Pemberton and the Southern Forest Area

From Augusta, we travelled along the Brockman Highway towards Bridgetown and decided to stay the night in a Rest Area / Nature Reserve called Jarrah Park. This was a real bush setting and very quite and peaceful as we were the only ones there. We still set up the satellite dish and were able to watch all our Austar channels.

Bush Camp at Jarrah Park - Bridgetown

There had been a fair bit of rain and noticed the Blackwood River in partial flood as we drove along it. The river has a number of tributaries which is probably why it carries a lot of water.

Blackwood River in Partial Flood

View from Top of Gloucester Tree

In recent years, Pemberton has become a popular adventure and wellbeing destination. However, the main attraction is still the forest areas and the towering Karri trees. There are many national parks near Pemberton and the Gloucester National Park is one of these. The main attraction here is the Gloucester Tree which is a huge karri tree and can be climbed. I managed the ascent to the lookout at the top, about 60 meters above ground. The tree itself is about 72 metres tall and is used as a fire lookout. There are 153 spikes that spiral the tree up to the steel lookout and a magnificent view.

Looking Down from the Gloucester Tree

The climb is not for everyone as its reasonably strenuous and there are no safety devices and a long way down. Apparently only 1 in 5 people who start the climb actually make it to the top.It's a bit hard on the hands as the rungs are actually 20mm steel reinforcing bar and gloves would be handy for people (like me) with soft hands.

Spillway at Big Brook Dam - Pemberto

The Big Brook Dam is also a popular spot for tourists and leisure seekers. Its located on the Karri Forrest Explorer Trail. It would be more popular in summer when the weather is warm as it  has a sandy beach and clear crisp water and ideal for swimming and water sports.

Big Karri Tree in Warren National Park

This is one of the biggest karri trees in the area. These native trees are unique to the southwest region of Western Australia and belong to the family Myrtaceae. The name 'karri' is the Aboriginal word for the Eucalyptus Diversicolor. The tree can grow up to 80m, has smooth pink to silvery-grey bark and a straight trunk with heartwood of reddish brown. The bark of the karri sheds each year, resulting in a multi-coloured trunk. Karri trees, like jarrah trees, begin their old growth phase at the ages of 100-150 years and survive to on average of 300 years old. The majority of old growth karri trees found in Western Australia are up to 200 years old.

Cascades at Pemberton

There are many walks that can be taken for all capabilities in the area. Although we only did a few short ones there are many up to the famous Bibbulmun Track. This track stretches nearly 1000kms from Kalamunda (Perth Hills) to Albany  through the heart of the scenic South West of WA. We did do a short walk into the Cascades, which is a fast flowing body of water in the Gloucester National Par. There are a series of picturesque waterfalls that flow from the Lefroy Brook near Pemberton. The authorities have built a great boardwalk, platforms and facilities in this area which adds to the attraction.

View from Top of Bicentennial Tree

The Bicentennial Tree  in the Warren National Park is a 15 minute drive from the Pemberton township.  This is one of three fire lookout trees open to the public in the Pemberton area.  It was pegged in 1988 as part of Australia's bicentennial celebrations and is 75m tall.

Climbing the Bicentennial Tree

I also climbed this tree and it was a bit tougher than the Gloucester Tree as the platform is a few metres higher. The view from the lookout at the top is also spectacular and well worth the climb.

Cutting Huge Logs at Auswest Saw Mill

The last thing we did in Pemberton was take a tour of the Auswest Timber Mill. This plant is the major employer in the town and has undergone several refurbishments and upgrades to become one of the most modern in the country. There is only one tour per week so we were lucky to be there at the right time. The mill takes mostly karri trees from local forests and cuts them into sections and lengths suitable for the domestic and export markets.

Trimming and Slitting the Karri Slabs

I was impressed at the level of automation of the equipment and skill of the mill operators. Their use of the saw equipment looked so easy but of course they made it look that way. We were told that the operators are very well trained and paid which makes for a harmonious environment and workforce. We were also amazed at the ease at which the saws cut through the green timber - just like a hot knife through butter. It was all in the equipment and the sharpness of the saw blades.

We had two full days in Pemberton before hitting the road again back to the coast and Denmark.