Nearest Town:
Walpole
6398
Entry Fee: No Fee ApplicableIntroduction:
Walpole-Nornalup National Park occupies a
unique high-rainfall corner of Western Australia and surrounds
the towns of Walpole, Nornalup and Peaceful Bay. Part of the
Walpole Wilderness area, it contains nearly 20,000 hectares of diverse
vegetation, from towering karri and tingle forests to coastal heath and
wetlands.
Walpole-Nornalup National Park contains many
pristine forests and areas with little evidence of human activity. The rugged
coastline, peaceful inlets and rivers are a major feature of the park's beauty. The
park is probably best known for the huge buttressed red tingle trees, which are
unique to the Walpole area.
History
Indigenous
people have occupied the south west region for at least 40 000 years, and
artefacts have been found near the park that date back 6 800 years ago. The
indigenous group that lived in and around the area, that we now call Walpole - Nornalup National Park, was called the
Minang meaning "southerners" or people of the south. In 1627 a ship
called the Gulden Zeepaerd, sailed along the coast line and named point Nuyts.
It
wasn't until the Bellanger Family arrived in 1910 that the Walpole - Nornalup area
was settled by Europeans. In 1924 an area was set aside for it beauty and was
called the Nornalup National Park, which today's makes up part
of the Walpole - Nornalup National Park that was gazetted in 1972.
Plants and Animals
The
parks vegetation ranges from large karri and tingle trees, to the sedge lands.
The park has at least 698 native species including many that need special
requirements such as high rainfall. The park also has 104
species of orchids and 4 eucalyptus species which are endemic to the Region,
which includes the Red Tingle and the Red Flowering Gum.
The
park contains 19 species of mammals, 109 species of birds and 22 species of
reptile. The biggest threat to the native animals within the park is the feral
cat and fox. These animals are known to kill small mammals, birds and reptiles.
The Department of Environment and Conservation is continuality fighting these
introduced animals and 1080 baiting is carried out throughout the
park.
Recreation Areas
Circular Pool
Whether
swollen by winter rains or a placid summer pool, Circular pool is a delightful
place to enjoy the forest. You can picnic, marron in season, canoe, take photos
or simply experience the magnificent forests.
Where is it?: Circular Pool
is located on the Frankland River approximately 7km (as the crow flies) north
east of Walpole within the Walpole Nornalup National Park.
Travelling Time: 20 minutes by
car from Walpole.
What to do?: Circular Pool is
wheelchair accessible. The carpark has
space for 25 vehicles as well as a bus bay and there are toilet facilities. The
site has a number of viewing platforms that provide ideal lookouts over the
river, pool and forest. There is a boardwalk around the pool below, where there
is a picnic table provided in a great spot to sit down and have lunch.
Best Season: This is an attractive
spot all year round.
The Knolls and Coalmine Beach
The
Knoll encompasses a scenic drive, lookouts over the Nornalup and Walpole inlets, Rest
Point and Coalmine Beach. Its fantastic
scenery is perfectly described as where the forest meets the sea. Coalmine Beach is on the south
shore of the beautiful Nornalup Inlet. The Knoll is a peninsula, which divides
Nornalup and Walpole Inlets and is accessible by the one-way sealed Knoll Scenic
Drive. This drive follows the perimeter of the
Knoll, offering tantalising views of Walpole and Nornalup inlets.
Where is it?: 3 km east of Walpole along South Coast
Highway.
Travelling Time: From Walpole, 5 minutes by
car, 15 minutes by bicycle or 30 minutes' walk from Pioneer Park along the
Coalmine Beach Heritage Trail.
What to do: Drive around the Knoll,
visit several lookout points, swim, fish from the beach, boat or rocky
shoreline of the Knoll, windsurf, sail, beach comb, bushwalk on the heritage
trail or on walk trails on the Knoll, picnic at a lookout vantage point or at
the gas barbecue located near the Channels Picnic Site.
Best Season: All year, but it's magic in
autumn!
Conspicuous Cliffs
Appreciate
the powerful beauty of the southern coastline from the lookout over Conspicuous
Cliffs. Descend along a boardwalk to the beach where waves crash loudly and you
walk in a salty, invigorating wind. This is one of only three places around Walpole that offer 2WD
car access to the coast. See spectacular
coastal views including unspoiled beaches and limestone cliffs, with granite
headlands. Take your time and appreciate
the fabulous coastal heathland featuring swamp paperbark and red flowering gum
that flower for most of the summer period.
Where is it?: Conspicuous
Cliffs is 13km east of Walpole (heading towards Denmark) on the South Coast
Highway. Turn right at Conspicuous Beach Road. Follow the
gravel road south for about 7km to Conspicuous Beach.
Travelling time: 20 minutes by
car from Walpole or 15 minutes
from the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk.
What to do: See whales (in spring), take photos,
beachcomb, surf and fish from the beach. Rock fishing is hazardous here, as in
most coastal areas, so be careful of freak waves. Beware, the beach has rips at
all times, so swimming is not advised.
Best season: Salmon fishing
is best in autumn, surfing mid-late summer; whale-watching and wildflowers in
winter and spring.
Hilltop Lookout & Giant Tingle
Tree
Near
to Walpole, take a short
drive to Hilltop Lookout which has views over the Walpole Nornalup National Park to the southern
ocean. Continue onwards to the Giant Tingle Tree where you can take a short
walk in the spectacular karri and red tingle forest.
Where is it?: Hilltop
Lookout is located approximately 2km along gravel Hilltop Road, located approximately
2km east of Walpole on the South Coast
Highway. The Giant Tingle Tree is located a further
2km along Hilltop Road
Travelling time: Hilltop lookout
is less than five minutes from Walpole by car.
What to do: Take photos, take a walk along the Giant
Tingle Tree loop trail, listen and look for birds, appreciate wildflowers and
the shapes of the plants.
Best season: This a wonderful spot all year round - shady and cool in summer
and a riot of colourful wildflowers in the spring.
Mt Clare
A
pretty picnic site and trailhead for a range of walks ranging from 2km to 7km amongst
spectacular tingle and karri forest. Mt.Clare summit provides a viewpoint over
the nearby wilderness areas.
Where
is it?: Approximately 8km west of Walpole along the South West
Highway.
Turn onto Tinglewood Road (gravel). The
carpark is about 1km along Tinglewood Road.
Travelling
time: Five minutes by car from Walpole.
What
to do: Walk one of three walk trails, have a picnic, enjoy the karri and tingle
forest.
Best
Season: Wildflower season, all year round.
John Rate Lookout
The John Rate
Lookout is dedicated to the memory of John Rate, a District Forester from Walpole.
He discovered a third species of Tingle tree, which is now known as the
Rates tingle. He was killed in the forest by a falling karri limb.It offers a
wide vista across the Nornalup Inlet to the Southern Ocean.
Where
is it?: The lookout is located approximately 5km west of Walpole along the South West
Highway. Travelling
time: 5 mins by car from Walpole.
What
to do: View the Nornalup inlet, have a picnic, walk in the forest.
Best
season: All year round.
Sandy Beach
Enjoy
views of the beautiful Nornalup Inlet and take a scenic walk around the Western
Knoll.
Where
is it?: 2 km west of Walpole, turn into Rest Point
Road and follow the signs to Sandy Beach.
Travelling
time: 5 minutes by car from Walpole.
What
to do: Enjoy an uncrowded beach on the inlet, walk in the forest.
Best
season: Wildflower season, summer.
See also:
More Information
Region: South West
Where is it?: The park surrounds the towns of Walpole, Nornalup and Peaceful Bay.
What to See and Do: Wild coastline, tingle forest, home of the flowering gum
Extra Facilities:
Nearest DEC Office: Frankland District Office (Walpole)
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Discover Walpole's Western Beaches - Walpole-Nornalup NP
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