In the last few years, I reckon the ‘Three Capes’ track has risen in popularity to the extent that I’d even say it’s the most popular short multi-day hike Australia-wide. I first did it out of desperation in April 2021 after the weather in the West was too poor to trek, and then in January 2022 after me and my group finished the Du Cane Range early after we ran out of sunscreen.
Why do you ask? We had a string of “bluebird” days in the mountains, and we could literally feel our skin blistering and peeling. So whilst it may appear like a view this walk as a last resort, I am obsessed with the scenery, artistic flair, and community aspect of the trail.
Let me bust a myth real quick - you don’t have to pay to do this hike. If you camp instead of staying in the huts along the track, you save around $400 and also don’t have to stick to the schedule enforced by the hut choice.
The campsites are actually really well equipped, with toilets and platforms!! The duck-board track meanders beside high sea cliffs for three days; through beautiful thicketed heath; up a mountain; and reaches it Zenith at ‘The Blade.’
‘The Blade’ is a platform of rock jutting out of the sea at Cape Pillar; it overlooks the little lighthouse on Taman Island. From the little perched shelf, you can see back over the jagged teeth that is the coastline of Cape Pillar, and forward to the next day’s hike; Cape Hauy. Below, the cliffs drop away to the rough sea hundreds of meters down.
The hike has a sense of community and inclusivity which I feel is quite rare; it is not often that you meet scores of people from all walks of life on their first overnight hike. Luckily, the Three Capes is the type of hike to instill a love of the lifestyle. Artwork is thoughtfully placed along the track to curate a more cultural experience. For someone who has trouble fully appreciating classical artwork, it says a lot if I can remember some of the inspiring pieces along the track.
I can clearly remember two pieces.
The first one is a throne, much larger than normal human size. It sits at the base of a hill, amongst a huge old-growth tree-fern forest. It is made of rough timber and bronzed metal. I had to clamber up into it to sit. I feel it implies that we are insignificant in comparison to this forest and that we need it.
A snake mosaic stretches part of the track to Cape Pillar; its head and its tail is separated by colorful mosaic tiles for at least a kilometer. I love how this piece is incorporated into the track; adding instead of subtracting.