"... the most romantic (scenery) I ever witnessed in the other quarters of the globe" Scotsman, William Clark describing Walpole in 1841
early impressions
Nyoongar Aboriginal people had long referred to this area as Nor-Nor-Nup, the place of the Norne or black snake. Sealers and whalers were the first outsiders to arrive on Walpole's coast in the early 1800’s. Their glowing reports of sheltered inlets, deep rivers and huge trees brought several explorers into the area, which they named Nornalup Inlet.
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huge, rare and red
The natural occurrence of four species of rare eucalypt is restricted to the Walpole vicinity. The three tingle species are the forest trees: yellow tingle (Eucalyptus guilfoylei), the massive Rate's tingle (E. brevistylis) and red tingle (E. jacksonii). The larger specimens of tingle are more than 400 years old and attain a great size.
Another impressive eucalypt naturally restricted to this area is the Red-flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia) which is famous around the world as an ornamental tree. Flowering from late January to March it can be seen from the Bibbulmun Track between Peaceful Bay and the tingle forests.
wild waves and precipitous cliffs
Walking in either direction from Walpole a growing sense of expectation builds with the proximity of the coastal cliffs, bluffs, beaches and the wild ocean beyond. At Mandalay Beach walkers from the north catch their first glimpse of the Southern Ocean with Chatham Island looming large. Views of the impressive granite cliffs of Long Point and Point Nuyts are seen before crossing Nuyts Wilderness, Deep River and the tingle clad Mount Clare, on the way to Walpole.
tranquil inlets to the treetops
The walk to Peaceful Bay provides the Track's greatest variety of scenery and vegetation. The Walpole and Nornalup Inlets are the sheltered estuaries of the Deep and Frankland Rivers. Discover wetlands of paperbarks, extensive wet coastal heathlands, catch a rare glimpse of dense karri forest adjacent to the sea and marvel at the Valley of the Giants.
See more photos from this section.
See information about Walpole and Peaceful Bay.