Things To Do in Pemberton WA: Locals Guide

Having lived in Western Australia for over 20 years, this is my travel guide to the best things to do in Pemberton WA, plus tips on the weather, how to get there, and where to stay.

Pemberton is located in the heart of the South West region of Western Australia. The area is well known for its pristine forests, rolling green hills and the amazing array of wildlife. There are plenty of things to do in Pemberton, from hiking and biking through the forest trails to fishing on the rivers and lakes.

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Pemberton Tours

The Best Things To Do in Pemberton WA

This detailed map shows where the attractions, trails, and other free things to do in Pemberton WA are located.

1. Pemberton Town & Visitor Centre

The first stop should be the Pemberton Visitor Centre, 29 Brockman Street. Maps and other tourist information and brochures on the local area and attractions are available. Pick up a map of the Karri Forest Explorer, which is explained further on in detail.

While in town, wander along the main street. These buildings are well preserved and feature in the movie Jasper Jones. Pemberton was chosen as the fictional country town, set in the 1960s, due to its authenticity of that time. Download the Walking in the Footsteps of Jasper Jones brochure.

The historic Pemberton Hotel was constructed in 1926 from materials from the Courthouse Hotel site in Greenbushes, originally built in the early 1900s. The motel units and café were added in 2000.

2. Gloucester Tree

Please note that the Gloucester Tree is now closed for climbing. See the DPAW site for updates.

The Gloucester Tree is the closest fire lookout tree to Pemberton, only 2km from the town centre, in Gloucester National Park. This makes it accessible if you don’t have transport.

It was made a fire lookout in 1947, one of a few lookouts built in the Karri forest between 1937 and 1952. These trees were an excellent way of spotting fires in the tall Karri forest.

Gloucester Tree got its name from The Duke of Gloucester, who was visiting Pemberton when it was made into a fire lookout.

The giant Karri tree is the second-tallest fire lookout tree globally, with the Dave Bicentennial Tree being the tallest (see further on).

Today, the tree can be climbed to a height of 61m. The old wooden pegs have been changed to metal, making them easier to grip. However, they can be slippery in wet weather, and it is advisable not to climb in these conditions. The Gloucester Tree has 153 of these pegs.

You’ll be pleased to know nobody has died climbing the lookout trees, but two people have suffered heart attacks afterwards. It’s certainly not something I could do, but our daughters climbed part of the way.

A 12 km hike starts at the Gloucester Tree and finishes at The Cascades, using the Bibbulmun Track (a long-distance walking trail stretching 950km from Kalamunda to Albany). It is named after a local Indigenous people’s language group and recognises their practices of walking long distances.

There are plenty of wildflowers in spring and an abundance of birds. A great place to visit whether you want to climb the tree or go on a peaceful walk amongst these spectacular giants.

3. Karri Forest Explorer Drive

The Karri Forest Explorer Drive is an 85 km circuit through the native forests and passes by many local attractions. We did the circuit in a clockwise direction, so the attractions listed are in the order of where we visited.

As mentioned, pick up a map at the Pemberton Visitor Centre or download a copy here.

The best part of this drive is it can be explored at your own pace, making it ideal to stop for a picnic en route. Alternatively, there are places along the way to do wine tasting, have a coffee, or a gourmet meal.

Pemberton has some amazing fresh produce, so look for signs on the side of the road. Most have an honesty box to put the money in. It’s one of the best ways to sample the region’s delicious food and support the locals.

Be aware that part of the circuit is on unsealed roads. If you have a hire vehicle, check the terms & conditions, as some do not allow driving on gravel.

The drive goes through National Parks, which requires a pass. Either pay at the self-registration points, purchase a pass at the Visitor Centre or, if you are a RACWA member, buy a yearly pass through them at a 50% discount.

You will be amazed at this area’s beauty, with the tall karri trees, green countryside, and contrasting red gravel roads.

4. Cascades

The Cascades, in Gloucester National Park, are beautiful waterfalls that cascade over Lefroy Brook. A short walk from the car park is a boardwalk with views over the river and the cascades.

The trail here is a 1.2 km, grade 2, family-friendly walk that loops around the waterfalls. I recommend doing this walk; it was one of our highlights in Pemberton. We saw lots of wildflowers, birds, and a kangaroo. He even stayed for a while so we could take his photo.

There’s plenty to photograph along the trail with beautiful moss-covered tree trunks and brightly coloured fungi.

In winter, you may see pouched lampreys (Geotria Australis) in Lefroy Brook. These eel-like creatures migrate from the ocean to the river to breed. As it was spring when we visited, we didn’t get to see any, but reading about them on the information boards was interesting.

5. Warren National Park

Please note that the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree closed for climbing in July 2023. See the DPAW site for updates.

Warren National Park is home to some of Western Australia’s tallest Karri trees. They can grow to 90 metres, making them one of the world’s tallest.

The tallest climbing tree in the world can be found here. The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree was open to the public for climbing in 1988.

It is not for those scared of heights or unfit. There are no safety harnesses, clips, or ropes, and even any protection if you fall. The 165 pegs are drilled into the side of the tree and provide a spiral ladder to climb.

The first platform allows you to climb halfway. A sign reads, “that was the easy bit.” Near the top, the ladder is almost vertical and narrow. The advice is not to climb any further in wet or windy conditions; if in doubt, don’t climb. There isn’t anyone to help you, and going back down is the hardest part!

With my fear of heights, I couldn’t climb this tree. One of our daughters and Dave went to the halfway mark. It was a wet morning, so they decided not to risk climbing to the top. We may return in better conditions and try again, or maybe not!

The 12km Heartbreak Trail is a beautiful drive through the karri forest and Warren River valley. The trail was built by hand to make a path down to the river for the firefighters. You can understand how it got its name.

There are canoe launch sites with picnic and barbecue facilities, making it an ideal place to relax. The one-way drive is, however, on unsealed roads, which are steep in parts. It is unsuitable for buses and caravans, and hire vehicles must check their terms and conditions before driving on gravel roads.

The Warren River Lookout and the rapids at Heartbreak Crossing are the best places to stop on this drive.

The Warren River is also a popular spot to fish. In season, you may be able to catch marron. There are strict guidelines, so to avoid a hefty fine, check the fisheries site.

If you’d rather walk beneath the incredible trees and see the fallen trunks covered with moss, lichen, and fungi, consider the Warren River Loop Walk. The 10.5km, moderately hard hike goes through the old-growth karri forest. It passes picnic areas and the Warren Lookout, with views over the valley and to the river.

To avoid the steep uphill climb, do the trail in an anti-clockwise direction.

6. Beedelup Falls, Beedelup National Park

Beedelup Falls is always a favourite of mine. The waterfall is beautiful, and the 25m suspension bridge is a lot of fun. It’s best visited at the end of winter or the start of spring when the waterfall is in full flow.

The falls are accessed on a 300-metre loop trail, which takes you across the suspension bridge. The best views of the falls and Beedelup Brook are here, but it’s hard to take photos as the bridge is very wobbly!

The path takes you alongside the falls and to the universal access lookout and bridge. From here, the 100m Beedelup Falls can be seen cascading over the big granite rocks.

The Karri Valley Lookout provides views over the karri forest and Lake Beedelup to the RAC Karri Valley Resort.

There are a couple of additional walking tracks that leave from the lookout. The Beedelup Loop Walk takes you on a 3.5km walk around Beedelup Lake. If you add on the walkthrough tree, the walk will be 4.5km. Alternatively, it is possible to do a loop to the walkthrough tree and back to the falls car park.

It’s a Grade 3 listed trail, as there are some steep and uneven sections and steps when walking the whole loop.

We walked to the Walk-Through-Tree, but it started to rain, so we headed back via the lake. This part was easy, and the kids enjoyed walking through a tree! Again, with most of the areas here, there were plenty of wildflowers and birdlife to make the walk interesting.

Karri forests here are so beautiful to walk through, and the trees are just majestic.

7. Big Brook Dam

Big Brook Dam is worth stopping on the Karri Forest Explorer Drive. Whether you want to hike around it, have a picnic, ride your bike, swim, or jump in your kayak, it has something for everyone. It is especially popular with families, locals, and visitors.

It was built in 1986 to boost the area’s water supply but has become one of the most visited places in Pemberton.

We parked near the sandy beach area and took our picnic down. There are picnic tables but, as it gets extremely busy, your own chairs may be needed. This is also an ideal place for swimming and launching a kayak.

The grade 1, sealed 4km trail is great for bikes, strollers, and wheelchairs. It is dog-friendly, too, as long as they are kept on a lead.

It’s an easy but gorgeous walk, taking in the dam and the 60-year-old regrowth forest.

Many water birds call this dam home, so pop into one of the viewing huts along the way and see if you can spot any. The huts also provide information and are interesting to read (be careful of the spiders that live in them).

The dam is stocked with trout, so many people fish here, especially near the dam. Check with Fisheries before fishing.

Download this brochure for more information.

8. Pemberton Pool

If you visit Pemberton during summer, the historic Pemberton Pool is a fantastic location to cool down.

It was built in the late 1920s for the use of timber workers’ families and is now an iconic spot for locals. It’s perfect for a picnic or BBQ and a good meeting place for friends and family.

If your kids enjoy mountain biking, The Pemberton Mountain Bike Park is next to the pool.

9. Southern Forests Chocolate Company

12511 Vasse Highway, Channybearup

The newly opened Southern Forests Chocolate Factory produces artisan chocolate five minutes from Pemberton on the edge of the Karri forest.

We have yet to visit it, but reviews are excellent, with customers advising their chocolate is some of the best they’ve had, and the coffee is great too. Definitely on my list to check out when we are next in Pemberton.

Open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

10. Peter Kovacsy Studio & Art Gallery

89 Jamieson St

Peter Kovacsy specialises in large-scale sculptures made from cast glass, timber, and metal showcased in his Pemberton gallery. He sells directly and offers commissions for art collectors looking for new art.

If you wish to visit the studio, call or sms 0402864651 to confirm opening hours.

11. Yeagarup Dunes

If you have a 4wd and are confident in sand driving, Yeagarup Dunes are an 80-minute drive from Pemberton. It’s incredible to see white sand dunes rising above the karri forest. The drive across the soft sand is challenging, and you must let your tyres down.

Over the dunes is Yeagarup Beach, which is a great fishing spot.

Please keep to the designated tracks.

11. Pemberton Tram

The Pemberton Tramway Co. is opening from the 1st July 2023 offering visitors a ride through the forests and picturesque countryside.

Depart from the cute Pemberton Railway Station for a scenic ride past the Saw Mill, over three bridges, through karri forest to the Cascades. Here you have 25 minutes to explore before hopping back on for your return journey to Pemberton.

Trams run to the Cascades Monday to Saturday except Public Holidays, throughout the year.

Tours from Pemberton

If you don’t have your own transport or prefer to do a tour, the Half-Day Beach and Forest Eco Adventure sounds good. You can see the Yeagarup Dunes of D’Entreasteaux National park and the Karri Forest. We considered this tour to experience the dunes but ran out of time. It’s on our list to do when we return.

Accommodation near Pemberton

Have you booked accommodation?

We use Booking.com for most accommodation bookings as they offer free cancellation on many properties and have a price match guarantee. We book through Stayz (part of VRBO) for private accommodation as we find it is often cheaper than Airbnb.

Tip: Accommodation gets booked quickly, especially during the WA school holidays. To avoid disappointment, book early.

Camping

Big Brook Arboretum Campground amongst the karri trees, is 3 km from Big Brook Dam and offers basic camping for around $11 per adult per night. There are picnic tables, barbecues, and toilets.

If you prefer more camping facilities, we stayed at Fonty’s Pool, between Manjimup and Pemberton. It has the best reviews in the area, but it was jam-packed, so we had to queue to use the toilets and showers. The sites are also quite close to each other, which doesn’t provide much privacy. However, the pool was great, and the site is in a beautiful setting.

Luxury Accommodation

If you are after a bit of luxury, or a romantic getaway, consider Mudstone Suites. These suites have all the usual amenities, including a coffee machine, barbecue, and sun terrace. Some suites also have their own spa and sauna! Just note the property is located on an unsealed road.

Mid-Range

Big Brook Cottages and Rainbow Trail Chalets are very highly rated, and I’d consider either on our next visit to Pemberton. Click on the links to view the full range of facilities and amenities on offer at these properties and the price.

Budget

Maybe not budget but definitely on the cheaper end of the scale and good value for money is the Karri Forest Motel. All rooms are air-conditioned, have a TV, and barbecue facilities are provided. The gym and swimming pool are available for use all year round.

Family

We stayed previously at Diamond Forest Cottages and recommend it for families. Our children adored the farm animals, and feeding them each morning was a highlight of their day. They still talk about Choppa (the kangaroo) five years later. Read our full review of Diamond Forest Cottage.

Stargazers is a great choice for winter as they have a fireplace in their cottages. If like me, you enjoy cosying up in front of the fire at night, then Stargazers is for you. You can read all the excellent reviews on Booking.Com

Pemberton Forecast & Weather

The warmest months are from December to March, when the average highs are 24/26 degrees.

The coldest months are from June to September. During this time, the temperature will be around 15/16, with a minimum of 7.

The most rain falls between June and August, with February being the driest month.

I like the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn when it’s not too hot for walking but not cold and raining. Spring has the bonus of Western Australian wildflowers.

See the detailed 7-day forecast at the Bureau of Meteorology.

Pemberton Location & How To Get There

Pemberton is in Western Australia’s South West region.

International and domestic visitors will fly into Perth Airport. Find details about visas, prohibited items, currency, and safety in this Australia Travel Guide and tips on arriving into WA and other essential travel information in this Western Australia Travel Guide.

There are car hire booths at Perth Airport, but it’s best to pre-book your car rental.

To compare Australian car hire prices, Discover Cars is an award-winning car rental comparison website. They offer competitive pricing in over 10,000 locations worldwide and are highly rated.

DriveNow is a good resource to compare campervan hire in Western Australia. It includes all the large companies like Britz, Maui, & Jucy as well as smaller ones.

Compare Rental Cars Here.

Pemberton is a 3 hour and 45-minute drive along State Route 2, National Route 1, followed by Vasse Highway.

TransWA runs buses to Northcliffe that stop in Pemberton. However, it’s hard to get around this region without a car.

Brief History & Settlement of Pemberton

I respectfully acknowledge the Nyoongar People, the Traditional Owners, and First People of these lands. I would like to pay my respect to the Elders past, present, and future, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture, and hopes of the Nyoongar People.

The first European settlers to Pemberton were Edward Reveley Brockman (1861), his brother-in-law Gerald de Courcy Lefroy, and Pemberton Walcott (who the town was named after) in 1862.

The state-owned Saw Mills were constructed in 1913 to supply half a million railway sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway.

Pemberton town was gazetted in October 1925.

Tourism began to grow in the 1980s to what it is today. The Timber industry continues alongside agriculture, aquaculture, and viticulture.

Helpful Guides:

• The Ultimate South West Road Trip
• Western Australia Travel Planner
• Western Australia Travel Guide
• Best Caravan Parks South West WA
• South West WA Guide

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