The Hakea Walk Trail is a challenging yet rewarding multi-day adventure trail within Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia. This 23-kilometre coastal path, classified as Grade 4, traverses the park's eastern coastline, offering stunning scenery and diverse terrain.
The trail traditionally commences at Cave Point carpark and stretches westward towards Quoin Head. However, access points are available at various locations along the route, allowing you to tailor your hike based on experience and time constraints. Royal Hakea markers guide you throughout the path.
Trail Sections:
- Cave Point to West Beach Headland (3.3km, 1 hour): This introductory section begins with a walk along the beach before ascending through heathland and woodlands. Your efforts are rewarded with a scenic viewpoint complete with seating.
- West Beach Headland to Hamersley Inlet (8.1km, 3-4 hours): The trail progresses to Nature's Rockery lookout, where you'll be treated to panoramic views encompassing the park's central peaks and western coastline. Continue along the path to Edward's Point Steps, navigating the descent before reaching a rocky beach and headland. Round this headland and proceed along Hamersley Beach, exercising caution around four-wheel drive vehicles and high tides. A marker pole at the beach's end indicates the 1.5-kilometre Hamersley Inlet Link Trail, which leads you to the car park and picnic area.
- Hamersley Inlet to Tamala Karst Lookout (3.5km, 1 hour): This section is well-suited for a return trip, offering a mix of sheltered woodlands on the link trail, beach walking, and culminating in the scenic Tamala Karst lookout with its creamy cliffs and impressive views.
- Tamala Karst Lookout to Whalebone Creek Campground (5.3km, 2 hours): Experience diverse and spectacular landscapes on this leg, including melaleuca woodland, sections traversing both inland and cliff tops.
- Whalebone Creek Campground to Quoin Head (6.2km, 2-3 hours): This final stretch boasts dramatic coastal and inland scenery before reaching its conclusion at the Quoin Head four-wheel drive track. Important to note, the vehicle track from Hamersley Inlet to Quoin Head requires a four-wheel drive vehicle due to creek crossings and a steep descent.
Grade 3 (Moderate) - Walks for Most Fitness Levels: Grade 3 on the
AWTGS represents moderate walking tracks. These are ideal for walkers with some fitness who are comfortable with some hills and uneven terrain. While suitable for most ages, some bushwalking experience is recommended to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Tracks may have short, steep hill sections, a rough surface, and many steps. The total distance of a Grade 3 walk can be up to 20 kilometers.
Total distance: 23890 m
Max elevation: 102 m
Min elevation: 2 m
Total climbing: 555 m
Total descent: -587 m
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Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting to the trailhead: Fitzgerald River National Park.
The Hakea Walk Trail commences in Fitzgerald River National Park, around 600 kilometres and a 7-hour drive south of Perth. If you’re travelling by car, navigate towards Hopetoun and then continue on South Coast Highway (National Route 1) east until you see the turnoff for Hamersley Drive. Follow Hamersley Drive east until you reach the well-marked turnoff for Cave Point. This is where your Hakea Walk Trail adventure begins! Be sure to check park signage or consult with park rangers for any updates or specific directions to the Cave Point car park.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Borden, Bremer Bay, Hopetoun, Jerramungup, Lake Grace, Lake King, Munglinup, Ongerup, Ravensthorpe, Salmon Gums
Fitzgerald River National Park, in Western Australia, is a place of raw beauty, recognised for its rich Indigenous heritage and designated as traditional land for the Goreng, Menang and Wudjari people.
This vast park, encompassing 330,000 hectares of unspoiled wilderness, is a haven for flora and fauna. Renowned for its diverse plant life, Fitzgerald River National Park boasts an incredible 20% of Western Australia’s documented plant species, including 75 unique wildflowers found nowhere else on Earth.
Bushwalking trails weave through rugged landscapes, offering opportunities to discover this extraordinary botanical wonderland. Keen birdwatchers will be thrilled by the park’s over 200 bird species, including rarities like the ground parrot, western whipbird, and western bristlebird.
A tranquil escape, Fitzgerald River National Park caters to a range of interests. Whether you seek relaxation on pristine beaches, adventure in beautiful bays and inlets with activities like swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, surfing, or fishing, or a chance to witness the majesty of migrating whales during winter, this park offers something for everyone.
Looking for more walks in or near Fitzgerald River National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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