AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Walpole Town Jetty is the place where a tiny south-coast town reaches out over its inlet. Sitting in the middle of Walpole on the calm, shallow waters of the Walpole Inlet, this weathered timber jetty is both a beloved fishing perch and the natural launching point for exploring the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park on Western Australia's south coast, about 450 km south of Perth.↗↗
What makes the jetty special is its setting and its dual role: cast a line straight off the boards into a sheltered estuary teeming with bream and herring, or send a boat out through the inlets to spot dolphins, fur seals and gliding rays framed by towering karri forest and the steep granite hills locals call 'The Knolls.' It is a relaxed, scenic base that captures the quiet charm of this national-park village on the water.↗↗
Where the town meets the inlet
The Walpole and Nornalup inlets are one of very few permanently open estuarine systems on the south-west coast, mixing fresh river water with the sea so that they feel almost marine for most of the year. The two inlets are joined by a natural channel bordered by steep granite hills and rocky shores, wrapped around by the dense karri forest of Walpole-Nornalup National Park. Standing at the Town Jetty, you look out over that calm, green-tinged water toward the forested hills behind—karri and tingle trees meeting the sea in a way that defines this corner of the state.
