Shelly Beach Trail, Walpole-Nornalup NP

The Walpole Wilderness is an important international biodiversity hotspot, which recognises the incredible flora and fauna biodiversity of the area. Here you will find giant tingle and karri forest. The area also adjoins the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets, supproting a rich crossover of land, river, wetlands, and inlets. There are over 1100 species of plants and over 800 species of animals, some endemic to the area.

The park encompasses diverse ecosystems ranging from dense, towering wet sclerophyll forests to fragile coastal heathlands. The park is the only place on Earth where you can find Red Tingle, the largest-girthed eucalypt in the world. Yellow Tingle and Rate's Tingle also thrive here. Massive Karri, Jarrah and Marri trees dominate the high-canopy forest sections. Dense pockets of Bull Banksia, Karri Sheoak, tassel bush, and bracken fern carpet the forest floor. During spring the landscape erupts with colourful native blooms like the Holly Flame Pea, tree hovea, coral vine, and unique native orchids (including the Pink Fairy, Cowslip, Flying Duck, and Hammer orchids). The damp forest floor is home to over 90 types of Bryophytes (mosses).

Over 200 bird species inhabit the area. Look for the brilliant blue of Splendid Fairy-wrens, New Holland Honeyeaters, and western rosellas. Endangered species like Carnaby’s and Red-tailed Black-cockatoes, the Western Bristlebird, and the crested shrike-tit also take refuge here. The area is home to mainland quokkas, which are much more nocturnal and reclusive than their Rottnest Island counterparts. You can also spot western grey kangaroos, quendas (southern brown bandicoots), western ringtail possums, and southern forest bats.