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Bald Head Walk Trail

Bald Head Walk Trail

Torndirrup National Park

Directions - From the centre of Albany take Frenchman Bay Road into Torndirrup National Park until you reach Salmon Hole Road. Take a right here and then take a left onto Murray Road. The Bald Head Walk Trail starts at the top of a gravel road that comes off Murray Road (it is well signposted), where you'll find a small car park.

2024 Update - The Bald Head Walk Trail will be re-opened for the school holidays from Saturday the 21st of September to the 6th of October, and will close again after that to continue works on the car park upgrade. See this page for more details.

 

The Hike - The Bald Head Walk Trail has had a meteoric rise to popularity from the first time I hiked it way back in 2015, and for good reason. As one of the best day hikes in Western Australia, it's gone from being a trail that not many knew about, to a must-do activity if you're visiting Albany. I've loved every visit here, and in 2022 DBCA decided that with the growing popularity, the trail needed a long overdue fix to deal with the increased numbers.

The trail was shut down for several months while works were going on to install boardwalk and steps in critical areas, along with dealing with the erosion issues that were only going to get worse. One section that was particularly bad, as you make your final descent to the end, required hikers to pull themselves up a few metre high sections of eroded channel, that although didn't seem to be any worse between my 2015 and 2020 visit, was going to need measures put in given how many people hike this each year. With the trail re-opening in 2023, I had a trip planned for the spring to refresh myself on the great trails along the South Coast for my second book (which can be purchased here). Staying in Albany for six days, I would be exploring all the trails in the area, with Bald Head saved for the sunniest of those days. Deciding to head out in the morning, I had never hiked Bald Head before midday in the past, and thought I would see what the lighting would be like at that time of day.

 

Initially things were fantastic, as I hiked up towards Isthmus Hill, the views looking down towards Salmon Holes were stunning. Rounding Isthmus Hill and getting my first views of the most iconic section of the track, I realised I may have made an error. The limestone ridge was backlit by the morning sun, and the photos were looking washed out, along with the unpleasantness of staring into the sun for most of the hike. Normally I would just continue to be my pig-headed self and hike on, but I'm trying to be better in this regard, so made the decision to turn back, and return after I had finished the other trails on my list today. After a couple of stunning hikes at Peak Head and Uredale Point, I returned around 2pm to tackle Bald Head again. With the sun now over my left shoulder for most of the hike, this was much better, and confirmation that there was a reason my previous two visits were also in the afternoon. Spotting plenty of wildflower and orchids leading up to Isthmus Hill, this would just be the start in terms of the lovely flora along the track.

Reaching the granite slopes of Isthmus Hill again, the views looking back to Albany and the old Whaling Station below are lovely, and really highlight the beautiful topography of the area. Walking across the granite to reach the next section of trail, the skies were a pleasant blue, with wisps of white clouds making for some excellent photos, a real contrast to the moody day I had when I last hiked this in 2020. Noticing the new boardwalk section as you round the slopes of Isthmus Hill, this was one of the areas that needed it, thanks to a lot of broken boardwalk and eroded channels. Reaching what I like to call the "wow moment" of Bald Head, you round a corner and are presented with these majestic views looking out over Flinders Peninsula, with the bulk of the limestone ridge ahead, and the granite dome of Bald Head visible in the distance. It's a real stop you in your tracks moment, and it certainly hasn't lost any of the lustre from previous visits. 

 

Meandering along the boardwalk, I was walking slowly along here, switching my gaze between the different wildflowers dotting the edge of the trail, and the stunning scenery all around. This section is where you'll find a great host of Banksias, with the birds flitting between the coastal heath. It takes a bit of patience to get photos of them, and a New Holland Honeyeater stayed still long enough for me to get a shot of it. As you continue along the boardwalk, the views start to open up, firstly to your right, where you can marvel at the granite slopes of Isthmus Hill as they meet the ocean below, and then off to your left as one of the sheltered bays within King George Sound looks like it might below on the Italian or French Riviera. Soaking in this special place as long as I could, there was no rush this afternoon, and I could revel in hiking one of my favourite trails. With excellent weather, the views looking down the peninsula were some of the best I've seen them, with the gentle waves crashing against the exposed southern flank providing a nice scene.