dinners and ends with a stay at the Pullman at Bunker Bay

WALK OVERVIEW

TYPE OF WALK

SELF GUIDED

TRIP LENGTH

8 DAYS

WALK GRADE

Moderate to Challenging

PRICE FROM

$ 2195

per person twin/double share

SINGLE OCCUPANCY

$ 755

per person

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Departure Dates

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ITINERARY

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8

DAY 1
Travel to Augusta Margaret River region

Today is primarily about travelling to Augusta and settling into your accommodation. There’s an abundance of wineries to visit on the way. The chocolate factory is a great place to visit and also pick up some additional calories to work off on the walk.

Meals: None included

Accommodation: Augusta in excellent apartments with ensuite rooms

DAY 2
CAPE LEEUWIN TO COSY CORNER

The Cape to Cape walk starts at Cape Leeuwin, where you should have your photo taken at the lighthouse. It then continues to the petrified water wheel and heads northwards. Highlights today include Cape Hamelin, where granite boulders and a coastal section with unusual solution holes in the limestone rocks surround a beautiful bay.

Walking: Moderate / 21.5km / 6–7 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast and Walkers Lunch

Accommodation: Augusta in excellent apartments with ensuite rooms

DAY 3
COSY CORNER TO BORANUP FOREST

Today’s walking is along a fairly remote stretch of coastline commencing with the long Boranup Beach. The remainder is easy walking through coastal heathlands, eucalyptus and peppermint woodlands. There is also a section with masses of grass trees and the first of the tall karri forests.

Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 20.5km / 6–7 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast and Walkers Lunch

Accommodation: Margaret River in studios or apartments with ensuites

DAY 4
BORANUP FOREST TO GNARABUP

Today’s walk traverses one of the most spectacular sections of the coastline and includes a beautiful walk beside Boodjidup Brook, a meandering stream connecting Devil Pool with the ocean. Much of the walk makes its way through Karri forest once again until you arrive at the Indian Ocean. From here, the track follows the contours of the coastline all the way to Gnarabup.

Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 24km / 6–7 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Cafe and Walkers Lunch

Accommodation: Margaret River in studios or apartments with ensuites

DAY 5
GNARABUP TO ELLENSBROOK HOMESTEAD

This is the lightest day from a walking perspective but nonetheless still a real day of highlights. There is a nice mix of walking along the coast and through the inland forest. Today’s walk also crosses the mouth of Margaret River. This can be crossed on a sandbar, but if it is flowing heavily, we will have arranged other options.

Walking: Easy to Moderate / 14.7km / 4– 5 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Cafe and Walkers Lunch

Accommodation: Margaret River in studios or apartments with ensuites

DAY 6
ELLENSBROOK TO WILYABRUP

The Cape to Cape track continues past Ellensbrook Homestead, a National Trust property where the original owners also built an operational waterwheel. Limestone is plentiful in the area, and today, you’ll see Meekadarabee Falls disappearing into a cave. There is also a coffee opportunity at Gracetown, a small settlement overlooking Cowaramup Bay.

Walking: Moderate / 17.5kms / 4.5–5.5 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Cafe and Walkers Lunch

Accommodation: Margaret River in studios or apartments with ensuites

DAY 7
WILYABRUP TO YALLINGUP

Today has the longest distance to cover, but it’s scenic the entire way. Highlights include Wilyabrup Sea Cliffs, huge granite outcrops and two superb capes at Cape Clairault and Canal Rocks. The beach names here indicate popularity with surfers – The Window, Wildcat and Honeycombs.

Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 25km / 7–8 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Cafe and Walkers Lunch

Accommodation: Margaret River in studios or apartments with ensuites

DAY 8
YALLINGUP TO CAPE NATURALISTE

This is the final section of the Cape to Cape walk. Hike from Canal Rocks Rd to Cape Naturaliste, then to Bunker Bay for the night. You’ll pass Sugarloaf Rock, the summer home to red-tailed tropicbirds. Much of the coast here is limestone cliff, with short beaches and low rocky areas. Along the way, there are striking views of Sugarloaf Rock. You can celebrate successfully walking the longest coastal track in Australia, the Cape to Cape Track. Many people also like to extend their holiday with another rest day at Margaret River (we can arrange this for you) otherwise, the trip ends at the Lighthouse.

Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 17km / 4–5 hrs

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Cafe and Walkers Lunch

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Pack-free walking
25+ years experience
Customised
Eco Travel

7 nights’ in apartment accommodation
Walk the entire Cape to Cape Track from end to end pack free
Be transferred to the start of the walk each day in conjunction with using your own vehicle (additional cost for being transferred off track in the afternoon i.e. both ways)
Cooked breakfasts from a local cafe in Margaret River, continental breakfasts in Augusta and substantial Walkers Lunches each day
Enjoy worry-free navigation with Auswalk’s comprehensive track notes, maps, map case, insulated lunch bag and info pack
24/7 support from our driver and local support team on the ground
IMPORTANT NOTE: This walk is less expensive as it utilises less expensive accommodations but also has you travel much further on and off the track each day.

ACCOMMODATION & DINING

OVERVIEW

In Margaret River, we stay in studios or apartments with ensuites and Apartments in Augusta. All accommodations are of very good quality. The rooms have ensuites and are located very close to the middle of town.

The cooked breakfasts are all prepared by professional chefs in Margaret River. There is also a focus on Margaret River regional food.

Each day whilst you’re on the Cape to Cape walk you’ll be provided with a substantial Walkers Lunch and get to eat it at a fabulous location on the track. A Walkers Lunch is varied and may include a high protein type salad, roll or a wrap, muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit.

Since the region is known for wine, we suggest taking a day off to visit local wineries.

NIGHTS 1 & 2
AUGUSTA
You will be staying at Experience Augusta for the first couple of nights, which is known for their personalized hospitality. This modern property boasts of spacious bedrooms with adjoining ensuites and well-appointed living spaces. Some of the units balcony views of the Blackwood River and Flinders Bay. How about a barbie or a dip in the hot tub in your own private courtyard at the end of a day’s walk? And you can pack light because these accommodations have their own laundry facilities.
NIGHTS 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7

MARGARET RIVER
For the rest of the nights during your walk, you will spend them at the superbly appointed rooms of the Margarets In Town Apartments. The property is situated in the heart of Margaret River, just at the edge of beautiful forests and a short stroll to shops, galleries, markets, wineries & restaurants. Along with ensuites, the unit features include free WiFi and an in-room safe, to name a couple. Some living spaces have private balconies with views of the beautiful State forest or the outdoor pool.

GENERAL INFO

We hike the Cape to Cape walk from south to north to avoid the prevailing weather conditions. It starts in Augusta, about 350km south of Perth. You can get the Cape to Cape track by public or private transport by getting the bus from Perth Central Bus Station to Augusta. Please ask us for the transport information if you intend on using public transport. Alternatively, Jetstar operates flights from Melbourne to Busselton Margaret River on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You will need to make your way from Busselton to Augusta.

The track is flat with some sandy sections. Most of the Cape to Cape track traverses the escarpments and hills that line the coast giving you great unobstructed views over the reef shelf and the Indian Ocean as you walk. The walk is moderate to challenging with some long days. Full-day walks average about 19km with 5 –7.5 hours walking each day. The walking is over mostly flat well-walked paths, bush tracks and some sandy sections. This is a really great opportunity for fit walkers to challenge themselves. This is a reasonably long and challenging walk and we highly recommend that you incorporate a rest day.

For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.

HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY

This walk starts in Augusta and ends in Bunker Bay near Dunsborough in the Margaret River region south of Perth. We don’t want to confuse you now. However, we do have detailed information on the many ways of how to get to and away from this walk with private and public transport, which we will provide post-booking. Please feel free to contact the office at any time if you need more information now.

WEATHER

From March the temperature and humidity start to drop and the walking is great. The middle of winter can be cold and wet and river crossings may be difficult, but the ave temperature is mild around 17 degrees. By September, springtime is in the air. This holiday is not available over the hot summer months of December to February

See the Bureau of Meteorology’s information about average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.

Cape to Cape climate chart

Source; BOM

THE WALKING AND TRANSFERS

The track is flat with some sandy sections. Most of the Cape to Cape track traverses the escarpments and hills that line the coast giving you great unobstructed views over the reef shelf and the Indian Ocean as you walk. The walk is moderate to challenging, with some long days. Full-day walks average about 19km, with 5 –7.5 hours of walking each day. The walking is over mostly flat well-walked paths, bush tracks and some sandy sections. This is a really great opportunity for fit walkers to challenge themselves. This is a reasonably long and challenging walk, and we highly recommend that you incorporate a rest day.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This walk is less expensive as it utilises less expensive accommodations but also has you travel much further on and off the track each day.

Note: On some occasions, it may be necessary to be transferred with other walkers.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

MAP

DEPARTURE DATES

DATES
AVAILABILITY
PRICE
PER PERSON
Single Occupancy
DETAILS
1 Mar 2023 - 16 Dec 2023
AVAILABLE
^from
$2195
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$755
With vehicle
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1 Mar 2023 - 16 Dec 2023
AVAILABLE
^from
$2695
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$755
Arrive by public transport
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1 Mar 2024 - 16 Dec 2024
AVAILABLE
^from
$2295
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$985
With vehicle
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1 Mar 2024 - 16 Dec 2024
AVAILABLE
^from
$2755
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$985
Arrive by public transport
BOOK NOW

REVIEWS

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Overview

OVERVIEW

Walk the Cape to Cape Track end-to-end from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste with a light daypack and in comfort. Stay in Augusta and Margaret River for the whole trip in excellent apartments.