Discover Walpole

Walpole lies in the heart of Walpole-Nornalup National Park. The area’s natural attractions include walking trails through bushland and tingle forests, mountain biking routes, and activities on the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets. The options vary by mode of transport, distance and format. If you’re looking for a hotel in Walpole, you could first consider whether you’d prefer to combine your stay with a walk, a bike ride, a paddle or a trip on the water.

Walking and cycling trails

The Coalmine Beach Heritage Trail is a six-kilometre loop from the Walpole Nornalup Visitor Centre to Coalmine Beach Caravan Park. The Anecdote Route offers a different kind of trail: it is 9.4 kilometres long, follows the shore of Nornalup Inlet as a bush walk and brings you back to Walpole. These two walking trails therefore differ in both their stated length and their route: one is a loop, the other follows the inlet shore on the way back.

The 17-kilometre Chinwag Route leads to Walpole by bike. It is a mountain biking trail, making it a different option from the two walking trails. The distances given help you compare trail lengths; the activity and route provide further context for planning.

Tingle trees and the national park

The Ancient Empire Walk is a 650-metre bush trail through a stand of 400-year-old giant tingle trees. These trees are unique to the Walpole region. Its short stated distance clearly sets it apart from the longer routes; its focus is the tingle forest itself. If you want to connect your time in Walpole with the region’s distinctive trees, this is a specific forest trail to explore.

Wildlife is also part of the national park landscape: Walpole-Nornalup National Park surrounds Walpole and is home to mainland quokkas. This describes the animals’ habitat in the park, not a guaranteed sighting. Walpole therefore brings together different natural attractions: a trail through ancient giant tingle trees and quokka habitat in the national park.

Paddling and inlet cruises

The paddling route from Walpole Town Jetty to Deep River is listed as 10.5 kilometres. Town Jetty is next to the town of Walpole and is a fishing spot. It also has facilities for launching larger boats into the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park. The jetty therefore serves a distinct purpose for both fishing and launching boats.

Another option on the water is the WOW Wilderness EcoCruise: the cruise lasts 2.5 hours and travels through the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets. It includes local stories, wildlife viewing and morning tea. The information is presented differently from that for the paddling route: for the route to Deep River, the distance in kilometres is the key detail, while for the EcoCruise, it is the duration of the trip.

The trail network around Walpole

Alongside individual routes, there are the Giants Trails, a growing network of walking and mountain biking trails. It connects Walpole and Nornalup with the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. The Walpole Trailhead is in the centre of Walpole. The network offers a different way to plan than a single route with a set distance: it includes walking and mountain biking trails and connects the places mentioned with the Tree Top Walk.

When planning your trip, you can choose between clearly named individual routes and the larger trail network. On foot, options include a six-kilometre loop, a 9.4-kilometre bush walk along the inlet and the 650-metre trail through giant tingle trees; for mountain biking, the Chinwag Route is a 17-kilometre trail to Walpole. On the water, the paddling route and the EcoCruise differ in activity and in their stated distance or duration.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Osborne Park, Burswood, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, North Yunderup, Tom Price, Northampton, Herne Hill, Yeagarup.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.