What is the 2024 Coastrek Margaret River route like? How much sand is there?

It doesn’t get more wild than this! The Cape to Cape and Dunsborough Region 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.

The 35km route begins in Yallingup, surrounded by the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and famous for its beaches and limestone caves. 

Start your journey on Yallingup Beach for about 300m where you will exit the beach onto the Cape to Cape track. The track is a mix of sand, dirt and limestone rocks.  Watch your footing so you don’t trip! The track will take you back onto the sand at Kabbijgup Beach for about 400m before you reach your first stop at Three Bears, accessible only by 4WD.

The section from Three Bears, through another stop at Sugarloaf Rock to Cape Naturaliste lighthouse is again a mix of sand, dirt, rocks and some sealed footpaths to the Lighthouse. Make sure you stop a take a look at the incredible views!

From the lighthouse, you’ll follow a dirt road for about 1km before jumping onto the Cape Naturaliste Trail. As you descend from the lighthouse, you’ll walk over some sharp limestone rocks, take it slow and carefully down this trail towards Bunker Bay. Bunker Bay beach offers a spectacular walk towards Rocky Point. This is the longest sand walk of the trek, about 1.8km.  Rocky Point allows you to walk across amazing granite rocks, use caution when crossing the rocks, they can be slippery, especially when wet.

The route towards Dunsborough is mostly flat. You’ll pass at Stop at Eagle Bay, then onto Eagle Bay Beach for about 800m, then another stop at Meelup Beach before continuing through the stunning Meelup Regional Park (be sure to clean your footwear at the boot cleaning station to reduce the risk of spreading Phytopthora cinnamomic). From here the route becomes more urban as you hit the beautiful coastal town of Dunsborough and the finish line. You did it!

But what about the sand, how much sand?!

35km event – approx. 3.3km of sand walking

20km event – approx. 2.7km of sand walking.

Important Notes:

• Water and toilet stops are limited along the entire route, so take advantage of opportunities when available. Refill your water bladder EVERY TIME you see a water refill station at the Luv Stops.
• The route is less-urbanised in some areas and phone reception can be intermittent, so please keep your team together and ensure your teammates are on different telecom networks.
• There are limited existing toilet stops on the route, please use the event portaloos when you see them. 
• We highly recommend ankle gaiters and sand resistant shoes to keep out sand and debris.
• Make sure you read the Soft Sand Success e-book in the ‘Resources’ section on your dashboard and incorporate sand walking into your training.

Please keep in mind that all Coastrek routes are subject to change, but we strive to stick to the advised route as closely as possible. Nature sometimes presents circumstances beyond our control, such as tides or fallen trees, which may require slight route alterations. Rest assured that any adjustments will be clearly marked and communicated on the event day.