margaret river

The southernmost tip of Western Australia is home to the famously beautiful area of Margaret River, known for producing world class wine and it's pristine coastline. There is a 135 km walk from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin in the south known as the Cape to Cape track. It meanders through protected national parks, kauri forests and down to the beaches - it can be walked in 4 days, camping along the way. I walked a section of it near Hamelin Bay when all the wildflowers were in bloom, catching sight of fat lizards sunning themselves on the sand. The big controversy happening currently is the potential coal mine being touted for the area. Locals make their own fun in this remote area- while visiting my brother, I was invited to a 'house concert' where Waifs drummer David Ross MacDonald entertained with ballads on guitar and stories. A neighbour told the fantastic story of how she came upon German kayaker Freya Hoffmeister landing on the beach at Augusta looking for somewhere to camp while circumnavigating Australia solo last year.