Snapshot
| Where | Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, South West Western Australia — About 263km and 3 hours' drive south of Perth to the Cape Naturaliste trailhead · 13km from Dunsborough · 120km and 1 hour 35 minutes from Bunbury to Conto |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Sealed Bussell Highway and Caves Road reach the major trailheads and a 2WD is fine on them, including the 19km gravel Boranup Forest loop; some northern 4WD tracks (Duckworth and Three Bears) are gated or being closed and rehabilitated; the Cape to Cape Track detours around the Margaret River mouth when the river runs open in winter and spring |
| Best time | September–November — mild walking days, spring wildflowers with October the best month for orchids, and whales passing the coast; autumn (March–May) is the quieter second season |
| Worst time | December–April — DBCA warns of extremely hot conditions and very high bushfire risk on a track with little shade; mid-winter is the other hard stretch, with July the wettest month at about 18 rain days |
| Time needed | 3–4 days — the ridge is long, the two capes sit at opposite ends of a 130km track, and the caves and forest sit between them along Caves Road |
| Cost | Free — no park entry fee · Self-guided Calgardup Cave and the park information centre $19 adult ($12.50 concession), $9.50 child, $47.50 family, under 6 free · Camping $15 adult per night at Point Road and Boranup and $20 at Jarrahdene ($5 child), concession $10 and $15 · other caves are ticketed separately |
| Facilities | Pit toilets at Point Road, Boranup, Jarrahdene and Conto; no drinking water at the campgrounds or trailheads (Jarrahdene rainwater may be available seasonally but is not guaranteed and should be treated); no fuel anywhere in the park; mobile coverage is patchy; no dogs or generators at the DBCA campgrounds |
| Best for | Cape to Cape walkers doing it in day sections · cave and karri forest visitors · families based in Dunsborough, Yallingup or Margaret River |
| Difficulty |
2 of 5 — Moderate
The day walks are Class 2–3 on sealed or boardwalked paths, but the Cape to Cape end to end is Class 4 — rough surfaces, steep hills, extensive rock hopping and soft sand — and summer heat and bushfire risk on an unshaded coast raise the stakes sharply. |
Driving there? Car hire and what to check →
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park protects the ridge between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin — coastal dune limestone laid over Leeuwin Complex granite, with caves beneath and ocean on both flanks. It is Wadandi Country: the Wadandi people are one of the fourteen Noongar tribes of the south-west, and Aboriginal occupation of this coast dates back at least 40,000 years. The caves hold fossils and archaeological deposits, including evidence of Noongar occupation, and Devil's Lair contains the earliest evidence of human habitation in south-west Australia.
The Cape to Cape Track runs 130km between the two lighthouses and takes five to seven days end to end, though most walkers tackle it in day sections over beaches, granite headlands and cliff tops. Behind the dunes rise the karri of Boranup Forest and a chain of show caves along Caves Road. Park entry is free; cave tours and campsites are not. Come in spring for wildflowers and whales, book a campsite up to 180 days ahead, and keep well back from the cliff edges.
Go if…
- You want a long coast walk you can sample in short, well-marked sections — a 3.4km boardwalk one day, a 6.6km beach stage the next
- You like mixing walking with caves, karri forest and a swim on a sheltered bay
- You can travel in spring or autumn and want wildflowers, whales or both
- You are happy booking a small DBCA campground online up to six months ahead and carrying your own water
Skip it if…
- You want a remote wilderness experience — the northern end is sealed, signed and busy, and towns are never far away
- Your dates fall between December and April, when extreme heat and very high bushfire risk make long unshaded walking a bad idea
- You need reliable phone signal, drinking water at the trailheads or fuel inside the park
- You want to bring your dog — pets are not permitted at the DBCA campgrounds or on the Cape Naturaliste trails
What to expect
Reviewed
You reach the park on sealed road the whole way. Bussell Highway runs south from Bunbury through Busselton and Margaret River to Augusta, and Caves Road links the trailheads between the two capes; a 2WD handles everything open to the public, including the 19km gravel loop through Boranup Forest. There is no fuel in the park itself, so fill up in Dunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River or Augusta before you commit to a loop of forest and beaches, and expect to share those roads with kangaroos at dawn and dusk.
You start at the Cape Naturaliste end, where the walking is at its most built-up. From the lighthouse car park at the end of Cape Naturaliste Road, the Cape to Cape Track begins as a 3.4km one-way path to Sugarloaf Rock — bituminised and levelled in places, graded 1 in 12, with more than a kilometre of timber boardwalk, lookouts and bench seating, and graded Class 2 so that assisted wheelchair users and prams can manage it. Two more walks leave from the same car park: the Whale Lookout Walk, 2.4km return and under an hour, which ends at a wooden lookout on the clifftops where the signposts say whales are visible from May to November, and the Cape Naturaliste Loop, 3.4km and about 1.5 hours at Class 3, which swings past a blowhole local walkers call the Other Side of the Moon. Bikes and pets are not permitted on these trails. At Sugarloaf Rock itself, stay on the lookout — the rock is a nesting haven for seabirds, red-tailed tropicbirds among them, and crossing to it is both hazardous and disruptive to them.
South of the lighthouse the track turns rougher and the coast gets wilder. DBCA names and measures the day sections: Smiths Point to Injidup Beach is 5.8km, Moses Rock to Quininup Falls 1.9km, Redgate Beach to Conto Road 6.6km. You walk over soft sand that slows every kilometre, granite rocks, and cliff-top tracks with no shade to speak of, so summer sun on sand and granite is the main hazard. If the Margaret River is running, the mouth crossing north of Prevelly is the deepest on the track and can be uncrossable; the signed detour applies when the river runs open, usually through winter and into spring after heavy rain.
The ocean edge here asks for respect. Cliffs are unfenced and rock platforms undercut, the swell is powerful and rips are common, and you never turn your back on the water from a rock platform — that applies at Canal Rocks, at the headlands south of Yallingup and around Cape Leeuwin. Swim where the water is sheltered: Meelup on the Geographe Bay side is the family favourite in summer, and the bay-facing beaches fill early on hot days. Watch for stingrays close to shore and bottlenose dolphins working the coast, and for the red-capped plovers, sooty oystercatchers and ospreys that patrol the shoreline and rock platforms. From May to November the whales are the reason to stop at every clifftop.
Behind the dunes the country changes completely. Boranup Forest is one of the westernmost places karri trees grow, and the gravel drive loops past the campground to Boranup Lookout, with the canopy running west toward Hamelin Bay and the light best in the late afternoon. Along Caves Road the limestone holds a chain of show caves — guided Ngilgi, Lake and Jewel, lit Mammoth, the adventurous Giants Cave and the self-guided, unlit Calgardup. Lake Cave drops you down stairways into a collapsed doline ringed with karri to see white calcite straws and a rare suspended table of flowstone above the lake; the tour runs one hour and you need moderate fitness to climb back out.
Where to stay
Most people base in Dunsborough or Yallingup for the northern beaches and lighthouse walks, in Margaret River for the caves and forest, and in Augusta for the southern cape.
When bookings open: Point Road, Boranup and Jarrahdene campsites must be booked through Park Stay WA, up to 180 days (about six months) before arrival and one campsite per booking. Park Stay publishes no fixed release date. Official booking page. Checked 10 November 2026. Booking dates for every state.
| Stay | Guest rating | Best for | Distance | Style | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point Road Campground (DBCA) | Not rated | Walking straight onto the Cape to Cape Track from camp | Northern end of the park, reached by 4WD on Point Road or on foot via the track | Six compacted-earth campsites for tents, swags, campervans and rooftop tents, all unpowered with fire ring, picnic table and benches · bookings essential via Park Stay | Book now |
| Boranup Campground (DBCA) | Not rated | A night in the karri forest at the quiet end of the park | On the edge of the Boranup karri forest, off the 19km forest loop | Seven unpowered campsites for tents and small campervans, some sloping, with picnic table, benches and fire ring · bookings essential via Park Stay | Book now |
| Jarrahdene Campground (DBCA) | Not rated | Groups and caravanners who want gas barbecues and more space | Near Boranup Forest, between Margaret River and Augusta | 36 unpowered campsites of varying surfaces and layouts, food shelters with gas barbecues and dishwashing sinks, chemical toilet dump point · bookings essential via Park Stay | Book now |
| Hamelin Bay Holiday Park | 4.5 / 5 (376 reviews, Google) | Beachfront camping between Margaret River and Augusta | On the coast at the southern end of the park | Powered and unpowered caravan and camping sites, cabins and cottages, with camp fires in approved pits May to November, bore water to boil and limited Telstra reception | Check rates |
| Tasman Holiday Parks – Yallingup Caves | 4.0 / 5 (137 reviews, Tripadvisor) | An easy base for Cape Naturaliste, Sugarloaf Rock and the northern beaches | At Yallingup, beside the park at the northern end | Cabins, powered tent sites and campsites with camp kitchen, laundry, playground, BBQs, dump point and free wi-fi | Check rates |
| Injidup Spa Retreat | 9.2 / 10 (95 reviews, KAYAK) | Treating yourself at the northern end of the ridge | On Cape Clairault Road, Yallingup, surrounded by the park | Ten villas with private plunge pools, decks with BBQs, eco fireplaces and floor heating | Check rates |
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What to do here
8 walks & sights
Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock
The northern end of the Cape to Cape Track and the best easy walk in the park: a sealed and boardwalked path from the lighthouse car park to Sugarloaf Rock, with more than a kilometre of timber boardwalk, lookouts and bench seating. It is a one-way walk, so return the same way or arrange a pick-up. Stay on the lookout at the rock — it is a nesting haven for seabirds and crossing to it is both hazardous and disruptive.
Whale Lookout Walk
The shortest and most popular route from the Cape Naturaliste car park, out to a wooden lookout on the clifftops. Signage at the lookout puts whales in view from May to November, and the local tourism notes record humpbacks resting and nursing calves in Geographe Bay from September to early December. Go in the morning for calmer wind on the headland.
Cape Naturaliste Loop
A loop from the Cape Naturaliste car park that overlaps the Whale Trail and passes a lookout above a natural blowhole known as the Other Side of the Moon. It needs some bushwalking experience and moderate fitness, and one trailhead access is unsealed. This is the walk to do if the boardwalk to Sugarloaf Rock is not enough.
Shelley Cove Loop
A loop on the eastern side of the Cape through coastal heath and low forest, with views over Bunker Bay and an optional detour down to the pebbly beach at Shelley Cove between limestone cliffs. Start from the lighthouse car park or the Shelley Cove car park near Bunker Bay. It is quieter than the Whale Trail and a good choice on a hot day.
Cape to Cape Track day sections
The full track is 130km and takes five to seven days, but DBCA names shorter sections with vehicle access at both ends, so you can walk the best bits and drive around the rest. Expect soft sand, granite, cliff-top tracks and river mouth crossings that detour when the Margaret River runs open in winter and spring. Track conditions and diversions are posted through park alerts, and prescribed burns can close sections until they are declared safe.
Boranup Forest drive and lookout
A gravel loop through one of the westernmost stands of karri in Australia, passing Boranup Campground and climbing to Boranup Lookout, where the canopy runs west to Hamelin Bay. Late afternoon light is the reason photographers stop here. Spring brings white clematis, purple hovea, yellow hibbertia and coral creepers on the forest floor.
Caving along Caves Road
The limestone under the ridge holds hundreds of caves, and the show caves range from guided Ngilgi, Lake and Jewel to the lit Mammoth Cave, the adventurous Giants Cave and the self-guided, unlit Calgardup. Lake Cave is the standout: stairways down into a collapsed doline ringed with karri, white calcite straws and a rare suspended table of flowstone above the lake. Book guided tours in peak periods and expect stairs everywhere.
Cape Leeuwin, the southern end of the ridge
Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly point of mainland Australia, where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet and the Cape to Cape Track finishes. Roads to the cape are sealed and quiet, and the headland is the place to watch the two swells collide. Allow time for the drive back north: this is the far end of a long park.
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park itineraries: 1, 2 or 3 days
3 plans
One day: Cape Naturaliste, Sugarloaf Rock and the whales
- Early morning. Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock (3.4km one way, 1–3 hours, Class 2) from the lighthouse car park at the end of Cape Naturaliste Road — sealed and boardwalked much of the way, with lookouts and bench seating. Walk back the same path or arrange a pick-up at the Sugarloaf Rock end.
- Midday. Whale Lookout Walk (2.4km return, less than 1 hour, Class 2) from the same car park, out to a wooden clifftop lookout where whales are on show from May to November.
- Afternoon. Cape Naturaliste Loop (3.4km loop, about 1.5 hours, Class 3) past the blowhole known as the Other Side of the Moon, then the 13km drive back into Dunsborough.
One day based in Dunsborough or Yallingup, walking the 3.4km one-way Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock, the 2.4km-return Whale Lookout Walk and the 3.4km Cape Naturaliste Loop. Park entry is free. There is no fuel and no drinking water at the trailheads, so fill up and fill your bottles in Dunsborough before you drive out, and carry at least 1 litre of water per person per hour. Bikes and pets are not permitted on these trails, and the Sugarloaf Rock walk is one way.
Two days: add Boranup Forest and a cave
- Day 1. The one-day Cape Naturaliste plan above, staying the night in Dunsborough or Yallingup.
- Day 2, morning. Drive Caves Road south to Boranup Forest and the 19km gravel loop past Boranup Campground and Boranup Lookout, with views west over the forest to Hamelin Bay. The road suits 2WD vehicles and the light is best late in the day.
- Day 2, afternoon. One cave on Caves Road — Lake Cave (one-hour tour, moderate fitness for the stairways out) or the self-guided, unlit Calgardup Cave.
Two days with one night in Dunsborough or Yallingup or at Jarrahdene or Boranup campground. Park entry is free. Camping is $15 adult and $5 child per night at Point Road and Boranup, and $20 adult and $5 child at Jarrahdene, booked through Park Stay up to 180 days ahead. Self-guided Calgardup Cave entry is $19 adult ($12.50 concession), $9.50 child, $47.50 family. No dogs or generators in the campgrounds, no drinking water on site — treat any Jarrahdene rainwater — and campfires only in the provided rings when conditions allow, which is usually April to November.
Three days: add the southern cape and a Cape to Cape section
- Day 1 and 2. The two-day plan above: the Cape Naturaliste walks, then Boranup Forest and a cave.
- Day 3, morning. Drive to the far south end of the ridge for Cape Leeuwin, the most south-westerly point of mainland Australia where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet, and the lighthouse at the end of the Cape to Cape Track.
- Day 3, afternoon. Walk one of the measured Cape to Cape sections — Redgate Beach to Conto Road is 6.6km one way — or Smiths Point to Injidup Beach (5.8km) if you are still up north.
Three days and two nights, moving your base south to Margaret River or Augusta for the last day. Park entry is free, self-guided Calgardup Cave entry is $19 adult ($12.50 concession), and camping at Point Road and Boranup is $15 adult per night and $20 at Jarrahdene, booked through Park Stay up to 180 days ahead. Fuel up in Dunsborough, Margaret River or Augusta — there is none in the park — carry 1 litre of water per person per hour, and note that the Margaret River mouth crossing north of Prevelly can be uncrossable in winter and spring, when the signed detour applies. December to April brings extremely hot conditions and very high bushfire risk, so check park alerts before each day.
Experiences worth booking
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Fully-guided Tour
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Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse Fully-guided Tour
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Self-Guided Ngilgi Cave Ancient Lands Experience
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Dunsborough Whale Watching Tour
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8-Day Cape to Cape Track Guided Walking Tour from Perth
Check availability →Tours run by independent operators and booked on Viator. Booking links go to Viator, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are "from" figures in AUD, checked 2026-11-11.
Suggested gear for Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
18 items
- Water bottles or a hydration bladder Carry at least 2 litres per person on the walks.
- Water treatment tablets or a filter Treat creek and camping-area water before drinking.
- Sun hat, sunscreen (SPF 50+) and sunglasses
- Sturdy, broken-in walking shoes or boots
- Day pack (20–30 L)
- First aid kit, including blister care
- Insect repellent
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Personal locator beacon Mobile coverage is unreliable in remote parks.
- Sun-protective long sleeves and a neck gaiter There is minimal shade on the Cape to Cape Track, and summer UV on sand and granite is severe.
- Sand gaiters or shoes you can empty quickly Soft sand sections on the track are slow going and fill your shoes; gaiters also help through the coastal scrub.
- A warm fleece and beanie for camp DBCA notes nights can be cold from June to September and storms are common between May and October.
- A windproof shell rated for coastal squalls The ridge is exposed to ocean wind at both capes, and winter is cool, wet and windy.
- Offline trail maps and a compass Mobile coverage is patchy along the ridge, and Trails WA's packing list says not to rely on a phone in remote locations.
- A gas stove and fuel Campfires are not permitted anywhere on the Cape to Cape Track, including its campsites, and collecting firewood in national parks is not allowed.
- A bundle of firewood if you want a campfire at Point Road, Boranup or Jarrahdene Fires are allowed only in the provided rings when conditions allow — usually April to November — and you must bring your own wood.
- Binoculars for the headlands Whale viewing runs from May to November at Whale Lookout, and Sugarloaf Rock hosts nesting seabirds including red-tailed tropicbirds.
How this compares
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park vs Gloucester National Park
Gloucester National Park, around Pemberton at the southern end of the tall timber country, is the same karri landscape pushed inland — towering trunks, river valleys and the fire lookout trees, with quieter forest walking than the coast. It swaps beaches and limestone caves for deep-green gullies and cool-weather tracks. Choose Gloucester for karri forest immersion and tall timber; choose Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park for the coastal track, lighthouses and caves.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5 — Moderate
- Access
- Sealed roads from Pemberton and the South Western Highway; 2WD is fine to the main trailheads
- Best for
- Karri forest · fire-lookout climbs · cooler inland walking
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park vs Yalgorup National Park
Yalgorup, on the coast north of Mandurah, is the closest stretch of protected shoreline to Perth — coastal lakes, thrombolite formations and bird-filled wetlands, with easy boardwalk-style visiting rather than long track days. It suits a shorter trip and a flatter landscape. Choose Yalgorup for easy wetland walks close to Perth; choose Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park for the 130km track, the caves and the two capes.
- Difficulty
- 1 of 5 — Easy
- Access
- Sealed roads from Mandurah and the Old Coast Road; 2WD throughout, some gravel within the park
- Best for
- Wetland birdwatching · thrombolites · short family walks
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park vs Walpole-Nornalup National Park
Walpole-Nornalup, on the Southern Forests coast, holds the Valley of the Giants, tingle forest and inlets where the Deep and Frankland rivers meet the sea — tall trees and estuary water rather than surf coast. It is wetter, greener and quieter than the Leeuwin-Naturaliste ridge. Choose Walpole-Nornalup for tingle forest and inlet scenery; choose Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park for beaches, cave tours and the Cape to Cape Track.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5 — Moderate
- Access
- Sealed South Western Highway and South Coast Highway access; 2WD is fine to the main sites
- Best for
- Tingle and karri forest · estuary paddling · treetop walks
Before you go
- Park entry is free. Calgardup Cave and the information centre cost $19 adult ($12.50 concession, $9.50 child, $47.50 family, under 6 free); guided caves such as Ngilgi, Lake and Jewel are ticketed separately
- Book Point Road, Boranup and Jarrahdene campsites through Park Stay WA up to 180 days ahead, one campsite per booking. Camping is $15 an adult a night at Point Road and Boranup and $20 at Jarrahdene ($5 child), with concession rates of $10 and $15
- Fill your fuel tank and water bottles in Dunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River or Augusta: there is no fuel in the park and no drinking water at the campgrounds or trailheads
- Mobile coverage is patchy along the ridge, so carry offline maps and a compass rather than relying on a phone
- Campfires are allowed only in the provided rings at Point Road, Boranup and Jarrahdene when conditions allow (usually April to November) and not at all on the Cape to Cape Track, so carry a gas stove and bring your own wood if you want a ring fire
- No dogs or generators at the DBCA campgrounds, and pets and bikes are not permitted on the Cape Naturaliste trails
- Check the Explore Parks WA alerts for fire bans and closures: the Duckworth and Three Bears 4WD tracks are gated, and December to April brings extreme heat and very high bushfire risk
- When the Margaret River runs open in winter and spring the Cape to Cape Track detours around the mouth, so check the track notes before you plan a section that crosses it
When to go
seasons & the hard months
September to November is the best window: walking days are mild, spring wildflowers are out (October is best for orchids) and whales pass the coast, with humpbacks in Geographe Bay from September to early December. Autumn, March to May, is the quieter second season, and whale viewing from the Whale Lookout runs from May to November.
December to April is the hard stretch, with extreme heat and very high bushfire risk on a track with little shade. Mid-winter is cool, wet and windy, with storms from May to October and July the wettest month at about 18 rain days, though the caves and forest are still good then.
Questions
6 answers
DBCA gives 130km between Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Class 4, taking five to seven days end to end. Some other sources quote 123 to 125km, so treat 130km as the park authority figure. Most people walk it in day sections with vehicle access at both ends.
No, park entry is free. You pay for cave tours, the self-guided Calgardup Cave and the information centre ($19 adult), and for campsites ($15 to $20 an adult a night).
Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock is 3.4km one way (1 to 3 hours, Class 2), sealed and boardwalked for much of the way, and suitable for assisted wheelchairs and prams.
Signage at the Whale Lookout puts whales in view from May to November, and humpbacks rest and nurse in Geographe Bay from September to early December. Take binoculars to the headlands.
Yes. The 19km gravel Boranup Forest loop is suitable for 2WD, and allow one to two hours with stops. The Duckworth and Three Bears 4WD tracks, by contrast, are gated and not open to the public.
The track has campsites and there are no track bookings or campsite fees, but campfires are not allowed anywhere on it, so carry a gas stove. DBCA campgrounds at Point Road, Boranup and Jarrahdene must be booked through Park Stay WA.
Nearby & next
Official information
Always check current alerts before you travel.