Aus Day 69 - A Walk Through The Tree Tops

Saturday 27th November    Aus Day 69


Rose at 06.30, shower and breakfast. There is no sign of the kookaburras this morning. I completed and published yesterday’s Blog and caught up with my travel accounts.

I Departed the caravan park at 09.20 and went into Walpole to get a few provisions at the supermarket then headed for the “Tree Top Walk” in the “Valley of the Giants”, where I arrived at about 10.30.

The Entrance To The Tree Top Walk

This attraction has three parts to it, the Discovery Centre which is a small educational facility, probably aimed at school parties. The Ancient Empire which is a 400 metre boardwalk constructed amongst the giant Tingle, Marri and Karri trees. The Tingle trees, in particular, can be traced back some 65 million years to the time when the super continent “Gondwana” existed. However, Tingle trees today are confined to an area of approximately 6000 hectares, in Western Australia, between the Deep River in the west and the Bow River in the east and within 10 kilometres of the coast.

A Very Rare Slipper Orchid In The Fork Of A Tingle Tree

The "Grandmother" Tingle Tree In The "Ancient Empire"

A Fallen Giant In The "Ancient Empire"

Finally, there is the 600 metre long “Tree Top Walk” which is constructed of six 60-metre lightweight bridge spans on seven pylons reaching a maximum height of 40 metres over a small creek at the bottom of the valley. The spans sway and bounce as you walk across, designed to give the feeling that you are actually in the canopy of the forest.

The Start Of The Tree Top Walk



Tree Top Walk View Of The Tingle, Marri & Karri Trees



The Tree Top Walk "Floating" In The Forest Canopy

You Should Feel The Sway At 40 Metres Up!!!

The Forest Canopy From Above

Looking Back Up Into The Tree Tops

I departed from the Tree Top Walk at about 1.15 pm and headed for Denmark (the town not the country) via Bow Bridge, re-enacting my old “Sunday Afternoon Driver” role.

I called into the Visitor Information Centre, mainly to see the Bert Bolle Barometer which is claimed to be the World’s largest at 12 metres high.

From there I drove the 8 km to the Ocean Beach Holiday Park which is a “Big4” site but, must be one of their least expensive at $30 per night so; I’ve booked in for 2 nights even though I haven’t decided what, if anything, I will be doing tomorrow. It may be just a chill-out opportunity.

Having spent some time drafting this Blog edition it was time for my regular Skype contact with the lovely Eileen and once again this proved to be the highlight of my day.

I had a simple tea of beans on toast and then relaxed in front of the TV for a while before getting back to finishing this Blog before Zebedee catches up with me. As you will now realise I managed to get the job done in time to watch a bit more TV before it was time for lights out. Good night all.

Aus Day 68 - Meeting a Giant and Relief From The Flies

Friday 26th November    Aus Day 68


Rose at 07.30 this morning, shower, breakfast and then published yesterday’s Blog and dealt with a few e-mails.

I have decided to walk the Bibbulmun Trail to the Giant Tingle Tree although I was told by the Walpole Visitor Information Centre that this was 5 km one way, I have since been told by the Caravan Park staff that it is 6 km one way. Regardless, I set off at 09.25 and was soon into the forest, which provided welcome relief from the flies, and heading uphill. I reached the “Hilltop Lookout” after about 50 minutes and read the information boards there which told me that Coalmine Beach (where I came from) was 5 km away and that the Giant Tingle Tree was a further 2.5 kms giving a total distance of 7.5 kms one way.

A Bibbulmum Track Marker

The Bibbulmun Track - See The Marker On the Tree - Top Left

Trekking Through The Forest

I continued on my way through the forest surrounded by the sight and sound of a multitude of birds but, as usual, they were always too fast for me to get a photograph. Eventually I reached my goal and was confronted by the world famous Giant Tingle Tree which has survived multiple fires.

The Base Of The Giant Tingle Tree

The Hollow Centre Of The Giant Tingle Tree

Obviously Still Living

JB at The Giant Tingle Tree

Having rested for about 20 minutes, I retraced my steps, taking further photographs at the Hilltop Lookout which overlooks the Nornalup Inlet and the coast line. I made the return trip in 10 minutes less than the outward journey since it was largely downhill.

I Have to Go The Long Way To Walpole

View From Hilltop Lookout

Looking Over The Nornalup Inlet and the Coast Line

Having got back to the van, I collapsed for an hour to recuperate and then decided to take the trail walk into Walpole which is another 3 km from the caravan park. However, during that walk and return I didn’t see anything that I considered to be worth photographing. However, once back at the van again I was visited by a pair of kookaburras which I did manage to photograph as they obligingly posed quite happily.

Seems A Bit Uncomfortable But Posing Happily

The Second Of The Pair

These are the first Kookaburras I have seen on this trip to Australia and I believe that they are not actually native to WA.

At 5.00 pm I had a lovely Skype session with Eileen, followed by a very productive chat with daughter, Samantha. I then made myself a spot of tea, watched a bit of TV before drafting today’s Blog and sorting the photographs.

A quiet evening before Zebedee finally caught up with me at about 11.00 pm. Good Night All.

Aus Day 67 - Cold & Wet But Windy Harbour Dry

Thursday 25th November    Aus Day 67


Rose at 05.55 this morning, after being awake since 05.00. Shower and breakfast then spent some time completing and publishing yesterday’s Blog and dealing with a number of e-mails.

I am moving on today so, got the van ready to go and hit the road at 09.25. Travelled south via Northcliffe through forests shrouded in mist and light rain until I was about 10 km from the coast when the trees cleared and the weather brightened until, by the time I got to Windy Harbour, the sun was shining brightly. Windy Harbour turned out to be a tiny hamlet at the end of a 27 km road, nestled in a lovely bay which must be a nightmare to navigate, judging by the breakers at various points around the bay.

Windy Harbour Bay

So Many Breakers At Windy Harbour

Cormorants at Windy Harbour

I spent about 1½ hours there before retracing my route to Northcliffe where I took the opportunity to have a quick wander about before refuelling and heading on towards Walpole.

If They Don't Know How Should I?

Northcliffe Pioneer Museum

Travelling through the Forest

I arrived at the Coalmine Road Caravan Park at about 3.00 pm by which time the weather had deteriorated and it was starting to rain again.

Nornalup Inlet Near The Coalmine Beach Caravan Park

I took the chance to get my laundry done and also did some more research into Bangkok Hotels. Does anyone have any recommendations?

At 17.00, my day was made through the advent of Skype contact with Eileen after which I made myself some tea and then started to draft today’s Blog.

By the way, it looks as though Australia have snatched the initiative in the Ashes Series, bowling England out for 260 and scoring 25 without loss, at the close of play.

After a quiet evening it is starting to get a bit chilly and therefore Zebedee is ordering me to bed at 11.00 pm Good night all.

Aus Day 66 - Tramways and Trees

Wednesday 24th November    Aus Day 66

Had a lie-in until 08.00 this morning after a cold night. Shower, breakfast and then published yesterday’s Blog and dealt with a few e-mails.

I arrived for the Tram journey at 10.35, having cut through from the back of the caravan park. Bought my ticket from the booking office/souvenir shop and boarded the tram which departed on time at 10.45.

The Pemberton Tram

Travelling Past The Pemberton Saw Mill

The journey was through the quite dense forest and we were soon surrounded by Karri, Marri and Jarrah trees. We were travelling at a slow speed, probably no more than 15 mph and after a while we stopped at “The Cascades” for a photo opportunity.



Some of the Giant Trees in the Forest



The Cascades - Lacking a Bit Of Water

A Typical Logging Bridge

The Hollow Burned Tree

The Warren River Timber Bridge

View of the Warren Bridge From The Tram

We soon moved on but all the time the driver kept up a commentary on the flora and fauna to be seen, as well as some of the history of the line and the areas we were travelling through. We eventually reached Warren Bridge and were once again afforded a 15 minute photo opportunity and a chance to follow a trail which looped past a large burned tree which still survives.

The tram then reversed its route back to Pemberton, this time at a faster speed and without the commentary. We arrived back at the Pemberton Tramway Station at 12.40, about 10 minutes later than advertised.

I hot-footed it back to the caravan park where I got the van ready to move and then hit the road just after 1.00 pm, heading for Beedelup National Park and arrived at the Beedelup Falls car park some 25 minutes later. First off I visited the Falls which, unfortunately, were not very impressive, apparently because of the lack of rain. However, the small suspension bridge was very interesting and a real swinger.

The Beedelup Falls Map

The Beedelup Falls From The Lookout

The Beedelup Falls From Downstream

The Little Suspension Bridge

Having completed the loop in about 30 minutes, I decided to take the longer trail to see the “Walk through tree.” This is a return trip of about 50 minutes which did indeed take me to a tree which one can walk through (well climb through to be more exact).

The "Walk Through" Tree

JB Inside The Tree

Beedelup Lake From The Forest Track

I completed the loop by about 3.00 pm so set off back to Pemberton calling in at the supermarket on the way.

I made my regular Skype contact with Eileen at about 16.45, after which I made myself some tea and settled down to sort the 60 plus photographs I have taken during the day and to draft the Blog ready for publishing in the morning. In between times I made further arrangements to collect my new car on the day after I arrive back in the UK. Eventually, Zebedee caught up with me again and dispatched me to bed at about 11.00 pm.

Aus Day 65 - A Tree Too Far?

Tuesday 23rd November    Aus Day 65

Rose at 06.00 to a cold but brighter morning, shower and breakfast and then checked my emails. At last, Blackpool Honda have responded so, I can now get things underway to ensure my new car is available when I get home on 13th December.

Today is brother David’s birthday so Happy Birthday David.

You will remember the photo below when I asked if anyone knew what it was, well, courtesy of my very good friend Fred Moor, I can now tell you that it is Datura Suaveolens (pronounced Dat chura Swa veo lens) (re-named in recent years as Brugmansia suaveolens). Commonly known as Angel's Trumpet. Many thanks Fred.

Datura Suaveolens

Having packed up the van, I set off for Boyup Brook, simply because I believe it has a Pioneer Museum which may be worth a visit. However, having arrived there at about 09.30, I found that the Museum doesn’t open on a Tuesday. I made good use of the time though, visiting what remains of the railway station which apparently closed in about 1980. One of the photos below shows a tree having grown up through the remains of the track.

Boyup Brook Street Art



Wagons Marooned on the Disused Railway



The Tree Has Grown Through The Track

Leaving Boyup Brook, I retraced my route through Bridgetown and headed for Manjimup where I had a couple of trees in mind. The first of these is a giant Jarrah tree, known as King Jarrah, reputed to be 500 years old and which narrowly escaped being cut down to make railway sleepers in 1910.

The King Jarrah Tree

JB at The King Jarrah Tree

The King

The second is the Diamond Tree Lookout at the top of which is the only wooden tree top tower in the world. This is still used as an integral part of the fire management and spotting programme. The tree has spikes set into it to form a rudimentary staircase and climbing is allowed. However, I chickened out about half way up.

You Can Just Make Out The "Staircase"

View From Half Way Up The Diamond Tree

Having got myself back down to terra firma, I continued to Pemberton, where I booked into the caravan park shortly after 2.00 pm.

Once set up, I set off for an exploratory wander around the town, taking the shortcut through the back of the caravan park. I quickly found my way to the Pemberton Tramway which operates trips into the forest and which I plan to take a trip on in the morning. You can see some of the old rolling stock which is stored there. The steam engines in particular seem to have been built in England.




A "V" Class 2-8-2 Mikado Built in Darlington, England



A 4-6-0 Engine Built In Manchester, England

The rest of the town is unremarkable and stretched along the main road, as is the usual format. Eventually I made it back to the van, catching a few parrots on the ground along the way.

Just One Of A Group Of Six

I made myself some tea and then settled down for a quiet evening drafting the Blog. Unfortunately, there is no contact with Eileen today as the timing of her commitments in the UK prevents. I spent the remainder of the evening reading before Zebedee said "Tme for Bed" at about 10.30.