West Cape Headland

Starting from the West Cape Day Visitor Area at the end of West Cape Road, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, this walk takes you on a circuit around the headland of West Cape via the West Cape Headland Hike. Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park is a remote coastal wilderness on the tip of the Yorke Peninsula, with a backdrop of rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, offering excellent opportunities for camping, bushwalking, birdwatching, fishing, surfing and discovering maritime history. This short hike winds through delicate coastal vegetation around the headland of West Cape, taking in spectacular views over Pondalowie Bay, the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park and its picturesque islands. The trail passes a 360° scenic lookout before passing the West Cape Lighthouse, a unique stainless steel lighthouse built in 1980, standing about 70 metres above sea level. The West Cape Day Visitor Area has picnic shelters, tables, toilets and a boardwalk to the beach. The walk begins near the Pondalowie Bay Campground, which is suitable for tents, caravans, camper vans and camper trailers and has toilets. This loop consists of narrow walking trails, with uneven natural surfaces and steps, suitable for average fitness levels. 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

Start	(-35.2470819,136.8281646)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Port Wakefield Highway, Port Wakefield. Turn on to Copper Coast Highway then drive for 6.4 km At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Yorke Highway and drive for another 55.3 km Turn right onto Yorke Highway and drive for another 37.3 km Turn left onto Maitland Road and drive for another 32 km Turn right onto Moorowie Station Road and drive for another 6.8 km Turn left onto Yorke Highway and drive for another 48.7 km At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Stenhouse Bay Road and drive for another 175 m Keep right and drive for another 265 m Turn slight left onto Yorke Highway and drive for another 660 m Turn slight left onto Yorke Highway and drive for another 25 m Turn right onto Pondalowie Bay Road and drive for another 11.3 km Turn left onto West Cape Road and drive for another 1.4 km Turn left onto West Cape Road and drive for another 35 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the West Cape Day Visitor Area at the end of West Cape Road, Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park, head up the steps, passing a '360° Scenic Lookout' and 'West Cape Lighthouse' directional sign (to your right). Follow the trail to the lookout, then continue for about 100m, until you reach a junction. From there, head along the trail to your left and continue the West Cape Headland Track (clockwise).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. West Cape car park (about 55 m back from the start). There is a toilet (about 35 m back from the start).
	After 125 m come to the "West Cape Lookout" (on your left).
	After another 80 m continue straight.
	After another 440 m pass the "West Cape" (on your right).
	After another 370 m turn left.
	After another 175 m come to the end.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

West Cape Headland

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	1.2 km
Time	15 min to 30 min

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
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	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There is one -36 m back from the start.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	-36 m	[toilet]

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track
Get more information
| Walking SA | West Cape Lookout - Yorke Peninsula | The Lighthouses of Dhilba Guuranda-Innes NP - Weekend Notes | Dhilba Guuranda-Innes NP | Dhilba Guuranda-Innes NP - Map and Walking Trails
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Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Stenhouse Bay Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed
  
  Thursday 1 May
  
  20°C
  Partly cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the late evening. Daytime maximum temperatures between 19 and 22.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 10:20am to 2:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 4 [Moderate]
  
  Friday 2 May
  
  13°C → 22°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the late afternoon then becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 6 and 11 with daytime temperatures reaching the low 20s.
  
  Saturday 3 May
  
  15°C → 23°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds north to northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 13 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid 20s.
  
  Sunday 4 May
  
  17°C → 25°C
  Mostly sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Winds northerly 25 to 40 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 13 and 16 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
  
  Monday 5 May
  
  18°C → 23°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Tuesday 6 May
  
  16°C → 22°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Wednesday 7 May
  
  15°C → 22°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- South Australia NPWS
  When planning and before starting your trip please check South Australia NPWS closure website for anything that may impact on your plans.

Weather Forecast

Alerts