In the deep south of Western Australia, where the Rainbow Coast bends into wilderness and the ocean’s salt mingles with the hush of forest, lies a place where giants stand. The Valley of the Giants is no ordinary woodland — it is a cathedral of towering eucalypts and red tingle trees, some more than 400 years old, their bases so wide they could cradle a small house, their crowns lost in the sky. To walk here is to step into a story written in bark and shadow, a tale that began centuries before us and will continue long after.
The best way to see them is to rise. The Tree Top Walk floats 40 metres above the ground, a marvel of engineering that disappears into the canopy as if it were always meant to be there. Six steel pylons, trusses, and cables hold the walkway aloft, yet it feels weightless, swaying gently as you step into the realm of birds and orchids. The trail itself is only 600 metres, but every metre is a revelation — the air fresher, the light softer, the perspective utterly transformed. Suspended in mid-air, you walk alongside sword grass and tassel flowers, eye-level with cockatoos and lorikeets. The canopy is alive with movement, yet serene, a place where time stretches and slows.
For those who prefer the ground, the Ancient Empire Boardwalk offers another kind of intimacy. Here, you weave through the thick trunks of veteran tingle trees, their bases measuring up to 16 metres in circumference. Shade falls heavy, the forest hums, and you feel the weight of centuries pressing gently around you. Hollowed trunks stand like gateways, benches invite you to pause, and the soundscape of parrots, kookaburras, and rustling leaves becomes a symphony of life. It is a place of peace, where shade and sound combine into something almost sacred.
Practical Notes and Access The Valley of the Giants lies 420 kilometres from Perth, reached by the South Coast Highway. From Denmark, it is a 30-minute drive west; from Walpole, only minutes. The park is open every day except Christmas, though extreme winds or lightning may close the walk. Hours shift with the seasons: 9am to 7pm in summer, 9am to 5pm the rest of the year. The last entry is always 45 minutes before closing.
Admission to the forest and the Ancient Empire walk is free, but the Tree Top Walk is ticketed: $21 for adults, $10.50 for children, $52.50 for families, and $15.50 for concession cardholders. Children under five walk free. Facilities are designed with accessibility in mind — wide paths, flat parking, wheelchair-friendly toilets, and even complimentary stroller or wheelchair hire. The walk itself rises gently, built on the side of a natural valley so that even children and strollers can ascend with ease.
The Experience At its highest point, 40 metres above the ground, you stand within touching distance of crowns that have stretched skyward for centuries. The air is cool, shaded, and impossibly clean. It is a safe walk for families, yet thrilling enough to stir the heart of those who fear heights. The Ancient Empire Boardwalk begins at the visitor centre and winds for 600 metres through the grove of giants. Here, trunks hollowed by time stand like gateways, and benches invite you to pause and listen. The forest speaks in rustles and creaks, in the calls of parrots and the distant laughter of kookaburras.
Nearby, the Giant Tingle Tree waits — the oldest living eucalypt on Earth. Only 800 metres from the carpark, it is surrounded by benches where visitors sit in quiet awe. Its girth is staggering, its presence humbling. To stand before it is to feel both small and infinite, a reminder of how long life can endure when left undisturbed.
Why It Matters The Valley of the Giants is more than a tourist attraction; it is a living archive of resilience. These trees have stood through centuries of storms, fires, and change. To walk among them is to step into a story that began long before us and will continue long after. The Tree Top Walk offers perspective — not just of height, but of humility. The Ancient Empire walk offers intimacy — a chance to touch, to listen, to breathe with giants.
Tips for Visitors
- Arrive early for cooler air and quieter paths.
- Bring a jumper and rain gear; the forest shifts moods quickly.
- Carry insect repellent in summer.
- Pause often — the forest rewards patience.
- Respect the paths and the trees; they are older than memory.
Environmental Ethos The Tree Top Walk was built with restraint. Steel was placed only where the forest allowed, and the elevated paths float above the undergrowth like respectful guests. Sustainability is woven into its design, and conservation is funded by every visitor. This is eco-tourism at its most thoughtful — a balance between access and preservation, between wonder and responsibility.