Skip to Content Skip to Navigation
Support Our Trails

Look | Listen | Feel - Denmark Waterways Trails

Edge shaped like mountain horizon
Photo related to: Look | Listen | Feel - Denmark Waterways Trails

The Denmark Waterways Trails are part of an Ecotourism/ Community Arts project which invites audiences to participate in self-guided walks. These walks have been lined with plaques containing QR codes allowing access to stories about the local areas and the locals who find connection with these places. 

"Cultivating place-based creativity through reflection of the aquatic ecosystems of the Great Southern in Western Australia, Waterways has had several developments and iterations since 2017. It expresses the motif of family and home, people and place, with the idea that one can not exist without the other. The project is about sharing stories of local peoples’ intimate connection to these water places; it aims at creating art as social change and emphasising the importance of our eco-cultural identity. This enhances knowledge and builds a shared sense of belonging and investment, to these vital ecological systems."

These two trails are made by SHOON Healthy Art and the Waterways Team, through Denmark Arts Council, and highlight the local community and their connection to place. 

Kwoorabup River Walk is a easily accessible 1.5km walk trail which is connected to stories that reflect the environmental projects that happen in Denmark. You'll learn about different management of the catchment areas and the effect this has on the water quality as well as stories from those who feel most connected to this area. 

Local Denmark sailor Dave Cliff took us out on Wilson/Nullaki Inlet and talked about his enjoyment of spending time on this culturally significant water body. Image Credit: Brendon Manuel

 
Pooryungup River Walk is a little more of an adventure starting from the headland and heading up to the cliffs at Light Beach. This 6km trail can be done on foot or mountain bike and tells the story of how people connect to the coastline, the sense of self-care, health and well-being they receive from it. As this is in the brunt of the Southern Ocean it's rather exposed in rough weather, so pack accordingly!

This local Denmark family the Lebbings take a moment during their daughter birthday party to talk about their special connection to Prawn Rock Channel, Ocean Beach and the Pooryungup headland. Image Credit: Brendon Manuel