Tour length: 7 days, 5-7 hours of walking per day, 8 nights
Difficulty: Medium
Day prior to depart, TransWA bus runs to Walpole every day arriving 3.52pm or 4.27pm. We will meet the bus and be parked outside the Walpole Visitors Centre (which is next to the bus stop). Hiking supplies can be bought at IGA Walpole after arrival and we will then transfer you to Coalmine Caravan Park. If you arrive Walpole from Albany in the morning, we can transfer you to the caravan park at 3pm.
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Hilltop Lookout to Tree Top Walk, Valley of the Giants 22 km
Enjoy the views overlooking the Nornalup Inlet then start your hike into the forest to the ancient Giant Tingle Trees. Here you will learn about these fascinating and unique associations of trees, plants and animals. We continue on the Bibb Track through some of the best karri, tingle and sheoak forest anywhere in the southwest. We have lovely glimpses into the Frankland River valley below and our next rest stop is at Frankland Campsite perched on this largely unspoilt river. The track meanders next to the Frankland River, crosses Sappers Bridge and re-enters the beautiful karri, tingle and sheoak forest to arrive at the spectacular Treetop Walk.
Day 2: Valley of the Giants to Peaceful Bay 23km We start from Nutkin Lookout to enjoy the views east along the coast to which we will be descending to Conspicuous Beach. Here we rest on an elevated whale-watching flatform with great views over the beach and the bay beyond. After a short walk along the beach, we climb steeply, on steps, to a point close to the summit of Conspicuous Cliff. The track follows the cliff and has stunning ocean views until we descend to Rame Head campsite. From here we descend gently, walking past many small bays to arrive at the pretty sheltered settlement of Peaceful Bay, our campsite.
Day 3: Peaceful Bay to Boat Harbour 22km We depart our peaceful camp and today we are going remote and have two choices depending on the season.
Beach option: If the sandbar is in place on the Irwin Inlet, we have a stroll along the beach and then gently climb up from Quarram Beach. It is rugged but spectacular, with an almost endless stream of startling views along the coast in both directions, and inland over Owingup Swamp and the farmland further north. We finally arrive at Boat Harbour campsite and Boat Harbour itself, is one of the prettiest little bays anywhere on the south coast.
Paddle option: If the sandbar is not in place, then it is a very pretty trek up and down beside the Irwin Inlet to where the Bibbulmun Track canoes are stored. The paddle itself, is an experience, the Inlet is wide and so pretty with lots of bird life. The following walk through the “showgrounds” is unique in WA, with its flora and its unusual and friendly caramel-colored kangaroos. We descend to Quarram Beach, enjoy the remoteness of only accessible by walkers, then ascend and enjoy the many startling views along the coast until we reach Boat Harbour campsite. We descend to the calm swimmable waters of Boat Harbour, relax, then we are transferred a short distance to our campsite.
Day 4: Boat Harbour to Greens Pool 19km We depart from Boat Harbour following the dramatic coastline and then ascend and descend on coastal dunes covered in shrubs which often have stunning displays of wildflowers. On the last dune we look down over the expanse of Parry Bay. We descend to walk the 7km on Mazzoletti Beach, including crossing Parry Inlet) to arrive at the famous iridescent waters of Greens Pool (great for swimming).
Day 5: Greens Pool to Denmark 23km From Greens Pool we go a little inland then descend to Lights Beach where there are numerous lovely views over William Bay, Madfish Bay, Lights Beach and the coast further afield. We turn north, through a farming property to ascend to Monkey Rock, a spectacular viewpoint high on the south side of the Mt Hallowell. A further climb through huge granite boulders and tall karri forest to finally descend down towards Denmark.
Day 6: Denmark to Cosy Corner beach campsite 21km After our transfer from Denmark to the Bibbulmun Track, we climb gently onto the coastal escarpment and enter West Cape Howe National Park. Expansive ocean views and views inland to the Porongurups, Stirling Ranges and even Mt Manypeaks east of Albany. This section of track also offers superb coastal walking, many panoramic vistas and passes through attractive coastal vegetation, granite outcrops and mature sheoaks to arrive at the idyllic Cosy Corner, Torbay. Our campsite is a short sand track off a very swimmable white sand beach.
Day 7: Cosy Corner to Albany 23km The south coast beaches vary dramatically depending on the season and the prevailing weather. We cross Torbay Inlet along the sandbar, or we wade through shallow waters and continue along the expanse of beach to Mutton Bird Island. We climb stairs up to the lookout to enjoy the great views back along the expanse of Torbay and West Cape Howe. We stay up high along the weaving in and around the steeper ridges, with spectacular Southern Ocean vistas. There are many wooden seats providing welcome stopping points on the high ridges – the waters below are so clear, watch out for the dolphins surfing below. We enter Torndirrup National Park which produces a remarkable array of wildflowers and then turn north toward Albany. We enjoy views over Albany and the Princess Royal Harbour as we descend from the coastal dunes onto Frenchman Bay Road. Transfer to Albany town (or you can walk the 5km). Overnight Albany Caravan Park and celebration dinner at the restaurant/hotel of the groups choice.
TransWA runs a daily service to Perth departing at 8.30am
