The Cape to Cape Track is a world class and longest coastal trek in Australia. Located in the far southwest edge of Western Australia, in the famous wine region of Margaret River, the trek meanders along the entire length of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, covering a distance of 135km. Spanning from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste, it offers a vast variety of extraordinary landscapes – pristine white sandy beaches, rugged limestone sea cliffs, secluded coves, granite outcrops, hamlets and villages, peppermint tree woodlands and towering Karri forests – with close proximity to limestone caves and vineyards and an ever present azure blue sea views along the coast.
Being located in Margaret River, an area renowned for its excellent lodging, dining and wine! , our Cape to Cape Track not only offer the stunning and wild coastal landscapes, physical challenge, new friendships but also delicious and nourishing meals and trail snacks prepared from the finest and freshest local produce harvested from the area. Each day’s gourmet and sumptuous evening dinner is either prepared by our caterer (like BBQ at the campsite) or at one of the many great restaurants. A feast to celebrate the end of each day’s walking with a well deserved rest at a deluxe campsite with luxurious airbeds and, best of all, a hot shower!
About The Trek
The Cape to Cape Track runs from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin. You can start the trek from North to South (Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin) or the other way round from South to North.
The 135km trek takes around 7 days to complete. There are many places where it is possible to access the trail to do a shorter than 7 days trek that cover only certain sections.
Our 7 days trek follows the North to South route (Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin), starting the trek after the drive down from Perth. The average distance covered is 14 – 22km each day.
The terrain and distances between campsites are much more manageable in the northern than the southern end. It is better to have the shorter and easier walks at the beginning and more challenging ones towards the end.
The trek starts with a gentle down hill stroll on the ‘access-for-all’ section on day 1. The first 3 days are shorter walks of not more than 20km a day, along limestone cliffs and ridges by the coast and ends at the picturesque hamlet of Gracetown on Day 3.
Day 4-7’s distances are between 20-22km. On Day 4, the trek leaves the coast for a bit meanders through sand dunes and past Ellensbrook homestead and Meekadarbee Falls before emerging onto the coast again. Day 5 covers, what some people said to be one of the best sections of the Cape to Cape Track – the scenic coastal cliffs at Bob’s Hollow and Contos and entering into the majestic Karri forest (home to the world’s third tallest hardwood). Day 6 has a long 7km section of sand walking on the stunningly beautiful Boranup Beach to the protected Hamelin Bay, where friendly stingrays reside. The last leg of the Cape to Cape, on Day 7, faces more into the south than the rest of the coast with rugged wilderness and limited road access, alternating between Granite headlands and sandy terrains to reach Cape Leeuwin.
The terrain on the Cape to Cape Track is mostly moderate. It varies from smooth, wide tracks, to narrow rocky paths, to soft sandy beaches and a few rough scrambles. Whilst there are no drastic altitude gain nor extremely treacherous terrains to manoeuvre, there are still challenges. The greatest challenges are the long sandy beach stretches (especially when they are soft) and the length.
Trekking Seasons
The best time to trek the Cape to Cape Track is from March to May and September to November.
The wildflowers season is from mid September to November with the possibility of spotting whales in late October to early November.
April and May tend to have the best weather but there are no wildflowers at that time. The water is still warm for swimming though.
Both March and November are warmer, but certainly not really hot. As the trail is coastal, there are not a lot of tall trees and not much shade.
June to August are very wet and cold and the river crossings at Wilyabrup and the Margaret River mouth can become unpredictable and, some times, even dangerous and cannot be crossed.
Experience Required
No trekking experience is required. Anyone with a good level of fitness can complete this trek. The trek requires you to walk an average distance of 14-22km each day, for 7 days, with a 3-4kg backpack load. The greatest challenges are the beach stretches (especially when they are soft) and the length (135km for 7 days).
Equipment and Gear
You can wear a quick dry t-shirt, sports shorts/tights or trekking pants and trail shoes. Bring a light rain jacket, waterproof your backpack and have adequate sun protection. A light warm jacket is good to have for the evenings at the campsite.
A packing list will be provided to all our participants. Please refer to our Resource Centre page to learn about the layering system and choose the right gear/equipment for your trek.
| DATES | PRICE |
| (With a Trek Leader) | $- (SGD) / person |
|
|
|||
|
DAY |
DESCRIPTION |
MEALS |
DAILY TREK DISTANCE |
|
1 |
Arrive Perth |
-/-/- |
– |
|
2 |
Cape Naturaliste – Yallingup |
B/L/D |
14km |
|
3 |
Yallingup – Moses Rock |
B/ L/D |
18.75km |
|
4 |
Moses Rock – Gracetown |
B/ L/D |
16.25km |
|
5 |
Gracetown – Prevelly Campsite |
B/L/D |
21.5km |
|
6 |
Prevelly Campsite – Boranup Forest |
B/L/D |
22km |
|
7 |
Boranup Forest – Cosy Corner |
B/L/D |
21.5km |
|
8 |
Cosy Corner – Cape Leeuwin |
B/L/- |
20.5km |
|
9 |
Depart Margaret River |
B/-/- |
|
Inclusions
Exclusions
Support from Ace Adventure Expeditions
We provide pre-trip support to prepare you for the trek:
1. Trip briefing and information kit
2. Gear list and gear discount from selected Singapore outdoor outfitters
3. Training guideline kit
4. Rope skill workshop (For climbs that require rope up and/or fixed rope skill)
We carefully select and establish strong working relationship with our local trek operator to ensure a high standard of service and safe participation by everyone.
Our local climbing guides have extensive experience in guiding treks for Cape To Cape Track, possess intimate knowledge of the local surroundings, conditions and culture. They are well trained in wilderness first aid and rescue and carry a communication device with them during the trek.
A valid visa is required to enter Australia for passport holders of all countries except New Zealand. There are a variety of visas available to travellers to Australia. The type of visa to apply for depends on the length of stay, passport and the purpose of visit. Visas need to be applied from outside of Australia before travelling.
eVisitor is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to 3 months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa cannot be extended and is available to passport holders from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (British Citizen), and Vatican City.
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa allows multiple visits to Australia, for up to a year, and stay for 3 months each visit. There is no visa application charge for an ETA, however an AUD20 service charge applies for online applications only. This visa is available for online application at https://www.eta.homeaffairs.gov.au/ETAS3/etas to passport holders from Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and United States. Citizens of Andorra, Taiwan and United Kingdom (British National – Overseas) can apply for this visa at travel agents, airline or specialist service providers in your country of residence.
All other nationalities not mentioned above will need to apply for a Visitor visa online or otherwise, with a chargeable fee.
For latest updates and details of visa application, you may visit Australia’s Department of Home Affairs website.
Currency exchange services can be found in the airport, banks, hotels and exchange offices.
All international credit cards are accepted in Australia, with Visa and MasterCard being the most widely accepted. They can also be used for cash withdrawals at ATMs, which are widespread, although facilities may be limited in remote towns and the outback.
Australia’s electricity is 230V and 50HZ. The plug used is Type I, which has 2 flat pins in a “V” shape and sometimes with a third pin in the middle.
English is the official language in Australia and is spoken by all.
Tap water is generally safe to drink throughout Australia so water bottles can be safely refilled from taps. However, in some rural areas, if the tap water is not potable, there will be a sign above advising so.
Hotels and restaurants do not add service charges to the bills, so tipping is discretionary. It is recommended to tip tour/trek guides and drivers.
With evolving world situations that may occur unexpectedly due to natural disasters, pandemics/epidemics, conflicts and unrests, it is best to read up and keep tabs on news and developments at your destination country and region before the trip. Check on the country’s official website and/or your own foreign ministry website for any travel advisory or safety precautions to be taken while abroad.
As with traveling in anywhere in the world, regardless of the local crime rate, stay vigilant and take care of personal safety. Good to read up on any possible exposure in the country prior to departure.
It is a good practice to register with your respective foreign ministry if there is such a service provided to citizens, to contact you in order to make sure that you are safe and, if need be, assist you should an emergency (e.g. natural disasters, civil unrest, etc.) occur when you are overseas.
For Singaporeans, this is the link to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ eRegister:
https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/eregisterportal/common/preLoginEregisterView.action.
It is highly recommended to purchase comprehensive travel insurance(s), upon payment of your trip, to cover adverse situations that may occur while you are overseas or even before departure. Ensure that the coverage is suitable for your destination and the activities that you are participating in. Be familiar with the terms and conditions before purchasing and travelling abroad.
There is no compulsory vaccine to be taken to enter Australia. You should, however, be up to date on routine vaccinations, especially vaccines against water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (examples: hepatitis, typhoid and tuberculosis) while traveling to any destination. You are encouraged to consider having vaccinations before you travel. At least eight weeks before you depart, make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic for a basic health check-up, and to discuss your travel plans and any implications for your health, particularly if you have an existing medical condition.
Recommended routine vaccinations for travellers in general:
|
Hepatitis A |
Spread through consuming contaminated food and water or person to person through the faecal-oral route. Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation are poor. |
|
Hepatitis B |
Spread through infected blood and blood products, contaminated needles and medical instruments and sexual intercourse. Risk is higher for those at occupational risk, long stays or frequent travel, children (exposed through cuts and scratches) and individuals who may need, or request, surgical procedures abroad. |
|
Rabies
|
Spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite, scratch or lick on broken skin. Particularly dogs and related species, but also bats. Risk is higher for those going to remote areas (who may not be able to promptly access appropriate treatment in the event of a bite), long stays, those at higher risk of contact with animals and bats, and children. Even when pre-exposure vaccine has been received, urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal or bat bite. |
|
Tetanus
|
Spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A primary series of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine is recommended for life. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available. |
|
Typhoid Fever |
Spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited. |
|
Influenza |
A vaccine specific for a given year to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. |
For more information and professional advice on travel vaccinations, please consult your doctor or travel clinic.
For people residing in Singapore, you may visit The Travellers’ Health and Vaccination Clinic (THVC) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital:
Travellers’ Health & Vaccination Clinic
Address: Level 4, Clinic 4B, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Medical Centre
Contact number: 6357 2222
Website : https://www.ttsh.com.sg/Patients-and-Visitors/Medical-Services/Travellers-Health-and-Vaccination-Clinic/Pages/default.aspx.
