The drive from Albany to Walpole included a stop in Denmark. Greens Pool was a spectacular beach that is popular in the summer because the gradually sloping rocks provide shelter from the Southern Ocean. The calm water in the bay is in contrast to the waves.
Nearby was the Elephant Rocks formation. Elephant Rocks got its name because to looks like a herd of elephants paddling in shallow waters. There are two towering rocks on the beach with waves crashing through at high tide (when we arrived).
The Valley of the Giants is famous for the Tree Top Walk suspended in the canopy of the ancient tingle forest. The highest part of the walk was 40m in the air and the red tingle trees still towered over us at nearly 70m. You could hear bees buzzing in the trees nearby.
After the walk in the canopy, we walked a track on the ground. The giant eucalypts (red tingle) are found nowhere else in Australia and some have been standing for more than 400 years! The giant trees were only the first of many we would see in the upcoming days.
We took a fantastic drive just outside Walpole in the tingle and karri forest to see the Giant Tingle Tree. The drive was lovely and the huge fire-hollowed red tingle tree was magnificent.
The WOW tour was recommended by everyone we met between Albany and Walpole. Once we knew the weather would cooperate, we signed up for the boat tour. We had to clean our shoes to avoid the spread of a fungus before boarding the boat. Gary Muir was a knowledgeable and passionate guide. He had an ability to connect everything back to the Walpole and was able to share his love of nature and history while showing us Nornalup Inlet. We forgot to take a photo of tea time with homemade lemon cake. We join others in recommending his tour.