BEST IN THE WEST

SOME OF THE BEST 4X4 DESTINATIONS ARE LOCATED IN AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST STATE. HERE ARE FIVE FANTASTIC EXPERIENCES FOR THE ADVENTUROUS FOUR-WHEEL DRIVER

1. PEMBERTON

RICH IN HISTORY AND NATURAL BEAUTY, PEMBERTON IS A GATEWAY TO THE SPECTACULAR COASTLINE IN D'ENTRECASTEAUX NATIONAL PARK ON THE SOUTH-WEST POINT OF THE AUSTRALIAN CONTINENT

KEV SMITH

PEMBERTON is a quiet town known for its local boutique wines and beers, handmade pies and cakes, and shops with a country feel. The old restored railway station at the back of the town is a highlight, featuring a steam engine, turntable, diesel engines, a low-loader crane, and a disused tram that once ran tourists along the line. Although the trains and tram no longer run, the area remains a fascinating place to visit and explore.

The railway line was built in 1926 through the forest to Northcliffe during the timber-industry boom, transporting goods to new farmlands and moving timber. It operated at heavy losses for 50 years, sustained only by the timber industry. By 1961, things started to decline due to bridge fires, and buildings were sold and relocated. The last train ran in 1986. Today, many bridges, sheds and the station are heritage-listed or recognised as highly significant. A tourist tramway operated here until February 2023.

A popular route in Pemberton is the Karri Forest Explorer scenic drive, looping around the town's attractions. National Parks surround the area, offering timber-related points of interest. One significant feature is the fire lookout trees, an idea conceived in the 1930s by local forester Don Stewart. Tall karri trees were used to spot fires, with large steel pegs forming ladders to small cabins high up in the canopy. Today, two of these trees can still be climbed: the 53m Gloucester Tree with 153 pegs and the 65m Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree with 182 pegs. A third tree, the Diamond Tree, has been declared unsafe to climb due to decay but there is a replica hut nearby.