Coastal Walk Trails at Cape Leeuwin

The Leeuwin Biddi

• Time: 40 mins
• Distance: 3.1 km
• Difficulty: Easy

Dead Finish is the antithesis of what its name suggests. It now connects Augusta Boat Harbour to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse along the spellbindingly scenic Leeuwin Biddi, a 3.1-kilometre walking and cycling trail with iconic lighthouse views around every coast-hugging bend towards the cape.

It gives a totally different perspective on the cape and surrounding coast,” says lighthouse keeper Paul Sofilas, who actively supported the project. “Out on the track, surrounded by nature, it really connects you to the cape in a way that you just don’t feel when you drive here by car.

Walking from the boat harbour carpark, your first eye-popping panorama comes into view at Matthew Flinders Lookout. Lookout to the very same spot where Captain Flinders began his mapping of the Australian coastline on 6 December 1801. Bring binoculars, and you might spot the colony of fur seals flopping on the rocky island reserve offshore. And from late May to early September, the migrating acrobats of the ocean, humpback whales, can easily be spotted with the naked eye, breaching, tail-sailing and puffing rainbows.

From here, the trail winds into the cool shade of a peppermint tree grove scented with herby boronias in spring and filled with possums after dusk. As it opens out once more to wind-pruned coastal scrub, your gaze will be constantly torn between the lighthouse and a string of best-kept local secrets – the granite-bookended Groper, Ringbolt and Sarge Bays. Keep an eye to the ground for jewel beetles, bobtail skinks, racehorse goannas and dazzling contrasts of spring colour, and an eye to the sky for cruising white-bellied sea eagles, ospreys and red-tailed cockatoos.

It’s a dog-friendly walk, so you can bring your furry friend. Just make sure they’re on a leash and keep a watch for dugites and tiger snakes. If you’re riding your bike, or e-bike, or you’re an adventurous gopher user, maintain a safe speed of 10 kmph or less and make sure your wheels are fully charged.

For those who just want to stop and soak in a single salty view, there are plenty of access points along the trail.

Extend your adventure: Lighthouse to Augusta

The Leeuwin Biddi connects the lighthouse to a series of diverse walking and cycling trails that take you all the way to Augusta town. From Augusta Boat Harbour, the Whale Walk leads you to some of the best vantage points for spotting migrating whales, finishing at the mouth of the South West’s mightiest river – the Blackwood. And finally, joining the Pelican Walk for a spot of bird watching on your way into town. It’s a pleasant shady walk/ride under the peppermint trees in the warmer months, when the dolphins are at play in the lower reaches of the river.

• Boat Harbour to Lions Park (3 km approx. 40 mins) Easy
• Lions Park to Augusta (1.5 km approx. 20 mins) Easy

At The Cape

• Time: 10 mins
• Distance: Approx. 0.5 km
• Difficulty: Easy

Just how tall is the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia? Get a sense of scale on the fully accessible sealed pathway that runs from the café entrance and Lighthouse Interpretive Centre right up to the base of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. It’s an easy 10-minute walk there and back, but with the soaring white sentinel looming larger with every step and abundant ocean vistas ahead, you’ll want to take your time here.

Three boardwalks and viewing platforms take in sweeping views of Sarge Bay and Seal Island Nature Reserve to the southeast, Cape Hamelin to the northwest and immediately below, the whitewash clash of two mighty oceans – the Southern and Indian Oceans.

Lighthouse to Skippy Rock Scenic Loop

• Time: 4-6 hours
• Distance: 9 km
• Difficulty: Moderate (Best walked in winter and spring)

Take the Leeuwin Biddi and Coastal Walk to Augusta Boat Harbour, where you’ll join the unsealed Skippy Rock Road and begin your ascent to the top of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge.

As you climb through the peppermint-tree-lined track, your efforts are rewarded with some of the most stunning seascapes on the cape. The first faces northeast, with a lofty outlook stretching all the way from Flinders Bay and Augusta town to the farmlands that roll along the Blackwood River. Yet it saves the best for last. As you round the western side of the ridge and catch your breath, the views out to Skippy Rock’s striking granite boulders and the lighthouse in the distance will instantly take it away. This section is also 4WD accessible, so be aware of approaching vehicles.

From here, it’s an easy downhill walk back to the lighthouse. You can opt to take the turnoff to Quarry Bay and follow the final stretch of the Cape To Cape Track via the historic fossilised Water Wheel.

Cape to Cape Track (Cosy Corner to Cape Leeuwin)

• Time: Full day
• Distance: 22 km
• Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

For long-distance hikers tackling all 124 spectacular kilometres of the waymarked Cape To Cape Track, this is the final and arguably one of the most extraordinary sections of their seven-day adventure. For one-day warriors, it’s a diverse, challenging descent to the very edge of Australia.

From the colossal granite outcrops of Cosy Corner, the trail skirts the aptly named Elephant Rock and drops down into the long sweep of Deepdene’s beautifully wild sandy beach.

A climb to the Augusta clifftops rewards you with your first tantalising glimpse of land’s end at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, and some gratifying views north of the terrain you’ve traversed. But the most wondrous landscapes await at the last stretch – crossing the curious mini pinnacles (dwarf limestone pillars), and cave-like cliffs (tufa formations) where natural spring water flows and falls in a beautiful curtain of droplets. The perfect spot to soak up some mood-boosting negative ions.

For anyone looking to walk just a short section of the Cape to Cape, going out past the Water Wheel to Quarry Bay and back is a fantastic trail. It’s long been my favourite,” says lighthouse keeper, Paul. “In spring, you’ve also got some spectacular wildflowers among the scrub of peppermint and marri trees.

There are no amenities between Cosy Corner and Cape Leeuwin, so you’ll need water (at least 3L), snacks, lunch, a first aid kit, toilet paper and a sealable bag in your daypack. Make sure your mobile is fully charged and wear comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, insect repellent and weather-appropriate clothing.