A Cape To Cape Walk Packing List
Back in late April this year, I went on my annual blokes hiking trip. On the menu this time was the Cape to Cape track. Well, the southern half of the track that is - from Prevelly to Augusta.
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The southern section of the Cape to Cape has you taking in massive panoramic views of the pristine Indian Ocean. You have to trudge through a lot of soft sand, but it’s worth it for the spectacle.
Plus, you can cool off any time you like - the ocean is right there* (but you should probably be a pretty strong swimmer for this to be a viable option).
*Extension Fitness takes no responsibility if you get eaten by a shark, which is highly unlikely but not totally impossible!
Our Trip
The trip went from Thursday to Sunday, with two of us doing the entire stretch from Margaret River to Augusta (~4 days walking), and the other two joining in from Contos to Augusta (2 days).
Day 1 - Thursday
The lead party of two people (myself included) set out on Thursday morning, drove to Augusta and parked the car at the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse about 9km from the Augusta town centre. We then walked into town, hopped on a bus into Margaret River and walked from Margaret River to Prevelly Park, where we stayed the night (in tents). That night we supped at the delightful Sea Garden cafe - including obligatory carb loading via pints of Coopers and a bottle of red.
The walk that day took us by some amazing houses in Augusta and beautiful coastal scenery. But the best was yet to come…
Distance: Lighthouse to Augusta - 9K, Margaret River to Prevelly - 8K, Total = 17K
Dutifully carb loading…
One of the nice houses on the waterfront between Cape Leeuwin lighthouse and Augusta
Day 2 - Friday
The following day (Friday), we trudged from Prevelly to Contos Field. The day’s walking took us past Gnarabup boat ramp, then along Boodjidup beach. We stopped for a snack at Redgate, and lunch in an open cave by the track. The day’s hiking finished with a bracing swim at Contos beach. Just what the doctor ordered! (Literally, my hiking companion was a doctor….).
Walking on top on the cliffs towards Contos - my fave beach in the whole wide world - was one of the highlights of the trip for me. I’d never seen it from that angle before.
In the mid afternoon, we met our compadres at Contos field campsite, where we stayed the night. The guys had finished work early that, and drove down from Perth to arrive at about 4pm.
Distance: ~19K - with a fair bit on soft sand
Boodjidup Beach.
The author.
We lunched in yonder cave.
From the cliffs above Contos Beach.
Contos - one of my favourite places to be (top 10 I reckon!)
Day 3 - Saturday
We left the second car (from party #2) at Contos the next morning, and seeing as we had all arranged to stay in a cabin at Hamelin Bay Holiday Park on the third night (Saturday), this meant we no longer needed to carry tents for days three and four. Bonus!
We piled everything we did not need into the car we left at Contos. We would swing back to this spot on our way back to Perth from Augusta (Sunday lunchtime) where the first car was located.
The third day’s walk was from Contos to Hamelin Bay Holiday Park. We walked south through the bush and forest initially then along a long stretch of deep, white sand towards Hamelin Bay. The sky really turned on a show for us - big, gloomy grey clouds set against the brilliant blue ocean and the sparkling white sand. We took a dip as soon as we hit the beach at mid morning. Happily, the sand bank went out a fair way, so you could go out quite far and bodysurf, too.
We finished the day at the Hamelin Bay Holiday Park, where we had hot showers and a four person cabin!
Distance: ~21.5K - with a fair bit on soft sand
First glimpse of Hamelin Bay
I’ve seen worse beaches…
From the beach at Hamelin Bay Holiday Park (blob in foreground is a stingray)
Sunset at Hamelin Bay
Day 4 - Sunday
The last day was from Hamelin Bay to Augusta. This section was rockier than the preceding section, with much of it running along the limestone right by the beach. The section towards Augusta takes you on a dirt path through the scrub on top of the beach. Towards the end I was pretty tired, and it felt like the track would never end! But end it did, and we washed the heat away with another swim in the ocean near our car.
We caught wind that an elephant seal had beached itself at Augusta, so on the way back to Contos we took in the sight.
Then it was back to Perth, via Eaton Zambreros to hoover up a burrito bowl.
Distance: ~26.5K
Setting out from Hamelin Bay to Augusta/Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse
Now THAT is a food coma…
Cape to Cape Packing List (Well, What I Should Have Packed...)
True to my form as an over-packer … I overpacked. The photos tell the story. Please don’t pack based on the photos below. I had too many socks, too many shirts and one or two more pairs of shorts than I needed (I only needed ONE).
So, the list I’m putting forward is for a four day hike on the Cape To Cape track. These items should have you covered for an autumn, winter or spring walk (not including dinners). If you’re going in summer, you can make the necessary modifications.
Clothing
Comfy daytime socks 2 pairs
Comfy night time socks 1 pair
Jocks 3 pairs (you can swim along the way for cleaning purposes…)
Quick Drying Hiking Shorts 1 pair only
1-2 Daytime T- Shirts (quick drying, non-cotton)
1 Thermal top
1 Down Vest (this is possibly overkill depending on your personal thermostat)
1 Down Jacket
Hiking boots or trail runners (boots are not really necessary if your fitness is pretty good and you have no ankle instability issues)
1 Rain Jacket
1 pair warm tights for night time
Hat
Toiletries & Bathing
Soap
Toothbrush & Toothpaste & Floss
Glide Anti-Chafe Cream
Small Towel
Loo Roll
Small amount of mozzie repellant
Small camp shovel (let the reader understand…)
Sleeping
1-person Denali Zephyr 1 camping tent
1 Nemo Camp Mat (wide, long)
Camp Pillow (inflatable)
Black Wolf Down Sleeping Bag - “Hiker” (rated to -1C - comfortable limit)
Cooking
Tea Towel
Water Containers: 1.25L & 750ml
Aquatabs
Camp Stove
Gas Cannisters
Head Torch & Battery
Cigarette Lighter/Matches
Coffee Cup/Mug
Sea To Summit Plate & Bowl Set
Sea To Summit Cutlery Set
Food (excluding dinner supplies)
Muesli & Protein Powder premixed (in ziplock bags)
UHT milk (or milk powder)
Instant Coffee
Dark Chocolate
Cheese & Crackers (lunches)
Dried Fruit & Nuts (snacks)
Sml Container Peanut Butter
Billy (possibly overkill)
Note on food and drink: Food selection is a trade off between weight, flavour and nutrition. For me, I think the items above are tasty, relatively light and quite nutritious. You’re basically trying to maximise nutrition and flavour per gram. 2L of water was enough for me on each day of walking (although I was drying out a fair bit at the end of the final day).
The full kit (don’t be a doofus and overpack like me)
Tent, sleeping bag, pillow
Look at my underwear, everyone!
Shirts & tops - I could have trimmed this down by two items
Bottoms - shorts in the middle were surplus to requirements (and if you have a long rain jacket which covers your crotch then don’t worry about rain proof pants)
Uniqlo down vest & jacket, Mountain Designs rain shell jacket