The Stupendous Southern Forests

Located about 300 kilometres south from Perth in the wonderful South West of Western Australia, the stupendous Southern Forests are home to many unique and iconic attractions and experiences.

The region begins in the south east corner with the idyllic town of Walpole, towards the southern coast and the town of Northcliffe, then heads northwards to the timber town of Pemberton and the rich agricultural lands of Manjimup.

I would describe this region as Australia’s answer to ‘Big Sur’, with trees reaching dizzying heights of 68 metres, the Karri, Jarrah, Marri and Tingle forests.

National Parks and State Forests cover most of this region and place names tend to have ‘up’ at the end of their names, aboriginal for ‘place of’, such as Nornalup, Mt Pingerup, Quinninup, Manjimup, Yeagarup, Beedelup, Palgarup, Mordalup and Nyamup.

Walpole

Set on the tranquil waters of the Walpole Inlet and surrounded by the 18,000 hectare Walpole-Nornalup National Park, Walpole is a great starting point for the Southern Forests experience.

It offers a wide range of activities, from swimming, boating, sailing, inlet cruises, fishing, bush walking, mountain biking, scenic drives and climbing.

Walpole Inlet is a small estuary connected through a narrow channel with the bigger and deeper Nornalup Inlet.

So where do you start with such a diverse hotspot of natural beauty and magical landscapes? Here are some suggestions:

• See the giant Tingle tree, over 450 years old, is 24m in circumference at its base and is the largest Eucalypt in the world.
• Walk the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk which is a 600m walkway that rises 40 metres above the forest floor giving a birdseye view of the forest.

•  Drive to Mt Frankland for a wilderness walk and the Frankland River’s, Circular Pool, a seasonal river pool and popular picnic spot.
•  Go to Conspicuous Cliff Beach for stunning views of rugged limestone cliffs and a big surf that pounds the pristine beach.
•  Hike along the Bibbulmun Track that passes through Peaceful Bay.

•  Experience the wilderness of Mount Frankland via a spectacular raised walkway giving panoramic views of core wilderness. Whilst there, see the magnificent Fernhook Falls.
•  Visit Mandalay Beach 12 kilometres west of Walpole, the site of the Norwegian barque shipwreck ‘Mandalay’.

•  The Scotsdale Tourist Drive is a scenic drive encompassing wineries, cheese, alpacas, koalas, baby animals, old timber cutters trails, Elephant Rocks & Greens Pool and Mt Lindesay.
•  Go canoeing, boating or fishing in the pristine waters of the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets.

Northcliffe

Surrounded by the D’Entrecasteaux National Park and close to the holiday fishing village of Windy Harbour, Northcliffe is an interesting little town.

Renowned for the Explore Understory purpose built walking trail, that takes you through the forests featuring stunning artworks such as sculpture, music and writing. The road to Windy Harbour takes you past Mt Chudalup, a granite monolith that rises above the surrounding Karris forest and coastal heath land. You can climb the rock and take in the 360 degree views.

From Windy Harbour you can enjoy a variety of fishing from the beaches of the L’Entrecasteaux National Park or by boat. There is a walking trail linking Windy Harbour and the lighthouse at Point L’Entrecasteaux that is well worth the effort. For freshwater Brown and Rainbow Trout and Redfin Perch, the Gardner and Warren Rivers in the National Park are worth a try. You can also catch Marron in the freshwater streams and lakes of the area.

Pemberton

Lying in the heart of tall timber country and surrounded by the Gloucester National Park, with lush green pastures and acres of rolling vineyards, is the township of Pemberton.

For such a small town it offers a lot of interesting things to do and see, including:

•  The town lies on the Bibbulmun Track and Munda Biddi Trail, that wind through some of the most enchanting stretches of Karri forest.
•  Scale the magnificent Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree or the Gloucester Tree, standing at 68 and 61 metres high respectively.

•  Visit the vast mobile sand dunes of the Yeagerup Dunes.
• Trek to Beedelup Falls in the Beedelup National Park that has the most amazing suspension bridge across the falls.
•  Take a ride on the Pemberton Tramway that wanders its way through the forests of the area.

•  Thrillseekers will enjoy the purpose built mountain bike terrain park with trails to suit your skill level.
•  Taste some of the fine wines at some of the picturesque vineyards in the area.
•  Enjoy a freshwater swim and picnic at the beautiful Big Brook Dam.

•  Take a boat cruise down the Donnelly River.
•  See the rocky rapids of The Cascades on the Lefroy Brook in the Gloucester National Park.
•  The Karri Forest Explorer Drive is a well sign-posted scenic drive that loops through many of Pemberton’s attractions, including lookouts and wineries.

Manjimup

With annual events such as the Manjimup 15,000, Western Australia’s largest motocross competition, the Truffle Kerfuffle, the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival and the JB Ipsen Golf Tournament, it is little wonder that Manjimup is the centre of a thriving tourist area.

Manjimup is the main shopping precinct of the area, the centre of the fruit and vegetable industry and largest mainland producer of black truffles. You can learn all about this at the Manjimup Timber and Heritage Park that gives a fascinating insight into the local industry and logging heritage.

Although we only spent two days driving through the Southern Forests, I found the clear, crisp air and the magical landscapes of those stupendous forests, vine clad hillsides, fertile farmlands and the dramatic coastlines an experiences to be cherished. The South West really turns it on!