Pemberton
Nestled in a valley surrounded by the karri forests of the Gloucester National Park and the Pemberton Forest Park, Pemberton enjoys a cool climate with crystal clear streams, rich soils and friendly locals. Located 325 kilometres south of Perth via South West Highway and Vasse Highway, the town began as a timber town and was established in 1913. Before then, cattlemen and farmers had sparsely populated the surrounding country and the town’s name comes from one of the earliest settlers, Pemberton Walcott. An ideal central location to make your base for discovering the whole south west corner of Western Australia, it is about an hour and a half drive from Margaret River, Busselton, Walpole/Nornalup and the Valley of the Giants and only two hours from Bunbury.
Like Manjimup, Pemberton’s main attractions focus on the timber industry. There is the giant Gloucester Tree, an old timber carrying railway line, a museum which focuses on the timber industry and a number of pleasant drives through the forests which surround the town. As timber has declined in importance, the town has increasingly become a tourist destination and like so much of the rest of Australia, some people have sought their fortune by planting vineyards.
It’s the smell of the forest that you won’t forget, the cool night air all year round, the romance and crackle of a log fire or the views from your verandah. It will make you feel refreshed and alive. While the karri forest may be the backdrop, Pemberton offers great diversity within a very small area. Explore by self drive, regular 4WD, or guided tour. Four wheel drive tracks enable you to see the best of the karri forest and the coast with the Yeagerup Dunes. Wildflowers are a feature in springtime. Travel by river; canoe hire is available.
Experience the largest inland dune system in the Southern Hemisphere. Drive on endless beaches, visit wild oceans and explore the Warren and Greater Hawke National Park’s majestic, old growth Karri Forest through areas that are inaccessible to conventional vehicles.
This half day tour departs Pemberton daily and commences a wonderful journey through the Warren National Park, exploring the giant old growth Karri forrest. You will experience a diversity of wildlife, from kangaroos, snakes and emus to forest Red Tailed Black Cockatoo and other bird life unique to this pristine area.
From here you will head to D’Entrecasteaux National Park and traverse the sandy tracks leading to the giant walls of sand ahead, known as the Yeagarup sand dune system. After driving through the pristine dune area you will emerge at the Great Southern Ocean where the mouth of the Warren river opens and closes, depending on the amazing powerful force of the water flow.
