Nornalup: Paddling, hiking and Noongar cultural heritage

Nornalup turns your attention both to the water and to trails through a vast landscape. In Nornalup, you can launch boats and canoes; this is where the 5-kilometre paddling route to Monastery Landing begins, as does the Folklore Route, a circular walk. Another paddling route ends in Nornalup. This gives you several ways to plan your day: time in a boat, a hike or a cultural perspective on the area. If you are travelling with children, you can factor the stated distances into your plans together and tailor activities to your own pace.

Paddling routes and water nearby

The 5-kilometre paddling route from Nornalup to Monastery Landing can be compared with the 9-kilometre route from Coalmine Beach to Nornalup. Nornalup is the starting point for one and the destination for the other. Choosing between them therefore depends on both the distance and Nornalup’s role as either the starting point or destination. Boating is also possible on the Frankland River in the area surrounding the destination. This distinction matters when choosing where to stay: the paddling routes name Nornalup directly as a starting point or destination, while the Frankland River is part of the surrounding area.

Forests, river and coast

The Walpole-Nornalup National Park is nearby: an 18,116-hectare protected area in the southwest. In this surrounding park, karri and tingle forests extend to the Southern Ocean, and the Frankland River flows through its heart. The natural setting thus spans forests to the Southern Ocean, with the river at the heart of the park. If you take landscapes into account when choosing a destination, this gives you a clear picture of the area around Nornalup, beyond its individual activity routes. The Bibbulmun Track also passes through the heart of the surrounding national park. As a long-distance walking trail, it is another hiking option in the area.

Hiking from Nornalup

One distinct hiking option is the 16-kilometre Folklore Route, a circular walk starting in Nornalup. Along with the Bibbulmun Track, this gives you two different types of hikes to consider: a loop starting in Nornalup and a long-distance walking trail through the surrounding national park. If you plan to walk the Folklore Route, check trail conditions before your trip. This also lets you factor the type of walk into your plans for the day, not just the stated distance.

Noongar history and enduring significance

Kwakoorillup Beela (Frankland River) was one of the most important Noongar travel routes and led from Nornalup to Walpole. The route remains of particular significance for Lore & Custom. This cultural history adds a distinct perspective to the choice between paddling and hiking: the focus here is the historic travel route and its enduring significance. For travellers who want to include culture in their holiday plans, this is a separate consideration when choosing a destination.

Discover more destinations: Kinross, Dongara, Collins, Frankland River, Chapman Hill, Karridale, Marybrook, Osborne Park.

For the main travel overview: Western Australia.