Oct 31, 2012 - National Parks and Tree Top Walks

Left Pemberton and drove the short distance to Gloucester National Park to climb the Gloucester Tree (old fire look out tree) which is about 60m high. Mum and the boys got about 10m off the ground and stopped. Dad didn't even start. Congratulations to those who are game enough to climb it. We then drove down towards Northcliffe and entered Warren National Park to have a look at the Bicentennial Tree (another fire lookout). This one was taller but had a platform about half way up. Dad got about half way to the platform as did Keagan and...

Sep 21, 2012 - While Quokkas watch their flocks by night....

Today was a day of “high” adventure….. Yes we somehow managed to complete the Tree Top Walk which at its zenith is 40 metres above ground. Nether Carol or I are any good with heights and I’m much better with lowts though Carol prefers ground level unless there is a Millers on the second floor….. I imagine for most this is an exhilarating experience and even though my brain could see that the structure was of significant strength, it was however flexible as one would expect I guess but at 40 metres of the ground in high winds it was sure...

Sep 20, 2012 - Back to the coast on the Southern Ocean

Arrived at Rest Point at around 10:30 this morning. It’s a very scenic drive through the forests with some small areas of open farmland and it seemed all downhill from Manjimup. The trees are in places very close to the edge of the road and I’m talking about a metre diameter at the base, if you hit one there would be no soft stop. It’s quite a pretty park and in summer it would be very crowded. After setting up camp we headed off into Walpole (about 120 km west of Albany) for some lunch at the Pub. Not at all inspiring from the outside but...

Sep 20, 2012 - Walpole

20th September The day started off sunny but the cloud and showers quickly arrived while we were packing up. Heading to Walpole on highway 1, a narrow winding road with lots of large karri trees very close to the road edge. After setting up we head into town for lunch. Finding a pub serving a counter lunch of two courses for $14 we decided that was a good deal. Enjoying pumpkin soup and fish and chips. Time to explore the city, maybe small town is a better description. Walpole and Nornalup have a population of 500 but for both regions 50%...

Sep 20, 2012 - Valley of the Giants

21st September Finally the weather cleared mid morning. Sun is shining but still windy. We are off to the Tree Top Walk including the Ancient Empire boardwalk. The entire project cost $1.8 million. The construction consists of six 60- metre lightweight bridge spans on seven pylons reaching a maximum height of 40 metres over a small creek at the bottom. The spans were especially designed to sway slightly as you walk to create the sensation of being in the canopy of the forest. Still it was a bit off putting as it was very windy, you could...

Feb 20, 2012 - Walpole (population 500, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

………………. To Walpole Leave our friendly motel and head further south. We enjoyed a lovely scenic drive down through the Boranup forest. The original plan was to go down to Augusta but Steve is desperate to see some Mountains, as so far we seem to have seen only hills! So the Sterling Range is calling. On the drive down the trees are incredibly tall and there are so many of them, they are either Tingle trees of Karri and belong to eucalyptus family. The surprising thing is that there re no Koalas in the SW Australia as they don’t like these...

Jun 22, 2010 - Boom, Bomer, Boomst...

Naar goede gewoonte ben ik alweer erg vroeg uit de veren. Ik kan het niet laten en besluit een stukje Bibbulmun Track te volgen langs Walpole Inlet. Pff, blijkt dat de kuit nog wa rust vraagt... Na de ochtendwandeling laat ik me door de hostel-madam naar The Tree Top Walk en The Valley of the Giants voeren. De Tree Top Walk wind zich tussen giganten van bomen op 40 meter hoge “hangbruggen” waarnaasgt zich de Valley of The Giants bevind met indien mogelijk nog grotere exemplaren. Het blijkt moeilijk de grootsheid van deze bomen te...

Jun 21, 2010 - Walpole

Ik check uit om 1000, breng een laatste bezoekje aan het Visitor Centre en bijhorende Internet faciliteit en om stipt 1441 stap ik op de bus naar Walpole. De busstop in Northcliffe is knal bij het postkantoor/tankstation/general store en broodjesbar. Ikke aldus snelsnel naar binnen voedselpakketje oppikkenen dan terug de bus op gewapend met een 10-tal kilo bushwalk food. Walpole... hier is gene zak te zien, amai. Ik neem m’n intrek in het YHA, ik vraag naar een bed in een dorm room. Blijkt dat ik de enige in het hostel ben en vermits het...

Mar 26, 2010 - Valley of the Giants

This trip has already been amazing. It’s hard to believe that there is even more to discover, to experience, to marvel at. It’s like an art gallery that keeps opening onto works that are more incredible with each passing room. We never tire of the changing beauty of Australia, as we pass from ecosystem to ecosystem. There are constant surprises around every corner. Long before we arrived at Walpole, I knew it would be a highlight for me. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m no extremist greenie, but I do love trees. I love the idea of nature that...

Oct 23, 2009 - Walpole and the Giant Trees

Just a short trip today, south east to the little town of Walpole and the Walpole-Nornalup National Park which surrounds it. Situated on Walpole Inlet, Walpole lies within a wilderness area of Karri, Tingle and Jarrah forests, granite peaks, picturesque bays and inlets and the Southern Ocean. The area is very popular with holidaymakers with fishing, walking and swimming being some of the things to do here. The wildflowers were again in abundance, (this time of the year being the best time to see them). Situated 12 km east of Walpole is the...

Jun 30, 2009 - Cape Leeuwin lighthouse and whale watching

Today we left Margaret River and headed for Augusta, which is where we were hoping that we would have an opportunity to see some whales from the coastline, and also visit the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse 9kms beyond the township. We were very lucky and got to achieve both. We went to the lighthouse first. It was built in 1895, and was fully operational the following year. It has never missed a beat since! It is considered to be guarding one of the world's busiest and most important shipping lanes. It has a 1,000 watt, 120 volt tungsten lamp...

Feb 18, 2009 - From Nunnup to Walpole

Wednesday, February 18 Before we left the Holberry House we chatted with the owner, Chris, for quite a while. We asked about the eucalypt that we now see in bloom (white flowers). It is the Marri (Corymbia calophylla). Chris noted that when it flowers, the grapes are ready for picking. Our first stop today was Beedelup National Park where we hiked into the forest to see the Beedelup Waterfall (disappointing; more a gentle flow over rocks). A little further down the road, we again took a hike into the forest to see the “Walk Through Tree”,...