Walpole: Tingle Trees, Trails and Inlets

Walpole is in the heart of Walpole-Nornalup National Park. Trails through the landscape, giant Tingle trees and experiences on the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets offer different ways to enjoy the area. You can choose a bush trail through old-growth forest, include walking and mountain biking trails, or consider a paddling route. When planning your holiday, it’s worth deciding first what you’d most like to focus on: would you mainly like to walk, go mountain biking or explore the inlets from the water?

Walking and mountain biking trails

The Giants Trails are a growing network of walking and mountain biking trails. They connect Walpole and Nornalup with the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk; one trailhead is in the centre of Walpole. The Chinwag Route is a 17-kilometre mountain biking trail to Walpole. The Anecdote Route offers a different way to get around: it is a 9.4-kilometre bush walk that leads back to Walpole along the shore of Nornalup Inlet. If you choose routes based on the activity, these details make the distinction clear: the Chinwag Route is described as a mountain biking trail, while the Anecdote Route is a bush walk beside the inlet.

Trails to the Tingle trees

The Coalmine Beach Heritage Trail is a six-kilometre loop from the Walpole Nornalup Visitor Centre to the Coalmine Beach Caravan Park. For a shorter walk through a distinctive stand of trees, try the Ancient Empire Walk: it is 650 metres long and passes through giant Tingle trees that are 400 years old and unique to the Walpole region. This gives you the option of including a loop and a bush walk with a clearly defined natural feature in your plans. If you’d like to focus on the Tingle trees, the Ancient Empire Walk offers a specific theme; the trail lengths also help distinguish the two walks.

On the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets

There are different ways to experience the area on the water, too. The WOW Wilderness EcoCruise lasts 2.5 hours and travels through the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets. It includes local stories, wildlife watching and morning tea. The paddling route from Walpole Town Jetty to Deep River is 10.5 kilometres long. The cruise duration is given, while the paddling route is described by its length: depending on whether you’re interested in stories and wildlife watching or in paddling, you can choose a different focus for your stay.

Walpole as a holiday base

When choosing a base for your holiday, consider which landscapes and activities you’d like to shape your stay. Town Jetty Walpole is a fishing spot beside the town and has facilities for launching larger boats into the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park. Walpole-Nornalup National Park is home to mainland quokkas. If you’re considering holiday accommodation in Walpole, you can choose where to stay based on the experiences that matter most to you: walking and mountain biking trails, fishing at Town Jetty, or activities on the inlets. If you’re travelling with children, you can discuss together which of these nature and activity options best suits your plans.

More places to explore: Cockburn Central, Margaret River, Warmun, Harrisdale, Cervantes, Kronkup, Kings Park, Ringbark.

For the broader travel overview: Western Australia.