WOW Wilderness — Local services in Walpole

WOW INDEED!! The WOW Wilderness Ecoadventures Pedal and Paddle Adventure is one of the very best I've ever done!

I can't think of a better way to see the famous Valley of the Giants than by mountain-biking all the way through it in the morning, eating really tasty snacks along the way, and then lunch on the Frankland River before lazily paddling down it in the afternoon. Both the forest and the river through it are pristine wilderness of great beauty. Emma is extremely passionate about this area and knows SO much about the flora, fauna and history of this area over many years. She is an absolute treasure chest of really interesting facts and stories that entertain as well as inform - I learnt so much along the way. The adventure aspect was genuine and significant and fun. I hadn't actually mountain-biked before, just ridden a bike a fair bit, including down some dirt roads, so the easy mountain bike trails felt like a real achievement. My partner has done a lot of mountain biking and said it was ridiculous fun - he had a big grin on his face the whole morning. The rolled-up raft hangs on your handlebars and weighs hardly anything - I didn't really notice it there as I rode, and then the bike sits on the front of the now inflated raft as you paddle and balances out your weight at the back where the raft itself makes a comfortable back rest. I've paddled a kayak heaps, so the rafting was well within my comfort zone, unlike the mountain biking, but even if you were new to it, it was relaxing and gentle paddling in such a gorgeous location! There's a maximum of four people per trip, so book early. This is really a personal experience tailored to each group and the most amazing day trip! And Emma will go above and beyond to ensure you enjoy...

This is a bit of an odd review... I have just read the reviews already posted, and agree with them all. The thing is, I did this cruise in 2007 while having a day off from cycling from Perth round the coast to Esperance and then up to Kalgoorlie. The kicker is that I will be flying out in January, as an old age pensioner with bad arthritis, and retracing my pedal strokes with a camper van. Yes, I shall be doing my best to join Gary again, and see if his routine has any new lines. (Godwits, Gary). Really looking forward to it.

And...I was in Walpole on Saturday, and Gary is as exuberant as ever. He also has new material. The thing about the cruise is that it is an opportunity to see an awful lot of things, especially birdlife.. Gary's spiel is a mixture of local history, of which he is a keen exponent, and ecological detail. Last time, I heard about the poison pea. This time, it was about quokka tolerance of poisons used in bait to eradicate introduced pests, along with how frogs have managed to cross salt water to colonise an island in the inlet. The centrepiece of his talk this time was how nearly Walpole could have been turned into just one more industrial port, complete with a massive volume of precious, nearly-lost old photographs.

Oh yes: I am not claiming that was a Kelp gull; I just know it was neither a Pacific nor a Silver. Darker mantle, no wingtip 'mirrors', smaller bill than a Pacific, no terminal dark band to tail, bigger than Silver, but not long enough a view to confirm it wasn't a...

'Wow' is right! What a fantastic tour and operators. We went out with Gazza and Emma this morning for the eco cruise and were absolutely blown away by the knowledge and passion they have for the region. The tour involved some good humour, lots of knowledge about the area and history, historical links to every country you could think of (and probably some you can't), information about the wildlife, and even a couple of mathematics and chemistry lessons!

The tour starts with shoe cleaning to avoid the spread of dieback before boarding the boat. Then you head off, wave to the team at Rest Point Caravan Park, and travel past snake island, before docking for a short hike over the hill to comb the beach for washed up plastics. Then it's back to the boat for morning tea which was home made lemon cake (plus biscuits for vegans and those who are gluten free), tea, coffee and iced lemon drink. After that the tour heads back to the town jetty to disembark. All the while, learning about so many different things!

Gazza is highly entertaining and the most amazing walking encyclopaedia! We will definitely be doing this tour again...