Review: Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, Tingledale
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We love the Australian bush, so a mingle with the tingles at the famous Valley of the Giants was on our list of must-dos during a recent visit to Western Australia.
The Valley of the Giants is a popular natural attraction located between the towns of Denmark and Walpole in the South West region. It’s approximately 420 kilometres south of Perth and many visitors do it as a day trip from the capital, so keen are they to see the magnificent forest of tingle trees. The name ‘tingle’, believed to be derived from an Aboriginal word, includes several varieties of ancient eucalypts. Tingles are one of the tallest trees in Western Australia and can grow to a height of 50-metres-plus.
While there are walking trails at ground level, the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk gives you a birds-eye view of the tingles — 40 metres above the forest floor. I don’t usually like heights and I was in two minds about doing the Tree Top Walk. However, on arrival, the thought of strolling through the canopy of these giant trees beckoned me. You can almost hear them whispering on the breeze: ‘Come and see what we can see’. It’s irresistible.
We head off on the 600-metre walk along lightweight steel trussed platforms, which start at a gentle incline and slowly elevate you high above the red and yellow tingle gully. The structure does sway a little, but don’t worry, you’re perfectly safe. The surrounding tingles are some of the largest and oldest trees in the country; some are said to be over 400 years old. The views are phenomenal, and there are large platforms at regular intervals where you can stop comfortably and take photos. The best part is that if one circuit is not enough, you can go around a second time.
After finishing the Tree Top Walk, we decide to get a different perspective of the forest. The Ancient Empire boardwalk leads you through a grove of veteran tingle trees at ground level, and we’re fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to join a free guided tour.
Our guide introduces us to ‘Grandma Tingle’, whose gnarled features resemble those of an old woman. Despite this grande dame’s age (estimated to be 400+ years), she stands proud and tall. Her buttress is spread wide at the base to provide the necessary strength to support such an immense size.
As the tour continues, we see that many of the trees have hollow butts (bases). The heartwood is often burnt out during bushfires, leaving the outer sapwood layer to sustain the entire tree. It’s incredible that they survive! Standing inside one of the hollows gives you an even greater appreciation of the tree’s scale. It’s like being in a fantasy world, and my imagination takes me to a scene from The Lord of the Rings.
After farewelling our guide, we decide to wander back through the forest. There are seating benches in some lovely little nooks, and it’s a rare treat to linger and just enjoy being with nature. The air is filled with birdsong and refreshing bush smells.
Don’t leave without dropping by the Wilderness Discovery Centre, which has information boards on some of the wildlife species that live in the area (including quokkas). There’s also a gift shop and small kiosk that sells cold drinks and ice creams. Oh, and if you feel like a bit of fun, check out the car in the hollow of a tree. It’s a great photo opportunity!
For more information, visit www.parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/tree-top-walk.
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Cover image: Tourism Western Australia. Image: Jean Leggat. Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Dixie Lamers is a freelance writer and travel blogger. When she is not writing about travel, you will find Dixie and her partner enjoying an Aussie caravanning lifestyle.
