Backpacking & Outdoor adventures by ChingNengBin - Namaste! Everest BaseCamp 5,364m : 2018 - Perth Holiday Adventure (16-30 October) day 8 Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Walpole

2018 - Perth Holiday Adventure (16-30 October) day 8 Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Walpole

Day 8 (23.10.2018) - Destination: Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Walpole WA.

Getting there was a 131km via State Route 10 and National Route 1 driving through Northcliffe, Jane National Park, Shannon State Forest, Mount Frankland National Park and finally the Keystone State Forest along the South Western Highway before reaching Walpole. We decided to stay in the Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Deluxe 4 Berth Cabin at AUD90.50 a night.

Walpole weather: 20°/6°C.

Camping at Pemberton Caravan Park, Pemberton WA.

Camping breakfast at Pemberton Caravan Park, Pemberton WA.

The caravans at Pemberton Caravan Park, Pemberton WA.

Catherine chasing away the uninvited bird at Pemberton Caravan Park, Pemberton WA.

David Seah preparing breakfast at Pemberton Caravan Park, Pemberton WA.

Breakfast at Pemberton Caravan Park, Pemberton WA.

This was how we packed our things onto the boat.

10.27pm - Ready to move on from Pemberton Caravan Park, Pemberton WA.

Beautiful old building charm with a great restaurant in Pemberton WA. Local art displayed throughout the restaurant.

South West timber mills, Pemberton WA closed in 2016. The Pemberton mill was built in 1913 and became one of numerous timber mills set up to capitalise on WA’s rich, established forests of karri and jarrah.

The Karri Forest Explorer Drive was developed and funded by the department with support from the Pemberton tourism industry. It winds through some of the south-west’s most magnificent karri forest. The day pass for a car is AUD13.00

10.51pm - Karri trees live to about 350 years old, some longer. They are at their best between 150-200 years. They reach their full height after about 75 years. The day pass for a car is AUD13.00

Much of the karri forest has been designated as a national park and is protected from deforestation. In spring the forest floor is covered with colourful wildflowers. The day pass for a car is AUD13.00

A series of fire lookouts were constructed in the top of a few very tall Karri trees, mainly during the 1930s and 1940s. These lookouts were a way of spotting fires in the tall Karri forest. The first Karri fire lookout tower, called the Big Tree, was constructed in 1938. By 1952, eight tree towers had been constructed.

The Gloucester Tree in the Gloucester National Park is only 2kms from the Post Office in Pemberton. The Gloucester Tree was chosen as a fire lookout in 1947, one of a network of lookouts built in the Karri forest between 1937 and 1952. The Gloucester Tree was named after the then Governor-General of Australia, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, who was visiting Pemberton as the lookout was being built. Today, visitors can climb up the 61m to see one of the most spectacular views of the Karri forest.

Ching Neng Bin climbing up the Gloucester Tree. The Gloucester tree was originally pegged with wooden pegs. All the trees are now pegged with metal pegs which are easier to grip. They are regularly checked for any faults.

Val Allan (Uncle Rudy) climbing up the Gloucester Tree. One of the world's tallest tree lookouts, the Gloucester Tree, is a former fire lookout near town and at 61m high, you can get some spectacular views of the surrounding forest including Gloucester National Park. There are also two other tall tree lookouts nearby.

Catherine climbing up the Gloucester Tree. No one has died climbing the trees, however two people have suffered heart attacks after climbing the trees.

Pauline Toh climbing up the Gloucester Tree. The Gloucester Tree has 153 pegs.

A caravan at the Karri Forest Explorer Drive WA.

Pemberton WA.

11.18am - Visited the Cascades in Pemberton WA to see the Lefroy Brook cascading over a series of rocky pools.

Cascades is a fantastic place to visit all your round. In summer, it’s a cool, shady place for a picnic and in winter, the Lefroy Brook is an impressive sight as it tumbles over the Cascades.

Visited the Cascades in Pemberton to see the Lefroy Brook cascading over a series of rocky pools.

Catherine at the Cascades in Pemberton to see the Lefroy Brook cascading over a series of rocky pools.

Wild flowers at the Cascades in Pemberton WA.

12.01pm - Driving through Northcliffe WA.

12.21pm - Driving through Jane National Park WA.

1.00pm - Driving through Shannon State Forest WA.

Driving through Mount Frankland National Park WA.

Driving through Keystone State Forest WA. The Jarrah Forest is unique in that it is dominated by two eucalypt species; jarrah and marri.

Driving through Keystone State Forest WA. Marri is a prevalent canopy species and the jarrah forest is commonly called jarrah-marri forest.

Driving through Keystone State Forest WA.

Walpole is a town in the south-western region of Western Australia, located approximately 430 kilometres south southeast of Perth and 70 kilometres west of Denmark. This small village is surrounded by some spectacular scenery including rugged coastline, inlets and white sandy beaches.

Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Walpole WA.

1.30pm - We decided to stay in the Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Deluxe 4 Berth Cabin at AUD90.50 a night.

1.30pm - Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Walpole WA.

Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Walpole WA.

The glamping tent at Coalmine Beach Holiday Park, Walpole WA. Perfect for couples, these Luxury Queen Tents are located within easy walk of the shared bathrooms and within coo-ee of the well equipped camp kitchen. A kitchenette provides all the immediate cooking essentials. Enjoy the luxury of a queen bed, electric blanket and crisp cotton sheets under the canvas as you plan your next days activity in Walpole and its wonderful wilderness.