2012 is the 25^th Anniversary of the Pioneer Cup. It is held on the 3rd weekend in March each year.

The Walpole Country Club is located 5kms west of the Walpole townsite. The golf course has 18 holes most with spectacular views over the Walpole Inlet and surrounding hills.  There is also a synthetic bowls green adjacent to the Club House.

Friday the 16^th is an individual par event with the Pioneer Cup on the 17^th & 18^th of March and is 4BBB.

The Walpole Lodge has a variety of Accommodation types available to suit golfers including ensuite rooms from $85 per night.

Further details for the Pioneer Cup are available from:

Co-ordinator – Rhonda Perpoli 98401370 perpoli@westnet.com.au

Nominations – Wayne Dumbrell 98401052 wcdumbrell@bordernet.com.au

Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.walpole.org.au/countryclub

The Knolls can easily be accessed by car but a much better way to do it is either on foot or by bike.  We got our Mountain Bikes out and headed off from the Walpole Lodge and joined the Coalmine Beach Heritage Trail where it meets with the Bibbulmun Track. The track is dual-use here so it is ok to ride bikes on it. The track is in good condition; except for a sandy section right at the start.

Last time we had headed over this way we had seen a Quokka and were hopeful of seeing more fauna this time. Unfortunately we only saw a Blue Wren and some cockatoos.

It is only a 10 minute cycle over to Coalmine Beach and depending on the wind direction a good safe place to cool off. There are a couple of BBQs, toilet block and outdoor shower that would make this a good place to have a picnic and spend the afternoon at the beach.

We continued on to the road around the Knolls. The road is one way only and whilst vehicles do use it we didn’t encounter any today. There is a lookout over the Nornalup Inlet which we stopped at and another two spots which have car parking and steps down to the water’s edge for fishing. The Channels is the next spot we came across; this is the channel between the Nornalup & Walpole Inlets.  We have been fishing here in the past and it’s a good spot for Black Bream, Herring & Skippy.  The Channels also has a gas BBQ and toilet block. Continuing around the Knolls we reached another lookout; this time over the Walpole Inlet and through the trees could see Rest Point, The Lady Walpole and the Walpole Town Site.

We reached the turn-off for the Coalmine Beach Heritage Trail and returned back to the Walpole Lodge

Even with a couple of stops the ride around the Knolls and Coalmine Beach Heritage Trail only took us 45 minutes. Next time we will stop for a picnic and maybe a swim!

We dropped our kayaks in at Nornalup boat ramp and headed upstream towards Monastery Landing. The river has been glassy every time we’ve come past but today’s South Easterly wind has made the water a little choppy. During the first few hundred metres we pass the landing point for Nornalup Canoe Hire and a number of private jetty’s after a few more bends in the river we were on our own and away from civilisation.

As this was our first time heading upstream on the Frankland River; we were not sure how far up Monastery Landing was or whether there is even anything there for us to know when we’ve reached it! A few trees had fallen across the river recently including a Karri tree only 200m before Monastery Landing that spread almost the whole way across the river; leaving a gap just wide enough for our kayaks.

It turns out there is a landing there and we pulled our kayaks up on to it and stopped for a drink and an apple on the picnic tables provided; it would be a nice spot to come back to for a picnic lunch.

Our journey took about 2hrs. Canoes can be hired in Nornalup (details below)

The Story of Monastery Landing:

When the first settlers were looking through this area, a team sailed up the Frankland River from what is now called Nornalup (approximately 10 km east of Walpole).

The majestic beauty of one particular spot, where the trees overhung the river from both sides, overawed a surveyor’s assistant in the party. There was a feeling of peace, with the birds singing and the early morning sunlight filtering through the branches.  He gasped, and said, “It’s as quiet as a monastery”.

And “Monastery Landing” it has been called ever since.

Monastery Landing Tree Across River

T r e e    T o p    C a n o e   H i r e

F r a n k l a n d   R i v e r ,   N o r n a l u p

available from Nornalup Riverside Chalets, South Coast Highway, Nornalup
corner of Riverside Drive – right opposite the river

phone (08) 9840 1107

Paddle upstream to Monastery Landing or downstream to Nornalup Inlet

Rates

On Thursday 10^th November we headed out to Mt Clare (approx. 8 kms by car west of Walpole). Our hike was going to take us to the top of Mt Clare and then to the pedestrian suspension bridge crossing the Deep river on the Bibbulmun Track before heading back to the car park. An overall distance of 4.5kms and takes 1 to 2 hrs.

The climb to the top of Mt Clare wasn’t strenuous; so we were surprised when we stopped past the hut on the Bibbulmun Track and read the log book which had many entries regarding the difficult climb. We soon found out why… as we descended down towards the river valley on a narrow winding and very steep track; carrying a fully loaded backpack up this wouldn’t be easy!

The Suspension Bridge is the access point to Nuyts Wilderness and there are some longer hikes to Aldridge Cove, Hush Hush Beach and Thompson Cove; we will be back to do these in the future.

After reaching the Suspension bridge we retraced our steps to Tinglewood Drive and turned right (Easterly direction) for 1km then left into a DEC access only track. Staying on this track all the way to the car; approx. 1km but all up hill.

The trees surrounding the peak of Mt Clare restrict the view but the rest of the track was well worth doing.

After many recommendations we finally booked into the WOW Wilderness Ecocruise.  The cruise leaves daily from just to the left of the Walpole Town Jetty. We boarded at 10am and our Skipper for the day, Leah and tour guide Gary Muir looked after the rest.

The cruise headed towards Rest Point Jetty and the Lady Walpole moored nearby before heading through the channels into the Nornalup Inlet and over to Snake Island. We continued on to the mouth of the inlet and stopped at Nuyts Wilderness for a walk over to Shelly Beach & of course Lemon Drizzle cake and drinks (tea, coffee, milo, etc..).  The commentary never stopped; well until we arrived back in Walpole at 12.30pm.

Garys extensive knowledge, passion and commentary on its own would make this a memorable cruise but adding in the sights from the Walpole & Nornalup Inlets and Nuyts Wilderness make this something you cannot miss. We will be going back.

For bookings check out the link below or contact the Walpole Visitor Centre.

www.wowwilderness.com.au/

One of the world’s great long distance walk trails, stretching nearly 1000kms from Kalamunda, a suburb in the hills on the outskirts of Perth, to the historic town of Albany on the south coast. It passes through the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australia.

The Track is for walkers only and is signposted with yellow triangular markers symbolising the ‘Waugal’ (rainbow serpent of the aboriginal Dreaming). It takes walkers through towering karri and tingle forests, down mist-shrouded valleys, over giant granite boulders and along breathtaking coastal heathlands. It passes through many of the most beautiful national parks of the South West forests and coastline.

The Bibbulmun Track offers a wide range of experiences, from a gentle stroll to enjoy the peace and beauty of the natural environment, to an epic eight week adventure. You can make it a wilderness experience by camping out, you can join a guided group, or you can do it in comfort by staying in the towns along the Track and enjoying day walks in the area. The Track passes through Dwellingup, Collie, Balingup, Donnelly River Village, Pemberton, Northcliffe,Walpole, Peaceful Bay and Denmark.

The Valley of the Giants TreeTop walk is located in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park and is 17km from the Walpole townsite.

Admission
Adults : $10.00
Children (6-15 years) : $5

Getting there

No buses currently run out to the Tree Top walk. By car, really is the best way to visit the Southern Forests region. However, if you are arriving by bus, it is possible to hire a bike or car for the day in Walpole. Alternatively, take a chance and ask a fellow guest for a ride out to the Tree Top Walk.

Opening hours

The TreeTop Walk opens from 9:00 am-4:15pm. Extended opening hours from December 26 to 26 January.

Steele and Julie on the Tree Top Walk