2012, October 10 - Manjimup to Cosy Corner (via Walpole / Denmark)

Me and mum on the skybridge - Valley of the Giants, Walpole

Trip Meter Reading Start –  7749

Interim Trip Meter Reading –  7885

Trip Meter Reading Finish –  8014 (265 kms)

Fill up Manjimup
$1.529/litre; 44.48 litres; $68.01

Accommodation
Free camp at Cosy Corner (East) is 38 km east of Denmark and 30 km west of Albany – take the tourist drive south from Denmark.  Beautiful shady campsites behind the vegetated dunes of Torbay Bay.  The camp has a dump point and clean toilets – you could get water from Cosy Corner (West) where they have beach showers (not potable or suitable for drinking)

Comments – Luke
Today we left Ray’s house in Manjimup.  The towns around this area mostly end in ‘up’ which stands for water.  We also looked at the diamond tree which is another fire lookout but is not as high as the other tow.  We then drove down to Walpole and had a look at Nornalup inlet which is a big saltwater lake.  We also did the skywalk amoungst the canopy of the valley of the giants.  We also saw a tree 5-6 metre’s wide.  The trees are approxametly 400 years old.  After that we set up camp at Cosy Corner on the beach.

Dad and I at our free camp on the beach at Cosy Corner

Comment – Mum and Dad
We stocked up on some cry vac meat from the local butcher at Manjimup (a service that they do for free) before saying goodbye to Ray at his office.

Today would be a long day as we planned to visit the Valley of the Giants at Walpole and some of the coast areas including Nornalup Inlet and Peaceful Bay.

At a cost of $32 for a family pass (2 adults and 3 children we explored the Valley of the Giants for a good couple of hours.  The pass paid to DEC includes a walk via a 40 metre high suspension bridge through the large                     trees within the                  National Park.  It also includes a walk through the ancient forest and kids can view the interactive displays at the near the souvenir shop.

After this we took a drive into Walpole and out to the large inlets that meet the Southern Ocean; the trees, wildflowers and waterways were beautiful; places as the Knoll, Nornalup and Coalmine Beach.  We arrived at Peaceful bay but were greeted with alot of wind.  This place has a small community and caravan park.  We decided to push on towards Denmark to find a free camp site.  Unable to locate it, we continued on to Cosy Corner which was recommended to us by the Tarplees.  I figured as it was almost halfway between Denmark and Albany, we could unhitch the van (as recommended) and do day trips from there.

Luke finds a furry friend at camp

We weren’t disappointed; the camp was lovely and although we were unable to get a camp closer to the beach behind the dunes, there were plenty to set up on up the hill....which was peaceful with only the sound of the waves in the background.