The creation of the new trail was a true partnership between Traditional Owners, the Shire of Denmark and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) as most of the new section of the trail is on land managed by the Shire of Denmark, including Pooryungup/Ocean Beach Reserve with a small portion of the trail aligned through the Denmark Community Windfarm.

“We are really pleased that this project has produced such a quality outcome, through a partnership with the Shire of Denmark,” DBCA’s Assistant Director, Parks and Visitor Services, Rod Annear said.

Along with Phytophthera dieback mapping of the area as well as flora and fauna surveys, there has been extensive consultation with the Traditional Owners with several on-site visits prior to the start of construction. An archaeological survey was undertaken to ensure there were no impacts on Aboriginal cultural heritage, which informed the trail alignment.

Traditional Owners undertook green card training and were on-site during construction to ensure that any earth disturbance was kept to a minimum and if any artefacts were turned up, work ceased to allow a closer examination.

Interpretive signage at various lookout points is being developed after a consultation session with Traditional Owners to develop the themes that will focus on the indigenous and natural values of the area.

“This is a great community resource that will benefit the locals and tourists for years to come,” Rod said.

For those who are more technologically minded, the two 50-metre turbines of Denmark Community Windfarm are standout features along the trail. The windfarm is owned by a public company whose 120 shareholders are mainly local residents. Commencing commercial generation of renewable energy in 2013, the Denmark Community Windfarm supplies 50 per cent of Denmark’s annual power demand.

Many of the plants growing along the trail have cultural significance such as the wonil (peppermint). The leaves of this tree can be crushed, and the vapour inhaled to relieve congestion.

Fan flowers, pimelias and hibbertias add to the rainbow of colour. Shady peppermint groves offer cool relief from the sun and Banksia and Hakea thickets provide a food source for Carnaby’s and Baudin’s black cockatoos.

Denmark local and convenor of the Denmark Bird Group, Kirsty Anderson, is a regular user of the WOW Trail.

“There are a good variety of birds including shining bronze and fantail cuckoos, Carnaby’s and Baudin’s black cockatoos, and on the parrot bush, scrubwrens, fairy wrens, red- eared firetails and currawongs,” Kirsty said.

“We have seen many different species of seabirds including yellow-nosed and black-browed albatross, gannets, shearwaters and we occasionally see the white-bellied sea-eagle skirting along the cliff edge.”

From June to November, humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae) and southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) are regular visitors to the sheltered waters of Ratcliffe Bay. Humpback whales leave their feeding grounds in Antarctic waters in late autumn as the temperature drops and head north to breed in the warmer waters off the west coast of Australia. From the lookouts, whales can be seen breaching and slapping their tail flukes and fins on the water.

Locals of the more dangerous variety are at home in the thick coastal heath at Pooryungup. Dugites (Pseudonaja affinis) and tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus) can sometimes be seen sunning themselves along the trail or moving quickly out of the way.

Local resident and cyclist, Jane, thinks it’s a great trail that is perfect for the whole family, including dogs in some sections.

“To have nine kilometres of trail that winds around the coastal cliffs and dunes to Lights Beach is amazing,” Jane said.

“The views along the whole trail—the Wilson Inlet, the cliffs and ocean and Mt Hallowell—are just so picturesque.”

Former Denmark Shire President, Ceinwen Gearon, said the extended WOW Trail is already a treasured community asset, despite its short life.

“I’m delighted that after working together with DBCA and thanks to detailed and appropriate consultation with Traditional Owners, we now have a continuation of this popular trail. It means we can all enjoy even more of WA’s stunning coastline by foot or bicycle,” Dr Gearon said.

Planning is underway for the last section of the WOW Trail between Sinker Bay and Ocean Beach.

It is envisaged that long-distance Munda Biddi Trail riders and Bibbulmun Track walkers will also take advantage of the new alignment and use the specially hardened trail surface to travel closer to the coast for the spectacular views over the Southern Ocean.