Walpole lies in the heart of Walpole-Nornalup National Park. The variety of nature experiences includes trails through a stand of old Tingle trees, bushwalking along Nornalup Inlet, mountain biking, paddling and a cruise on the water. So the first thing to consider when choosing is what kind of outing you want: a particular route, a distinctive stand of trees or an activity with a stated duration? A distance in kilometres alone does not distinguish between a loop, a return route along the inlet and a mountain bike trail.
On foot and by bike
The Coalmine Beach Heritage Trail is a six-kilometre loop from the Walpole Nornalup Visitor Centre to Coalmine Beach Caravan Park. The Anecdote Route is a 9.4-kilometre bushwalk along the shore of Nornalup Inlet, returning to Walpole. The Chinwag Route is a 17-kilometre mountain bike trail to Walpole. The distances therefore apply to different formats: a loop, a waterside walk returning to Walpole, and a mountain bike route. This makes a direct comparison of distances only partly useful: in addition to the kilometres, the route type and activity differ.
A short trail to the Tingle trees
At 650 metres, the Ancient Empire Walk is the shortest of the three walking trails with stated distances. The bush trail passes through a stand of 400-year-old giant Tingle trees, which are unique to the Walpole region. Unlike the Coalmine loop and the Anecdote Route, it combines a short distance with a clear nature theme: the old Tingle trees. So when choosing, the focus is not just on the route but also on its defining feature.
The town’s surroundings are also part of its natural setting: Walpole lies in the heart of Walpole-Nornalup National Park. A park post dated 4 January 2024 names the national park as a habitat for mainland quokkas. Alongside the Tingle trees, this also brings the national park’s wildlife into focus.
Paddling, fishing and a cruise on the water
There are several different options on the water. Walpole Town Jetty is next to the town and is a fishing spot; it also has facilities for launching larger boats in Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park. A paddling route from Walpole Town Jetty to the Deep River is 10.5 kilometres long. For the WOW Wilderness EcoCruise, the duration is given instead of the route length: the cruise through Walpole and Nornalup Inlets takes 2.5 hours. It includes local stories, wildlife viewing and morning tea. The paddling route and the EcoCruise are different kinds of water activity: the distance is given for one, while the duration and what the trip includes are given for the other.
A network of trails with several connections
The Giants Trails form a growing network of walking and mountain bike trails, with a trailhead in the centre of Walpole. They connect Walpole and Nornalup with the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk. Unlike the single 17-kilometre Chinwag mountain bike trail to Walpole, this network covers several places and connects to the Tree Top Walk. For your planning, this is the difference between a route with a stated distance and a trail system—not just another distance in kilometres.
Discover more destinations: Kinross, Bremer Bay, Muchea, Beermullah, Norseman, Kendenup, Meadow Springs, Broomehill Village
For the main travel overview: Western Australia.
