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Beach walkers at Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Photo by Tourism WA
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is WA’s most visited park. It is a popular location for local community and tourists, with the 124km highly coveted Cape to Cape Track running along its coast between the historic lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.
Improvements have begun, to revitalise both the track and visitor information to ensure visitors can continue to enjoy the park and Cape to Cape Track, whilst also protecting the delicate coastal environment and culturally sensitive areas. Work began mid-2023 and is expected to be completed mid-2025.
The planned upgrades will include $2 million of improvements to the track surface, infrastructure upgrades and trail realignments, with a further $700,000 for new and improved signage and visitor information products in the park and online.
The funding is part of the State Government’s $17.7 million National Park Tourism Experiences Development Program investing in developing new, environmentally sensitive tourism experiences and accommodation in WA’s national parks.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is delivering the project and has engaged with park users, key stakeholders, and Traditional Owners.
Cape to Cape Track improvements
The track will receive improvements to the walking surface and infrastructure, improved drainage and rehabilitation of eroded areas. Improvements to the track will be undertaken in priority areas based on visitor use, visitor safety and environmental and cultural heritage considerations. The most used sections of track include Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock, Smiths Beach to Injidup Beach, Moses Rock to Quinninup Falls and Redgate to Conto Campground and are included as part of the upgrades.
The track will undergo a major realignment near Quarry Bay at the southern end of the track as well as several other minor realignments along the rest of the track. The aim is to improve the tracks overall experience and sustainability, this is achieved by realignment of steep areas, managing issues with erosion, installing drainage, steps and crossings and avoiding natural and culturally sensitive areas.
Visitor information and signage improvements
The visitor information and signage upgrades will include changes both in the park and online. Visitors can expect to see updated signage throughout the park with better wayfinding to and between recreation sites and interpretation added to significant locations.
The Cape to Cape Track signage at Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste Lighthouses will be replaced with a modern noteworthy design, representing the achievement and the challenge while creating a photo opportunity for hikers. Trail marking along the track will improve to assist hikers with navigation and additional trailheads will be installed at key sites where the track intersects.
In the digital space there will be a new park visitor guide, which, when available can be downloaded from Explore Parks WA. The Cape to Cape Track website will be redeveloped with a fresh design to provide easier navigation and improved information about the track and the park.
Work completed
Rabbit Hill upgrade
- Construction of a new lookout, seating and access pathways at popular surf lookout and beach access point Rabbit Hill, north of Yallingup, was completed in July 2024. The new infrastructure was purposefully designed to provide open views to the coast, accessible facilities and complement the surrounding coastal setting.
- A new and expanded carpark and two-way access road was completed in December 2024. Parking capacity has significantly increased from 25 to 76 bays and is now accessed via a sealed, two-way road with improved drainage.
- The accessible pathway to the new lookouts now extends all the way to the carpark.
- Aboriginal heritage and flora and fauna surveys were undertaken to ensure no adverse environmental or cultural impacts occurred during construction activities. Protection of the natural environment was of paramount importance with the work carefully planned to minimise disturbance to melaleuca trees on site.
Conto Road
- During October 2024, works were completed on Conto Road to improve access to Conto Campground. This work included road sealing, kerbing and drainage.
Track upgrades
- The sealed section of the Cape to Cape Track between Cape Naturaliste and Sugarloaf Rock has works completed including crack seal and edge repairs, restoration of bench seats, vegetation cleared to improve the access corridor and drainage works.
- Between Smiths Beach and Wyadup, at Moses Rock, and between Redgate beach and Conto Road erosion control and track surface improvement works including construction of timber beam steps, limestone overlay, and installation of coir logs and matting has been completed
- Between Smiths Beach and Injidup, at Moses Rock, and between Redgate Beach and Bobs Hollow rock steps have been constructed.
- A new stairway structure at Bobs Hollow has been recently completed in January 2025.
- Seeds have been collected and are being propagated for winter revegetation planting along the track in 2025.
Cape to Cape Track Photo and Video Shoot
- A photo and video shoot for the Cape to Cape Track was held in November 2024 to collate images and video that will be used for new signage for the track and online content.
Upcoming works
Cape to Cape Track works
- Construction of rock steps at various locations along the track to improve drainage and track surfacing.
- Construct new boardwalk sections between Moses Rock and Quininup to address areas that are inundated over winter.
- Implement closure and rehabilitation of unsanctioned tracks between Redgate and Bobs Hollow in line with the park’s management plan.
- Replace old bench seats at key locations using a standardised granite and jarrah design.
Access to Bobs Hollow
- Parks and Wildlife Service is carrying out track rationalisation in Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park to enable 4WDs to enjoy safer and direct access from Caves Road to Bob’s Hollow and The Ledges.
- The program involves improvements to the Bob’s Hollow 4WD track and closure and rehabilitation of unsanctioned tracks in line with the park’s management plan.
- This work will include the closure of a coastal track between Redgate and The Ledges to provide separation and ensure the safety of Cape to Cape Track hikers.
- Please note the north-south track between Bob’s Hollow and Conto roads will be gated for management access only.
- Works are due to commence March 2025, with signage to identify the location of authorised access to Bob’s Hollow and The Ledges.
- These works will be delivered through the State Government’s National Parks Tourism Experiences Development Program.
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Signage and Visitor Information
- Works have begun to replace old signage and remove superfluous signage throughout LNNP.
- In collaboration with MRBTA, a series of interactive screens will include park information and interpretive content to be installed at the Margaret River Visitor Centre and the caves. These will provide visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the parks in an engaging and more informative way.
- A series of educational and informative animated videos are being developed to teach visitors about how they can help to conserve our national parks and be ambassadors so they can be enjoyed for many years to come.
For the latest updates, visit https://alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au.
FAQs
Will I still have access to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park during the upgrades?
The park will remain open to the public during the upgrades, however individual sites may be closed temporarily until works are complete.
Diversions will be put in place along the Cape to Cape Track during works so hikers can still enjoy the full extent of the track. Find out about closures and diversions online at Park Alerts.
Media statements
Contact the project team
Blackwood District
14 Queen Street BUSSELTON 6280
Phone (08) 9752 5555
Email blackwood@dbca.wa.gov.au