About this place

Cape Naturaliste is the northernmost point of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge and separates the relatively sheltered waters of Geographe Bay from the southern Indian Ocean.

The 20m high lighthouse stands on a 100m bluff overlooking Geographe Bay. It was built in 1903 using limestone carted by bullock wagon from a quarry about 1.5km away. The three original keepers’ quarters are still standing.

The lighthouse is now an automatic operation, with its white beam visible for 26 nautical miles (48km), flashing twice every 10 seconds.

There is an accessible section of the Cape to Cape Track that runs between the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Sugarloaf Rock. This is a world-class trail that provides an exceptional experience. It incorporates more than 1km of timber boardwalk. Seats are provided along the trail. Access this track at easy drop off points in parking areas at either the northern end by the lighthouse or at Sugarloaf Rock. It is suitable for wheelchairs and is graded 1:12.

Back to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park

Safety information

Plan when to visit. Consider travelling with a personal location beacon (PLB). In the event you need to be rescued it could save your life!

Gallery

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coastal heath landscape with blue ocean
Cape Naturaliste
Amanda Smith

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rocky coastline with blue ocean
Cape Naturaliste
Amanda Smith

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rocky coastline with blue ocean
Cape Naturaliste
Amanda Smith

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coastal heath landscape with rocky headland and blue ocean
Cape Naturaliste
Amanda Smith

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Accessible section of the Cape to Cape Track between Cape Naturaliste and Sufarloaf Rock
Cape Naturaliste
Bronwyn Wells

Facilities

Toilet

Activities

Bushwalking

Plants, wildlife and fungi

Visit the Atlas of Living Australia for a list of species recorded within a 5km radius of Cape Naturaliste.

Traditional Owners

We recognise and acknowledge Wardandi people as the traditional owners of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.

Trails

Whale Lookout Walk Trail
Bush Walk
2.4 kilometres

This 2.4 kilometre Whale Lookout walk is the shortest and most popular trail from the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse .  The track takes you to a lookout over the cliffs and out to sea.  A spur boardwalk leads down to another lookout perched on the outer cliff top.

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Shelley Cove

Bunker Bay Loop
Bush Walk
3.6 kilometres

This 3.6 kilometre walk lies at the tip of Cape Naturaliste near Dunsborough.  It offers superb cliff top views and has the option to drop down to Shelley Cove at the eastern end.

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Accessible section of the Cape to Cape Track between Cape Naturaliste and Sufarloaf Rock

Cape Naturaliste to Sugarloaf Rock
Bush Walk
3.5 kilometres

This 3.5 kilometre length of the Cape to Cape track is wheelchair accessible and provides stunning coastal views between Cape Naturaliste and Sugarloaf rock.

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Cape Naturaliste Track
Bush Walk
4 kilometres

This easy four kilometre trail is the most westerly loop of the Cape Naturaliste Walk Trail Network, taking you nearly all the way to the tip of the cape with spectacular views along the way.

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Conto Beach viewed from the Cape to Cape Track

Cape to Cape Track
Bush Walk
123 kilometres

The Cape to Cape Walk Track runs for 123 kilometres along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, between the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in the far south west of Western Australia.  It features spectacular coastal and forest scenery, a fascinating geology of cliffs, caves, headlands and rock formations and an ever-changing display of vegetation and wildflowers.

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