Walpole TreeTop Walk wins national award

30/11/00
The reputation of Western Australia's Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk was further recognised last night when it was judged the most significant regional attraction in the national tourism awards.
The tree top walk is a 600m long walkway that takes people 40m above the ground and into the tingle tree forest canopy near Nornalup on the State's south coast.
It gained the national title over the winners of various State and Territory tourism awards.
WA Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the tree top walk, opened in August 1996, was now one of the State's most recognised tourist attractions.
The facility also encompassed the Ancient Empire Walk, a ground level boardwalk and rammed earth path that meandered around and through the trunks of the giant tingles, and the Tingle Shelter visitor and interpretive centre.
"Since it opened, more than 650,000 people have experienced the thrill of walking among the tingle canopy," Mrs Edwardes said.
"It is among the 'must see' features for visitors to the South-West and is making an enormous contribution to the development of the tourism industry along the south coast.
"For example, in the past four years, there has been a dramatic increase in the development of tourist facilities in the nearby township of Walpole.
"There also has been a 38 per cent increase in the number of beds available to visitors in the townsite and surrounding area."
The tree top walk was built following concern that the number of visitors to the Valley of the Giants was having a severe ecological impact on the forest.
The success of the facility in achieving ecologically sustainability was verified when it was listed under the National Ecotourism Accreditation Program two years ago. This scheme gives visitors an assurance that the tourist facility will be managed to achieve best practice in terms of environmental impact.
Mrs Edwardes said the Department of Conservation and Land Management had implemented a range of activities involving the tree top walk and Ancient Empire.
These included night walks to enable visitors to see native animals as well as holiday activities for family groups.
The Minister said local tourist operators recognised the facility as a regional drawcard and were using it in their promotional material.
"The number of coach and tour operators providing tours to the Walpole-Nornalup National Park has increased from about 50 in 1996 to 90 in 1999," she said.
"Several operators are now saying that the tree top walk is now among their most popular tours."
Media contacts:
Steve Manchee (Minister) on 9421 7777
Jim Sharp (CALM) on 9442 0304