A - Z OF AUSTRALIA - W IS FOR WALPOLE

WALPOLE, a small town in Western Australia, about 430km south east of Perth and 66km from the town of Denmark, lies on the northern side of the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets.

The first Europeans to arrive in the area in 1909, were Frenchman Pierre Bellanger and his family, who travelled from Albany to take up farming land.

Map of Walpole (from internet)

For outdoor lovers, there are plenty of adventures from white sandy beaches, tranquil rivers and inlets, majestic forests, and a plethora of sports and activities like kayaking, fishing, canoeing, rafting, sailing, eco-cruises, bird-watching, bush walking...

Just 10 minutes away, Western Australia's most popular attraction, the Valley of the Giants, in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park is the ideal place to walk among the 400 years old tingle trees.

Climb 40 metres up the Tree Top Walk and walk the 600 metre long metal walkway to observe the Tingle and Karri tree canopies. If you don't like heights, don't climb as even though there can only be a maximum of 10 people per platform,  you can still feel the walkway wobble when you walk, it can be a bit scary!

The structural impact of this walkway is minimal on the forest below

The highest point of the walkway at 40mt above the tree canopies. 

Trees seen from the Tree Top walkway

One of the giant trees

Another giant - my daughter, me and my son reaching across

Another tree, another visit - with my sister from Portugal

                                This is Australia's only long distance walking trail, 963 km long,  starting in the hills suburb of Kalamunda, in Perth, running along the Southern Ocean at Walpole, and following the coast until it ends in Albany, 120kms away from Walpole.

It is named after an Aboriginal language group, the Bibbulmun, who inhabited some of the areas on the south coast. The track is marked with a stylised image of a rainbow serpent.

Bibbulman track goes past the Tree Top Walk.

Bibbulmun track board (photo from net)

Drive a few kilometres out of town, and wet your feet at the beautiful Circular Pool on the Frankland River. It's waters are calm in summer and you get waterfalls in winter. The site has a few viewing platforms and is wheelchair accessible too.

Viewing platform at Circular Pool

You can swim or wet your feet at the Circular Pool

Visit the calm and beautiful beaches around the area - my favourite is "Conspicuous Cliffs", where you can climb to the top of a cliff and have a 360 degree view over the beach and surrounding bush, and to reach the beach you cross a small river.
Peaceful Bay is another lovely beach with a camping site across the road.

The deserted Conspicuous Cliffs beach, seen from the viewpoint on top of the hill

Crossing the river to Conspicuous Cliffs beach

Conspicuous Cliffs - view from the top platform on the hill, with views to the surrounding bush area.
Waving at the lower platform are my husband and brother in law.

Peaceful Bay Beach

Sail or fish at Nornalup Inlet - photo taken from Coalmine Beach Camping place

There is plenty of accommodation in Walpole and Nornalup, from camping sites at Peaceful 

Bay, Coalmine Beach and others where you can camp or rent a chalet, bed and breakfast options, luxury chalets or motels.

Driving to Denmark you can make a few pit-stops visiting Berry farms where you can pick your own berries, visit wineries or a cheese factory, and a very interesting Honey shop, where you can see a bee hive in action, and buy all sorts of products made with their nectar - honey, soaps, creams, candles and even honey ice-cream.

Visiting the Honey shop on the way from Walpole to Denmark

Hope you enjoy Walpole and the surrounding area as much as I do. There is something interesting for everyone. 
Enjoy the visit!