South West Cape Range

The usual route from Wilson Bight to Window Pane Bay climbs to the summit of Mount Karamu from the western end of Wilson Bight, then crosses to South West Cape Range via a low saddle. The route then follows the open tops of South West Cape Range past the summit to meet an old staked track that ran from Window Pane Bay to Mount Melaleuca. A faint pad through thick forest behind Window Pane Bay finally leads to a high steep sand dune which descends to the beach.

Wilson Bight to Window Pane Bay via this route is a long day of about 8 hours' walking. The route can be shortened somewhat by climbing directly onto South West Cape Range from behind Wilson Bight. Either way, much of the route to Window Pane Bay has only faint pads at best. On the usual route, a reasonably well-defined pad exists as far as the summit of Mt Karamu, but beyond that the trail is often indistinct or non-existent except in scrubbier or forested areas where a faint pad of sorts (often with many confusing false leads) can usually be found.

Water was scarce on the range. When I passed through in late February, I found only two places with water between Wilson Bight and the forest behind Window Pane Bay - a tiny hole on the ridge of South West Cape Range, and a small tarn about an hour south of the summit. I'd planned to camp overnight at the summit but as there was no water I had no choice but to continue on to Window Pane Bay.