Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to Sugarloaf Rock

Starting from the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse car park at the end of Cape Naturaliste Road, Cape Naturaliste, this walk takes you to Sugarloaf Rock and back via the Cape to Cape Track. The epic Cape to Cape Track stretches 124km from end to end, but it also offers plenty of shorter walks for those on a time limit. The 'Access for More' section runs between the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Sugarloaf Rock, providing an exceptional experience for walkers of all abilities. This stretch of the iconic Cape to Cape takes in the magnificent coastline, rock formations and vegetation, offering some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the region, with beautiful wildflowers in spring and wonderful views year-round. The trail is a mix of sealed pathways and boardwalk with a mostly flat or gentle downhill gradient, making it pram-friendly and wheelchair accessible. Conveniently placed benches allow walkers to rest and enjoy the view and trailside signage provides detailed information on the landscape and wildlife of this coastal environment. Additionally, Sugarloaf Rock is a mating site for red-tailed tropicbirds as it creates a safe zone from coastal predators. They mate for life and come back to the area annually. You can also explore the rocky sections and geological formations along the coastline and look for whales migrating between September and November. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Segment	This is part of longer journey and can not be completed on it is own.
Start	At the intersection of Cape to Cape Walk Trail & Cape Naturaliste Road (-33.5394096,115.0198874)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Bussell Highway, 10, Busselton. Turn on to Causeway Road then drive for 1.5 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Causeway Road and drive for another 360 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Queen Street and drive for another 135 m Turn left onto Albert Street and drive for another 8 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Caves Road and drive for another 13.4 km At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Caves Road and drive for another 120 m Continue onto Caves Road, 250 and drive for another 1.7 km At roundabout, take exit 3 onto Seymour Boulevard and drive for another 175 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Dunsborough Place and drive for another 130 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Naturaliste Terrace and drive for another 2.2 km Turn right onto Cape Naturaliste Road, 250 and drive for another 11 km
Finish	(-33.5599432,115.0074272)
Mode (end)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse car park at the end of Cape Naturaliste Road, Cape Naturaliste, head along the sealed path past the 'This way to the Lighthouse' sign (to your left) until you reach the 'Exploring Cape Naturaliste' signboard. Turn left at the signboard and follow the sealed path ahead for about 130m, then take another left turn once you reach the 'Cape to Cape Track/Access for More' sign. Follow the Cape to Cape Track ahead to continue the walk to Sugarloaf Rock.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Cape to Cape Walk Trail & Cape Naturaliste Road Start heading along Cape to Cape Walk Trail (a footpath). Find the car park at the start. Find the toilet at the start. Find the cafe at the start. Find the sign at the start.
	After another 125 m (at the intersection of Cape to Cape Track & Cape to Cape Walk Trail) veer left, to head along Cape to Cape Track. After another 175 m continue straight, to head along Cape to Cape Track. After another 260 m pass a seat (on your left). After another 320 m cross the bridge (about 90 m long) After another 175 m pass a seat (on your right). After another 40 m cross the bridge (about 60 m long) After another 105 m cross the bridge (about 155 m long) After another 6 m find the "Wilanup Lookout" (20 m on your right). Wilanup Lookout A timber boardwalk leads to the first of a few strategically placed lookouts along the trail, this one being the Wilanup Lookout. Being on the edge of the cliffs you get an excellent view looking down towards the rocky shore and the dramatic rock formations below. The dominant feature of the coast along here is Sugarloaf Rock and the lookout provides a great vantage point of this iconic rock formation, with good views of the second half of the walk as it winds along the coastline.
	At the intersection of Cape to Cape Track & Cape to Cape Walk Trail veer left, to head along Cape to Cape Track. After another 335 m pass a seat (on your left).
	After another 470 m (at the intersection of Cape to Cape Walk Trail & Cape to Cape Track) veer right, to head along Cape to Cape Walk Trail. After another 8 m come to the "Sand Patches" (30 m on your left).
	After another 325 m turn right, to head along Cape to Cape Track.
	After another 500 m (at the intersection of Sugar Loaf Road & Cape to Cape Track) turn right, to head along Sugar Loaf Road (a vehicle track). After another 130 m turn right.
	After another 20 m turn sharp left. After another 35 m pass the car park (on your left). After another 85 m pass the toilet (40 m on your left). After another 60 m pass the car park (on your left).
	After another 65 m veer right. After another 9 m come to "Sugarloaf Rock Lookout". Sugarloaf Rock Lookout An impressive new lookout only a short walk from the car park offers excellent views of Sugarloaf Rock, the ocean and rugged coastline. The pathway to the lookout involves a smooth ramp followed by a set of stairs. Benches are located on the lookout, as well as information boards with detailed information on the landscape, flora, fauna and history of this part of the coast. The newly resealed and landscaped car park and toilet facilities mean you can take your time and enjoy the experience. The view is most spectacular during sunset, when the fading light bounces off the rock's reddish-brown base. The lookout is also a popular place to spot Humpback and southern right whales, dolphins, and sea birds. The end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to Sugarloaf Rock

Grading

	Class 2/6 Easy track
Length	3.5 km
Time	1 h 30 min to 3 h

Quality of track	Smooth and hardened path (1/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (1/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (1/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.2 km apart with the largest gap of 3.4 km.

Seat: There are 3 on route, on average they are 890 m apart with the largest gap of 1.7 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	0 m	[toilet]
Seat	570 m	[seat]
Seat	1.2 km	[seat]
Seat	1.8 km	[seat]
Toilet	3.4 km	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Yallingup Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Thursday 31 October
  
  27°C
  Mostly sunny.
  0% chance of rain
  
  Cloud clearing. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeast to southwesterly in the late afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures 25 to 31.
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 8:10am to 3:50pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 [Very High]
  
  Friday 1 November
  
  14°C → 24°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the southwest in the evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Light winds becoming westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching 23 to 30.
  
  Saturday 2 November
  
  14°C → 20°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h tending southwesterly during the morning then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to around 12 with daytime temperatures reaching between 18 and 21.
  
  Sunday 3 November
  
  12°C → 20°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 5 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching around 20.
  
  Monday 4 November
  
  11°C → 21°C
  Cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy.
  
  Tuesday 5 November
  
  13°C → 21°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Wednesday 6 November
  
  12°C → 20°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Western Australia Parks Alerts
  When planning and before starting your trip please check WA Park Alerts System for anything that may impact on your plans.

Weather Forecast

Alerts