Dwarfed by tall karri and tingle tree forests, the small village of Nornalup is a big drawcard for nature lovers. To the east, the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk takes you above the tingle trees of Walpole-Nornalup National Park, and to the south, the Conspicuous Cliff lookout gives you a view of the great annual whale migration.
From Albany, it’s a scenic one hour and 20 minute drive west to reach Nornalup. If you’re heading down from Perth, you’ll need to allow about five hours. Once you hit Walpole, it’s another 15 minutes’ drive to the east.
You’re also just 10 minutes’ drive away from one of the best treetop views on Earth – the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk. Inspired by the tall tingle tree forest of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park, this is the first sky-high walk trail of its kind. Climbing 40 metres into the canopy, the walkway affords magnificent vistas of this ancient forest before descending to the Ancient Empire Walk, where you can gaze up at 400 year old giants.
The surrounding Walpole-Nornalup National Park covers 18,116 hectares of the South West with karri and tingle forests stretching to the Southern Ocean. Here, you may encounter some of the 698 native species of flora and fauna that call it home, including kangaroos and quokkas, honey possums and bandicoots, honeyeaters and parrots.
Through its heart runs the Frankland River and the famous long distance Bibbulmun Track, each leading you on an incredible wilderness-to-ocean adventure. On the river, you’ll enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing and swimming. On the walking trail, you’ll get to take in the wilderness one step at a time.
Take the drive to Conspicuous Bay in spring and you’ll be dazzled by the only known stand of native red-flowering gum trees in Western Australia. From the cliffs, you’ll also witness one of the greatest migrations on Earth, as the whales make their journey to their calving grounds.
Nornalup caters for those who are looking for refreshments or a bed for the night with tearooms, restaurants, chalets, bed and breakfast accommodation and a caravan park.