Only in WA Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk
Tiptoe through the tingles – the giant eucalyptus forest – on the 40m high, 600m-long accessible walkway. Take your time and stop at the corners so you can really appreciate what life is like in the canopy of the only red tingle forest in the world. Back on the ground, walk through the undergrowth and see where the 400-year-old trees like ‘Grandma Tingle’ bear the scars of time.
Surfing
Perfectly long rolling waves have earned Ocean Beach a reputation as one of the top spots in Australia to learn to surf. On a good day, it can even match the best right-hand breaks in the world. Fun (and a little bit crazy!) surfing lessons are available, as is hire of surfboards and wetsuits. Experienced surfers should also try Lights Beach and Parry’s Beach.
Greens Pool
One of the prettiest bays you’ll come across, Greens Pool has a white sandy beach and shallow waters so calm that they’re perfect for swimming and paddling. It’s not just the striking clear water that makes this one of the most inviting swimming or sightseeing spots in the region, it’s also the boulders that seem to have been plopped into the bay, just begging to be climbed up and ‘bombied’ off! Before you do, make sure you check the depth, so it’s safe to jump off.
Elephant Rocks
a short walk from Greens Pool in William Bay National Park to a tiny little bay where enormous boulders appear, looking like a herd of elephants emerging from the shallows – and that’s even before you’ve been wine tasting! Be prepared to take off your shoes and roll up your pants, as the little crevasse that you have to walk through often experiences a small surge. This secluded little bay looks good for a swim, but be careful of occasional rips.
Wellness retreat
Denmark is often called the Byron Bay of Western Australia, and with its comprehensive cluster of talented wellness practitioners and esoteric venues, you can understand why. Whether you want to get away from it all, de-stress and relax, or start a healing journey, Denmark couldn’t be a better destination. Services include massage, yoga, meditation, Reiki healing, readings, beauty therapies and more. Pop into The Sacred Tree in town for their free community-guided meditation session at 10am every Wednesday.
Fishing
You don’t need a boat! Denmark’s Wilson Inlet is one of the very rare places where you can catch pink snapper in four to five metres of water! The inlet is also great for King George whiting, cobbler, flounder and crabs. Bream can be caught in the river – get your freshwater fishing licence from the post office. Lights Beach and Parry Beach are good for fishing, but the south coast is notorious for freak waves, so don’t fish from the rocks. Mazzoletti Beach is great for salmon fishing, with deep gutters from February to May. No boat? Hire a dinghy or get out on a fishing charter. If you do have a boat, there’s a ramp near the caravan park at the river mouth.
For kids
Swim, ride, paddle, dragon boat, jump, pick, eat, pat, fish, and climb. There’s so much fun and adventure in Denmark for the kids, the hard part will be getting them back in the car!
Food and drinks
Denmark is renowned for producing exceptional cool-climate wines, and that’s a rarity in Western Australia. Riesling, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and a little merlot, shiraz and pinot noir are noted drops from the area. Few WA regions have the weather to produce a good riesling or pinot, but Denmark does it nicely.
The superb climate and soils also aid in growing a plethora of gastronomic delights, attracting talented innovative chefs to a wine and food region that stands up with some of the best in the world.
Take a drive along the scenic Mount Shadforth Road and the Scotsdale Tourist Drive, where you’ll find a precinct of cellar doors, restaurants, a brewery, cidery and boutique food outlets. If that’s not enough, just follow your nose to the highway, where there’s a host of new options to choose from.
There is a great choice of food outlets open day and night in town, including down by the water, with fresh innovative food and organic offerings starting to make quite an appearance. The roadside stall on Inlet Drive sells freshly caught seafood and shellfish.
Don’t leave town without tasting a salted caramel truffle!