The Department of Environment and Conservation has launched a number of electronic guides available online for specfic destinations across WA.

The guides include three areas around Albany which encompass the Porongurup, Torndirrup and West Cape Howe national parks.

“The guides have had a very positive response,” DEC assistant director of visitor services Rod Annear said.

“Some weeks we’ve had more views of guides than of the entire DEC website.

“We’ve probably had around 60-70,000 views online of the guides. The Albany guides are fairly new and we’ve had about 450 views of them.”

So far 22 guides have been published with 42 still in the draft stage. Those include the entire Munda Biddi Trail and Bibbulmun Track.

The guides have been developed by online travel guide writers Everytrail and feature destination information, history, weather conditions, land use and transport details.

The guides are available as free iPhone and Android applications or can be viewed online at www.everytrail.com.

DEC parks and conservation deputy director general Jim Sharp said using smartphone technology was an important way to make visitor information easily accessible.

“DEC-managed lands and waters include 98 national parks, 10 marine parks and 11 regional parks, a total area greater than the size of Victoria,” he said.

“The department is committed to encouraging responsible recreation and tourism to these natural wonders.”