PEMBERTON AND THE SOUTHERN FORESTS
The historical timber town of Pemberton, surrounded by towering Karri trees, remarkable natural beauty with captivating forests, magnificent wild flowers, bubbling streams and waterfalls.
With a myriad of things to do Pemberton is more than you expected.
Consider adventure: Go mountain biking on stunning single track, enjoy a tram ride through the forest, cruise on the Donnelly River, 4WD over the magnificent Yeagarup sand dunes to the beach, fish for marron and trout in the rivers and streams, enjoy a wine from award winning wineries, canoe down the Warren River, bushwalk on the Bibbulmun Track, taste mouth-watering fresh local produce, sit by the roaring log fire in winter or in summer enjoy a picnic at Big Brook Dam.
Climb the Gloucester or Bicentennial Lookout Trees and explore the five National Parks surrounding Pemberton on the Karri Forest Explorer Drive.
There is lots to do and Eucalyptus House is a wonderful base to explore the Southern Forests.
"Come for the trees, stay for the experience"
PEMBERTON VISITOR CENTRE
The best way to find out everything that there is to do and see in and around Pemberton is to stop in at the Visitor Centre, located on Brockman St in the middle of town.
The friendly staff can give you all the information you may need about:
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Events happening
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Things to do
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Places to eat
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Tours
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Natural attractions
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Walk or ride trails
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And so much more...
You can pick up a map of the town or region, a copy of the visitor guide or perhaps a map of the Munda Biddi MTB Trail or Bibbulmun Walk Track.
For more information visit the Pemberton Visitor Centre online www.pembertonvisitor.com.au/
Or contact them on:
Ph: 08 9776 1133
BIG BROOK DAM
Big Brook Dam is one of Western Australia’s best swimming sites. It has stunning Karri trees, a swimming beach, picnic shelters and a gas barbeque, toilet and changerooms, wonderful fishing and a sealed wheel chair accessible walking path the whole way around. Really good in all seasons. The Bibbulmun Track traverses Big Brook Dam and Arboretum.
Parks and Wildlife: https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/big-brook-dam
Trails WA:
YEAGERUP SAND DUNES
Yeagarup Dunes are the largest landlocked sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere.
They are accessible by 4WD tour, self drive 4WD, or bushwalking in. There is seasonal coastal heath wildflowers, magnificent coastline and magnificent old growth Karri and Marri forest as you traverse the Warren & D'Entrecasteaux National Parks near Pemberton.
Parks and Wildlife: https://parks.dpaw.wa.gov.au/site/yeagarup
Trails WA:
http://trailswa.com.au/trails/pemberton-yeagarup-sand-dunes-walk
GLOUCESTER & BICENTENNIAL CLIMBING LOOKOUT TREES
A series of fire lookouts were constructed in the top of a few very tall Karri trees, mainly during the 1930s and 1940s. These lookouts were a way of spotting fires in the tall Karri forest.
The first Karri fire lookout tower, called the Big Tree, was constructed in 1938. By 1952, eight tree towers had been constructed. A trilogy of karri tree towers remain and two are are open for climbing to the public. Today you can still climb some of these lookout trees and take in their view:
The Gloucester Tree in the Gloucester National Park is only 2kms from the Post Office in Pemberton. The Gloucester Tree was chosen as a fire lookout in 1947, one of a network of lookouts built in the Karri forest between 1937 and 1952. The Gloucester Tree was named after the then Governor-General of Australia, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, who was visiting Pemberton as the lookout was being built. Today, visitors can climb up the 61m to see one of the most spectacular views of the Karri forest.
The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree in the Warren National Park is a 15 minute drive from the Pemberton township, and off the Old Vasse Road. The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree lookout was first pegged in 1988 as part of Australia’s bicentennial celebrations. At 75m above the ground, it is the tallest with a 360-degree view of old growth Karri forest.
The Diamond Tree between Manjimup and Pemberton is also a 15 minute drive from either town, on the Southwest Highway. The Diamond Tree is a 51m Karri tree on which a wooden cabin was built and used as a fire lookout tower from 1941 to 1974. It is the only wooden tree top tower in the world and is now closed for climbing. It is still open to the public however you are unable to climb the tree.
Please note that cars require a National Park Pass to enter the national parks in which the climbing trees are located. These can be purchased from the Pemberton Visitor Centre prior to arrival.
Parks and Wildlife:
PEMBERTON MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK
Pemberton Mountain Bike Park is located in the Pemberton Forest Park with the trail head located at the Pemberton Pool, Swimming Pool Road Pemberton.
Pemberton is a National level ride destination, with 32 kilometres of mountain bike tracks, a set of dirt jumps and a pump track. Riders need to ride to their ability and have a well maintained bike. The mountain bike park is open to anyone.
TrailsWA:
https://trailswa.com.au/trails/networks/pemberton-mountain-bike-park
Download a MTB Park map:
Pemberton Mountain Bike Park Map
The topography around Pemberton also makes it a great place for road cycling. You can test your mettel on some great climbs and be rewarded with stunning vistas over the forests and surrounding farms.
Download a road riding map:
The Munda Biddi Trail (Mountain Bike) traverses along with the Bibbulmun Track (Bushwalking) meeting up in Pemberton. These are both long distance trails, a thousand kilometres long from Perth to Albany.
Munda Biddi:
https://mundabiddi.org.au/pages/pemberton
Bibbulmun Track:
https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/
FABULOUS FOOD AND STUNNING WINES
Pemberton and the Southern Forests has become a world renown region for produce of exceptional quality and variety.
The Mediterranean climate with cool nights and abundant rainfall, combined with rich, loamy soils makes the region perfect for growing the very best produce, including marron and black perigord truffle.
There are a number of venues to taste the region's flavours. We recommend stopping at a few of the many roadside produce stalls to grab the freshest produce right from the paddock and then bring it back to Eucalyptus House, which has a fully equipped kitchen ready to serve up a feast.
WORLD CLASS BIBBULMUN WALK TRACK
The Bibbulmun Track is a 1,000 kilometre bushwalking trail that goes between Perth and Albany and passes right through Pemberton. There are a number of short to medium sections that can be done within a day, or if you are up for the challenge of the full distance, Eucalyptus House makes for a perfect resting place to recharge your body and your supplies.
Bibbulmun Track:
GET UP CLOSE TO A WATERFALL
During winter and spring, there are number of spectacular waterfalls near Pemberton to see.
Beedelup Falls is around 20 minutes drive from Pemberton and has an easy 300 metre sealed path that opens to a viewing platform, where you can see the falls as they plunge over the cliffs. There are longer walk loops for the more adventurous, including a short suspension bridge that crosses near the base of the falls.
The Cascades, just south of town are just beautiful, where water drops from level to level as it makes its way into the Warren River. There are a number of viewing platforms and areas,
Past Northcliffe is Lane Poole Falls. It's a 6km hike from the carpark but you will be rewarded with the water flowing over a natural rock wall.
In the spring, the entire are a is dotted with a large variety of wildflowers, many of which are endemic to the area.
A RANGE OF EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE
There are so many experiences to discover in Pemberton and across the Southern Forests. From towering forests to rugged coastlines with beaches you can have all to yourself. Rolling pastures and ornate orchards and everything in between. From action packed mountain bike tracks to tranquil, natural sculpture walks, there is truly something for everyone. Visit the Pemberton Visitor Centre for information on all these and many more things to do.
PEMBERTON BUSHWALKS
For information about the stunning bushwalks in and around Pemberton, please visit the Pemberton Visitor Centre website's bushwalking page:
THINGS TO DO
There are lots of things to do and see in Pemberton and in the surrounding Southern Forests. Looking for ideas, visit the Pemberton Visitor Centre for inspiration.
