Pemberton and Walpole - Karris, Tingles
Trip Start
Sep 22, 2008
1
27
50
Trip End
Feb 01, 2009
Pemberton,
Western Australia,
Australia
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
We found a site at the only van park in Pemberton (they charged accordingly) and went in search of the Gloucester Tree. It is one of a series of fire lookout towers constructed in the 1930's. The only way to gain a view in such tall forest areas was to build cabins high enough up in some of the taller Karris.
A very brave person can still climb up the 153 rungs spiralling up to the lookout cabin that's a mere 61m off the ground. Keith climbed about half way and decided that the view from the top just wasn't worth the risk
Karri trees line the road side
! Walpole is the closest town to "The Valley of the Giants". Here we enjoyed a 600m tree top walkway suspended 38m above the forest floor. It's actually the highest and longest walkway of its kind in the world and was constructed without the use of cranes or helicopters. In order to preserve the integrity of the Tingle forest, scaffold was assembled on site.
We also took the "Ancient Empire" boardwalk along the forest floor, past several enormous old Red Tingle trees.
Some completely crazy people undertake a walk along the "Bibbulmun Track". I say crazy, because this trail begins at Kalamunda near Perth and finishes at Albany on the south coast. That's almost 1000kms!!! I mention it now, because The Valley of the Giants is one of the access points to the track. The shelters along the track are spaced a day's walk apart and are all designed to offer an unbroken view of the scenery. There's even a section that allows access by people with restricted mobility.
It pretty much poured with rain during our visit, but it somehow added to the atmosphere. However, it did nothing for the quality of the photos...
