The most spectacular things on this planet are normally natural
phenomena. One that has been in my memory since I was a child
is the Valley of the Giants. The Valley is located between Denmark
and Walpole on the south west coast of Western Australia.
It got its name from the giant Tingle trees that are in abundance
there. To get there you can go a couple of routes from Perth.
The
one I would recommend is the longest, but by far the most enjoyable.
From Perth you travel down to Mandurah. I would recommend having
a look around here before moving on. It is a really beautiful
place and has lots of water around. If seafood is a favourite
of yours then you will be delighted as you pass through and continue
your journey down to Bunbury.
Approximately 15 kilometres south of Mandurah you will start to
see roadside signs selling crabs that have been caught in the
estuary. They vary in price, but you can normally get a feed for
around $6 to $8 per kilo.
Once you get to Bunbury there is an abundance of things to do.
Probably the least known about Bunbury is that you can swim with
dolphins here. Unlike Monkey Mia, it is not yet restricted to
a lucky few that get chosen. The local tourist bureau will give
you details of where and what times are best.
From Bunbury travel southwards to Margaret River, a region famous
for its wineries. The wine region here has some very good quality
wines and for me personally is responsible for a few headaches
due to lots of wine tasting. This is a fabulous area and will
be covered in a later article. Well worth a look around.
From here its worth the extra drive to take a look at Augusta
and the Jewel Cave. Next its on to Pemberton and climbing the
Gloucester Tree which was used as a lookout for fires. Its worth
the effort for the view.
Next is the sleepy town of Walpole and then on to the Valley of
the Giants.
The main tourist area of the Valley of the Giants is now controlled
by C.A.L.M. ( a government organisation, it stands for Conservation
And Land Management ) and is only open during the day. This is
a recent event, and has obviously been done for conservation reasons.
It's worth arriving in the morning and having a good look around.
There is also a tree top walkway that has been put in recently.
I havent walked on it personally yet so I am unable to comment.
As I was born very close to here I have visited the Valley many
times in my life. I have memories of parking our car inside one
of the trees that had been hollowed out through time and fires.
Unfortunately that particular tree fell down some years ago due
to age and the ravages of time.
One tree that is definitely worth a look is the biggest one in
the area. Access to this particular tree is not controlled by
C.A.L.M. as it is just outside of the Valley, however, you will
need to ask at the kiosk in the Valley for a map and directions
on how to get to this tree.
This giant Tingle is a massive 34 metres or 110 feet in circumference!
This whole region is for me totally magic. Its got an energy that
I have never found any where else. To stand next to these giant
trees is awe inspiring to say the least. To look up and see limbs
that are bigger than most trees is amazing. I would recommend
allowing a couple of days to look around here and absorb what
it has to offer in the way of beauty and peace.
There is a bunch of places around that you can stay at. I personally
prefer Denmark, it's a sleepy little place and very peaceful to
stay there. Approximately 40 minutes drive from Denmark is Albany.
Albany is steeped in history and things to see as well and will
be covered in a later article.
The south west corner of Western Australia has so much to offer
travellers and tourists.
The whole region is abundant in forests and has caves, magnificent
beaches and so much more that cannot be listed in a few sentences.
If you are considering a visit to the West I would recommend you
set aside some time to visit this region, but especially my personal
favourite, The Valley of the Giants.
May all of you experience this place at least once in your life.
Don
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