The recipient of Amble's 2025 Adventure Grant was Tracey, who won us over with her Adventure Grant application to hike the Cape to Cape track along Western Australia's coastline. Alongside her three daughters and her daughter’s best friend, Tracey hiked the 123km trail over seven days to celebrate her daughter Laura’s 40th birthday. Their journey took in long sandy days, coastal rain, wildflowers in bloom, and plenty of shared laughs along the way.

How did you first get into hiking?

We used to live in Port Hedland and go camping and on little hikes with the kids. The first big hike I did was Milford Sound in New Zealand, and I later discovered some beautiful hikes in Tasmania. I had done shorter hikes in WA, but Cape to Cape was my first major hike.

What made you choose the Cape to Cape trail?

My middle daughter, Laura, wanted to walk it for her 40th birthday and asked me to join her. It was a perfect way to celebrate together.

How did you celebrate Laura’s birthday on the trail?

We celebrated with champagne the night we finished the hike while staying at a friend’s holiday house.

Had you ever done a hike that long before?

No. The longest before this was Milford Sound, which was 53km across four days.

Did you do any shorter practice hikes beforehand?

Absolutely. We did lots of solo and group training to get used to carrying heavy backpacks full of camping gear, food, and water. We also did an overnight hike to practice setting up tents and managing our gear.

How would you describe the trail?

The trail changed constantly. We walked along cliffs, sandy beaches, dense bush, and even through fields with horses. Some areas resembled rainforests or English gardens filled with flowers, while others were hot sandy paths with little vegetation. We even passed a vineyard along the diversion route around the Margaret River mouth.

What did you eat along the way?

We each brought our own food. I had chia pudding with protein powder and peanut butter for breakfast, tuna and rice or pasta cups for lunch, and two-minute noodles at night. I packed homemade trail mix, muesli bars, and a squeezy pack of peanut butter for snacks. We also used two HYDEE hydration sachets in my ROAM soft bottle each day.

What was your favourite moment on the Cape to Cape?

My favourite moment was watching my girls run into the ocean and frolic like little kids at Boyanup Beach. Other highlights included seeing a huge pod of dolphins surfing in the same spot over and over, walking through arcades of wildflowers, and discovering new, beautiful parts of the coast at every turn. And of course, the cold, frosty fruits at the end of each day.

What did you pack that was the most useful?

Walking poles were essential, I doubt I could have done the whole hike without them. My three litre water bladder kept me hydrated, and my Amble Pants were a standout, super comfy and quick drying after getting wet one day. The ROAM squeezy bottle was another unexpected favourite, perfect for slipping into my backpack strap. Water purifying tablets also came in handy.

What was tough about the hike? 

Lots of the walk was tough, but mostly just in short stretches. The soft sand dunes were the hardest for me, and scrambling over wet, slippery rocks just before Gracetown in the pouring rain tested our balance. Thankfully, the two of us with Amble jackets were much warmer and drier than those without. Surprisingly, downhill sections were harder than uphill because they hurt my knees more.

Crossing the Margaret River mouth was always going to be tricky. I didn’t feel confident crossing in a strong tide with a 15-kilogram backpack. Tara and I chose the diversion route and ended up having our own adventure clearing a tree off a bridge before we could cross. The last day was very long, 24.5km mostly on sand, and it felt like we would never reach the lighthouse at the end of the track.

Were there any unexpected moments on the trail?

So many. The funniest was the missing rain cover incident. I thought it had blown away and walked back for half an hour looking for it, only to find it neatly folded in the backpack. We laughed about it for days, and the girls teased me endlessly.

Another highlight was being called a giant caterpillar by a hiker because of our bright green packs. We named ourselves ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ since we were always snacking.

While we were taking the diversion, Tilly, Laura, and Suzi crossed the river mouth safely without getting wet. Afterwards, they started playing around in the water and didn’t realise the tide was coming in, so all their gear ended up wet. I wasn’t there, but hearing both versions of the story later had us laughing so much that night.

We also met a solo hiker, Matt, celebrating his 40th birthday. Suzi and I secretly wrote “Happy 40th Matt” in the sand outside his tent. Later, Matt left arrows along the track to guide us to orchids he had found. It was such a lovely gesture.

Did anything surprise you about the trail?

Although I’ve lived in WA all my life, I was surprised at just how beautiful our coastline is and how many different vistas the trail offered. Even though the hiking was hard at times, we laughed and talked so much along the way. The wildflowers were incredible, and I was happy to see no snakes along the track.

What's one tip you'd share for someone planning to do the Cape to Cape?

Go in Spring for perfect weather, wildflowers, and whales. Carry more water than you think you need. Download the Cape to Cape app, and check where you can buy food along the way to reduce what you have to carry. 

We're so grateful to have had so many wonderful brands supporting our Adventure Grant and helping women get outdoors. Thank you once again to Osprey, Will & Bear, NEMO Equipment, Project Pargo, Outdoorish, ROAM Energy and Hydee Blends

We can't wait to open up applications for our next Adventure Grant later this year and hear all about your dream adventures.