Tall Karri Forests, South West WA Travel Information

View of karri forest from the top of the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree

View of the karri forests from the top of the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree near Pemberton, Western Australia

The region of Western Australia where the Karri trees grow is a special corner of the world - one of my favourite places for hiking, camping and just being out in wild nature.

These magnificent trees reach heights of up to 90m, making them the third tallest tree in the world.

The karri forests grows in the south west corner of Western Australia, which has the highest rainfall and coolest temperatures in the state. The main belt of karri trees stretches from Nannup in the north west, down to Denmark and the Rainbow Coast in the south east.

Between Augusta, Pemberton and Walpole, WA, a continuous chain of national parks and nature reserves protect vast swathes of pristine wilderness.

As well as the majestic karri trees, the region includes a lot of mixed forest, with many pockets of jarrah, marri and tinglewood trees. Down near the coast, this thickly forested landscape changes to windwept heath, sanddunes and wetlands.

Towns in the Karri Forests Region

Karri Forests Western Australia - Pemberton

Pemberton

The national parks close to Pemberton contain the tallest trees of all (which is really saying something!). Pemberton is a cute little town well set up for travellers, with plenty of options for accommodation and jouneys deep into the forest and South West Wilderness - including a historic steam train and tramline, scenic drives, canoe tours and hire, a 4WD adventure tour and excellent hiking trails. The climbing trees are not to be missed!

Karri Forests of Western Australia - Manjimup

Manjimup

Manjimup is the regional centre of the Blackwood Valley and Forests regions. It's surrounded by farmed and forested land. Manjimup has some great bushwalks, picnic spots and places of historical interest, so is well worth a visit if you have time.

Walpole

Walpole is a town on the south coast surrounded by a wilderness of forest, coastal heath and pristine waterways. The townsite is on the Walpole-Nornalup Inlet, which is a great spot for boating and fishing. The tinglewood trees are found around Walpole and nowhere else. Walpole is an excellent base for exploring both the Tall Karri Forests and The South Coast regions.

Explore the Region

Most of the area's main tourist attractions are clustered within half an hour's drive of either Pemberton or Walpole and are accessible by 2WD vehicle. However, vast areas - the D'Entrecasteaux National Park in particular - can only be fully explored by 4WD.

Karri forests views from Warren Lookout near Pemberton, Australia

Above: Karri forests views from Warren Lookout in the Warren River National Park near Pemberton.

Explore the Walpole Wilderness Area

Here is a guide for exploring the wilderness surrounding Walpole on the south coast. The Walpole Wilderness Area is a continuous chain of 13 national parks and reserves protecting one of Western Australia's most beautiful wild landscapes - the karri forests, ancient tinglewood trees, beaches and waterways of WA's south coast.

Karri Forests Travel Highlights

Climb one of the fire lookout trees - the Gloucester Tree, Bicentennial Tree and Diamond Tree have metal rungs spiralling up their trunks. The tallest is the Bicentennial Tree, at 75m high. The climb is scary, but the views over the forest canopy make it more than worth while!
Walpole's Tinglewood trees and the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk
Canoe the Frankland River - an easy and peaceful paddle from Nornalup into through of the towering karri forest takes you to Monastery Landing, the perfect spot for a picnic.
Warren National Park - Protects some of the tallest and most beautiful old growth forest in the region. Drive the Heartbreak trail and photograph your car looking like a tiny toy car drawfed by the massive trees. Climb the Bicentennial Tree and walk through the forest down to Warren Lookout. You can also swim in the river and camp overnight.
4WD adventures in the D'Entrecasteaux National Park
Nuyts Wilderness Trail - a walking track down to remote campsites on the wild and rugged south coast west of Walpole
WOW wilderness cruise to remote corners of the Walpole-Nornalup Inlet
Mount Frankland in Spring - for magical views of the Walpole Wilderness Area and colourful birds and wildflowers.

Hiking amongst towering karri trees

National Parks in the Karri Forests Area

Beedelup National Park

The Beedelup National Park is about 20km west of Pemberton. The main attraction is the Beedelup Falls and the walking trails through the forest, along Beedelup Brook and around Lake Beedelup.

D'Entrecasteaux National Park

This is a huge, wild and largely inaccessible national park. It protects almost the entire coastline between Augusta and Walpole and the hinterland dunes and forests 10 - 20km inland. The D'Entrecasteaux National Park connects with Shannon National Park and the Walpole Wilderness Area.

Gloucester National Park

Almost within walking distance of Pemberton, the Gloucester National Park is where you'll find the Gloucester Tree, the most well known of the three climbing trees.

Mount Frankland National Park

Experience beautiful wilderness views, springtime wildflowers, colourful birds and the serenity of the forest at Mount Frankland, or canoe down the rapids in upper reaches of the Frankland River.

Shannon National Park

There are some excellent bushwalks in the Shannon National Park, half way between Pemberton and Walpole. There's also the Great Forest Trees Drive, a scenic circuit along a narrow gravel road through several different types of forest.

Walpole-Nornalup National Park

Surrounds the town of Walpole and the Nornalup Inlet, protecting forest and coastal scrub all the way down to the beaches and seacliffs. It's most famous feature is the ancient tingle trees in the Valley of the Giants, where there is a treetop walkway.

Warren National Park

The Warren National Park is a truly magical place - my favourite of all the Pemberton National Parks. The karri trees here are absolutely monstrous and awe-inspiring. Drive along the Heartbreak-Maidenbrush Trail, go for a bush walk climb the Bicentennial Tree or swim in the Warren River.

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You are here:

Western Australia The South West Region Karri Forests Region

The Beauty of the Karri Tree, and Well-known Karris to Visit

Cape Leeuwin - the Southern Cape of the Margaret River Region

The Rainbow Coast

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The Tall karri Forests
of Western Australia