Denmark / Albany

Along the Track

Denmark to Albany is an easier coastal section to walk than Peaceful Bay to Denmark. Walkers will need to plan ahead before crossing the Wilson and Torbay Inlets. This section offers sheltered swimming spots and some of the best uninterrupted scenery along the south coast. Views of the windfarm from the West Cape Howe National Park are a signal to southbound walkers that they are approaching the southern terminus and the end of their walk in Albany.

Find out more in Along the Track.

Highlights

• The Wilson Inlet, over 20km long, is a haven for many water birds including pelicans and the black swan.
• Lowlands Beach provides walkers with a safe swimming beach.
• Outstanding and expansive views all along the coast as far west as Rame Head near Walpole, east toward Albany and inland to the Porongorup and Stirling Ranges.
• The West Cape Howe National Park contains the most southern point in Western Australia, Torbay Head and is almost completely covered in heathland and forest, with excellent displays of wildflowers in the spring. It is also the point where walkers heading south first glimpse the windfarm near Albany – a sure sign that the southern end of the Track is near.
• Torbay and Cosy Corner have some of the most crystal clear waters in the area. Cosy Corner is also a safe swimming beach with toilets and a cold water shower at the picnic area.
• Mutton Bird also provides a great swimming spot.
• The Grassmere and Albany wind farms. Together they meet 80% of Albany’s electricity needs with clean, inexhaustible renewable energy.
• Great views of Albany town and abundant birdlife along the shores Princess Royal Harbour.
• This section of the Bibbulmun Track is twinned with a section of the Jeju Olle Trail in South Korea. Find out more about our Friendship Trails.

Interesting Places

• Various wineries, arts and craft centres, cosy cafés, exhibitions, walk trails and whale watching in and near Denmark.
• The Valley of the Giants including the famous Tree Top Walk and the Ancient Empire west of Denmark.
• Greens Pool in the William Bay National Park is the perfect spot for a swim and snorkelling in the sheltered waters of the wild Southern Ocean. Lights Beach also has a small sheltered beach near Denmark.
• The Scotsdale Tourist Drive is a magnificent half day tour of Denmark’s picturesque countryside and spectacular coastline.
• The Blowholes, the Gap and Natural Bridge in the Torndirrup National Park near Albany are excellent places to experience the fury of the Southern Ocean.
• Wilderness cruises, diving, whale watching in season and the old whaling station near Albany.
• The Porongorup and Stirling Ranges north of Albany with a multitude of walk trails, camping and accommodation.
• The Albany and Grassmere wind farm with lookouts, interpretive signage and walk trail part of the Bibbulmun Track.

Day Walks

1. Eden Rd (Nullaki wilderness gate) to Lowlands Beach via Nullaki campsite one-way (17.6km). From Denmark drive east along South Coast Highway for 17km to the Lower Denmark Rd and turn right. Then turn right again into Eden Rd. Drive for approx. 11km along Eden Rd to the wilderness gate. Lowlands Beach can be reached by taking South Coast Highway from Denmark for 17km. Turn right into the Lower Denmark Rd and travel for 6km. Turn right into Tennessee Rd South and drive a further 6km to the beach. Watch for the Track crossing 250m before the beach.
2. Lowlands Beach to Shelley Beach Rd via West Cape Howe campsite one-way (17.1km). To reach Shelley Beach Rd take the Lower Denmark Rd from Denmark or Albany and turn into Cosy Corner Rd. Drive for 3km then turn right into Coombes Rd and travel a further 3km. turn left onto Shelley Beach Rd and drive for approx. 4.5km to the Track crossing. Watch for Bibbulmun Track signs.
3. Cosy Corner to Shelley Beach lookout via Torbay campsite and back (17km). 
4. Mutton Bird Island to Sandpatch one-way (14.7km). From either Denmark or Albany, take the Lower Denmark Rd and turn into Mutton Bird Rd. Drive for approx. 8km to the carpark near the beach. To access Sand Patch, drive along Frenchman Bay Rd from Albany to Princess Avenue and turn right. Follow this road for 6km to the windfarm (Princess Avenue becomes Sand Patch Rd after veering to the left near the prison).

Overnight Walks

1. Denmark to Cosy Corner one-way (49.5km, three or four days, two or three nights).
2. Lowlands Beach to Cosy Corner (23.9km, two days, one night).
3. Shelley Beach Rd to West Cape Howe campsite and back (23.2km, two days, one night).
4. Cosy Corner to Sandpatch one-way (20.5km, two days, one night).
5. Cosy corner to Albany one-way (35.4 km, two days, one night).
6. Denmark to Albany one-way (84.9km, five days, four nights).

Getting There

Denmark is 420km (five hours) from Perth along Albany Highway and the Denmark-Mt Barker Rd or 480km (five hours and 30 minutes) via Kwinana Freeway, Forrest Highway, Old Coast Rd, South Western and South Coast Highway via Bunbury, Manjimup and Walpole.

Albany is 417km (four hours and 40 minutes) from Perth via Albany Highway.

TransWA operate daily services to Denmark from Perth (via Bunbury, Manjimup and Walpole), Perth to Albany and Denmark to Albany.

Some accommodation providers will transfer you to the Track, provided you are staying with them.

Reflections from the Register

Nullaki campsite

Watching the sun through the canopies of the Australian trees, following the kangaroo tracks and finding the right path has been a transforming experience and one which brings you to another reality.
Silvia Loveza (Bulgaria) 05/05/07

Today it happened. We got here early and Adam popped the question. The dreaded “D” word. “How about double-hutting today, Mikki?”
I could tell by his tone he was serious. My blood ran cold, but I retained self-discipline and calmly laid out my arguments for staying put – basically I just didn’t want to walk 17 kilometers after lunch. He, equally as calmly, explained why we should – it was very early to stop, bad mozzies were reported here, we’re feeling fit and strong after our rest day in Denmark, blah, blah…I started to cry, Adam refused to unpack his backpack – and I saw a reasonable solution. I grabbed the bag of chocolate peanuts, ran out of the shelter and threatened to scatter them far and wide…
…victory for the little blonde – we stayed!
Mikki and Adam  18/01/06

West Cape Howe campsite

It was a little difficult today because of the too many flies!! We were glad to come on. We met Tom on the way, it was surprising to meet someone on the way on Christmas Day! We met also a snake behind the camping site. Just a word to say that we couldn’t do two steps a day, so congratulations to those who do it!! Perhaps with more experience we can do it more than once a day, maybe…Pierre and Chantal (Belgium). 25/12/02
Ed: I would like to think they mean two shelters a day…

Since Simon has joined us and now we are three
The dilemma we have is dividing up tea.
How to cut Deb into three and not two
Dividing up biscuits and carving the stew.
So for many long minutes we stared at the pot
Then all stuck our spoons in and gobbled the lot!
Red Dog & Cheeky Monkey 24/11/08

You know you’ve been on the Track too long when:
You talk to the animals at great length
After 15 days your earlobe still has the sunscreen on it from day one
You start apologizing to the spiders for wrecking their webs
The Track feels like home
You hide from cars
You start thinking of tiger snakes as potential pets
You regard a two-minute noodle mix with Deb and a stock cube as a roast beef dinner
I could go on…
K & K 12/01/12

I love animals. I am basically a non-angry person. I don’t mind snakes. But I hate @!**!$**ing flies!!! I hate them!!!
Jake 20/01/12

Torbay campsite

Yesterday I read the register and a little boy had written “Me and daddy saw three kangaroos and a German!
Reinhart (Germany)

Mutton Bird campsite

This is the last day of my E2E N to S. Enjoyed every minute. The memories are vivid.
Adam

Such beauty is this. I wake to the sunrise to see mist flow through many spider webs, all unique and complex. This beauty only exists in a moment as the mist dissipates and the sun rises higher and the spiders dismantle their webs from the day past. I’m to pack my things and begin a new, just as the spider has.
The barefoot wanderer

Hidden Valley campsite (now defunct)

A Bulgarian, a Yank and a Pom with a combined age of 174 arrived between showers and are leaving between more showers en route to Denmark. We imagine the scenery was tremendous, shame we couldn’t see it through the rain! Been a lonely walk so far; guess few other idiots would walk in this sort of weather. On, on!
Vic, Jon & Ken (FOBT) 18/07/2000 

The end is near as I face the final curtain. Yes, she’s just about all over, folks—day 39 tomorrow and only 19km to Albany. I’ve had a great time, met some brilliant people and enjoyed some fabulous scenery. The Track is a credit to all involved in its conception to what it is today, thanks to all involved at every level. To see people of all ages and from all walks of life enjoying the outdoors is what it’s all about.
Darren Reid, 20/10/2000

Thanks to all who made it possible that I could spend two months on this great track! I walked alone but spent only six nights alone in the shelters. I have walked for 49 days and spent 18 days in the towns along the way. Next week I stay in Albany to eat, relax, get clean and drink a lot of beer!  At 24 years old I have made a dream come true. Thanks to all!
P.S. 963 km is not as bad as it sounds!
Harald Frys (Austria) 31/01/01

Last time I was at this shelter it was my 67th day out from Kalamunda and I was on a huge high—and I have been ever since! Today I have been a tad melancholic as I set out to retrace my steps, this time heading north.
Be warned, this Track is very, very addictive and once you’re hooked, there is no kicking the habit. It beats the hell out of any other addiction, trust me!
Terry the Tortoise, 08/10/01

Sandpatch campsite

First night out, back to Albany for more glucose and electrolytes!! – and dump some gear and hike back tomorrow.
Anon 5/2/13

Well here we are at the start of our epic journey. An early start saw us fly into Albany. Hunkered down to a trekker’s breakfast in readiness for our first day’s walk. Left Albany at 11am after the obligatory photo at the Southern Terminus. Only had to get directions once (pretty good for me). Arrived in the afternoon to the new home @ Sandpatch. 12 hours in bed and a fantastic view from the bedroom, dining room and kitchen. Finally ready to head off…. thanks to all those who do the gardening and maintenance.
P, N & S xxx June 2012

Well it’s the 11th hour, my adventure has come to an end. It’s sad, but exciting because this trek has put a new tilt on life for me. I love the fact that I will walk into Albany on NYE. What an awesome way to wrap up the year. I thought a bit about what to write here, you know – your favourite campsite and so on…. thing is it’s all relative to your frame of mind at the time. Some like Murray are in nice spots but even Brookton could be wonderful in the right frame of mind. In a whole it’s been spiritually renovating. There is something special about the people you meet on the Track. Big love to you all and be safe in whatever you choose to do – Shannon 31/12/12 Day 61.

Albany Visitors Centre

Pemberton to Albany. Now I know what the real Oz is.
Jean-Marie van den Meersschant (Belgium).

Weather

Maps and Guides

• 

  Guidebook 8 and Map 8 – Denmark/Albany

  Buy the Denmark/Albany Guidebook and Map together.

  Guidebooks

  • Price $25.95
  • Buy this
• 

  Map 8 – Denmark/Albany

  This map extends from William Bay campsite to Albany (Southern Terminus).

  Maps

  • Price $11.95
  • Buy this
• 

  Southern Half Map Pack

  Maps

  • Price $39.95
  • Buy this

Parks and Wildlife Service

Frankland District

Pingerup Rd to Denmark River Mouth.
Including Mt Chance campsite to William Bay campsite.

Contact: Megan Pardoe (Frankland.district@dbca.wa.gov.au)
Telephone: (08) 9840 0400

Opening times: 8am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

Address

South Coast Highway
WALPOLE

Albany District

Denmark River Mouth to Southern Terminus (Albany).
Including Nullaki campsite to Sandpatch campsite.

Contact: Sara Hands-May (albany@dbca.wa.gov.au)
Telephone: (08) 9842 4500

Opening times: 8am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

Address

120 Albany Highway
ALBANY

Visitor Information Centres