23 Apr 2025 4 min read Travel Adventures

Wild South: Albany Road Trip to Giant Trees, Jewel Cave & Forest Canopies

Our road trip through Albany and WA’s deep south took us from cliffside lookouts to ancient forests and underground caves. Highlights included The Gap, the Giant Tingle Tree, the Valley of the Giants, and a surreal light show inside Jewel Cave.

Australia Highlights Series – Stop #3

Keywords: Albany WA road trip, Valley of the Giants, Giant Tingle Tree, Jewel Cave, The Gap Albany, Natural Bridge, Western Australia nature travel, South West WA itinerary

Our third stop: Albany. This leg of the trip was all about dramatic cliffs, giant forests, and hidden worlds underground.

Albany: Where Cliffs Roar and Rocks Split

Albany itself has a quiet charm, but the landscapes just outside town are anything but subtle.

In Torndirrup National Park, we visited two of WA’s most iconic natural formations:

The Gap

A towering cliff with a platform suspended over the ocean
Waves crash and echo below with serious force
You can feel the thunder through your feet

It’s dramatic, loud, and a little unnerving.

Natural Bridge

A granite arch carved out by the sea over centuries
Looks delicate, but it’s withstood endless storms
Best viewed with the swell rolling beneath it

Albany gave us solid accommodation, good food options, and an easy base for exploring WA’s deep south. From here, the forests began.

Giant Tingle Tree: Hollow, Massive & Hundreds of Years Old

A couple of hours west of Albany is Walpole—and the incredible Giant Tingle Tree.

Estimated to be over 400 years old
Trunk hollowed by fire and time
Big enough to stand inside and look up through the centre

Standing inside it felt humbling and a bit magical.

Standing inside the giant tree looking upwards

Valley of the Giants: Walking Through the Canopy

Next stop: the Tree Top Walk in the Valley of the Giants.

A 600-metre walkway through the forest canopy
Suspended 40 metres above the forest floor
Surrounded by towering karri and red tingle trees

There’s a gentle sway to the bridges that keeps things interesting.

Back on the ground, there's a trail winding among the trees —massive, weathered trunks that feel as old as time.

Jewel Cave: Beauty Below Ground

Our last stop was Jewel Cave, near Augusta. A completely different world—underground, ancient, and silent.

One of the largest show caves in Western Australia
Features towering stalactites and delicate crystal formations
Some formations date back more than one million years

Inside Jewel Cave, showing lit-up formations and cathedral-like chambers

The cave itself is cool, still, and beautifully lit. Our guide explained how each formation grows over centuries—some only millimetres per year.

They also run a short light show during the tour, illuminating the formations in warm tones and casting dramatic shadows across the chamber walls. It transforms the cave into something that feels magical.

And at one point, they turn the lights off completely. You can hold your hand right in front of your face and see absolutely nothing. It's oddly disorienting and unforgettable.

Quick Tips for the Albany Forest Loop

Start early – You’ll want time to take in each stop
Dress in layers – The forest is cool and damp, even in warmer months
Good shoes are a must – Uneven paths, metal walkways, cave stairs
Book cave tours ahead – Especially in peak holiday periods
Fuel up in Albany – Limited options once you're out in the forest

Why This Stop Stood Out

The Albany road trip gave us dramatic coastlines, ancient forests, and some of the most surreal landscapes we saw in Australia.

Watching waves explode beneath us at The Gap. Walking inside a tree, and descending into a cave with formations over a million years old.

🧭 Plan Your Own Albany Adventure

Drive the southern coast. Explore the forests. Go underground in a cave older than you can imagine.

This isn't your typical tourist trail—it’s a road trip full of natural wonders and hidden gems.

👉 Coming Up Next in the Series:
Sydney & Port Geographe – Coastal Cities, Hidden Beaches & Harbour Magic

Ready to Plan Your Own Adventure?

We’ve made it easy by rounding up the same trusted tools we use to book flights, stays, insurance, and activities. Whether you're chasing waterfalls in Ecuador or relaxing in a cabin, these resources have you covered.

Plan Your Trip with Our Trusted Travel Tools

Compare Flights
→ Kiwi.com
→ Trip.com

Book Budget Stays
→ Hostelworld
→ Agoda

Protect Your Trip
→ Klook (Travel Insurance & eSIM)

Find Rentals
→ Economybookings

Explore Activities
→ Viator
→ GetYourGuide
→ Go City

Arrange Transfers
→ Welcome Pickups

Plan Your Route
→ Tripadvisor

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