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The Gloucester Tree
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When you think of thrillseeker adventures, tree climbing isn't normally what first springs to mind. But this is a tree with a difference.
A million people can't be wrong. That's how many people have climbed the giant Gloucester Tree. In fact, hundreds of thousands of people travel to Pemberton every year to tackle this famous karri tree, and in 2002 it carried it's 1 millionth climber to the top.
Standing at 61 meters tall, the Gloucester Tree is from the Karri family, which is the third tallest tree species in the world. It was pegged in 1946 so that people could climb it and use it as a watchtower for bushfires. Today it has become a very popular tourist attraction in the south west - and it's definitely not for the faint hearted.
For those of you who haven't stood next to a towering karri tree amongst the cool surroundings of a beautiful karri forrest - what are you waiting for? There's only one place in the whole world where the karri tree grows. You guessed it, in the south west.
A great day awaits those of venture out to see this great specimen (Eucalyptus Diversicolour).
First, just for a treat, when you arrive at the base of the tree you're normally greeted by a myriad of native birds that flock to your arms, looking for a feed.
Once you've enjoyed that for a while, it's time to tackle the tree. And there's only one way to do it. By hand and foot up the pegs that have been stuck into the side of the tree. All the way, 61 metres up.
But there's a great reward. The view from the top of the tree is fantastic, and all the more special because of the effort you made to get there. The panoramic view of the top of the forrest shows why it was such a good fire-spotting technique.
Then there's just the small matter of getting back down. I challenge anyone to say they honestly don't feel a flutter of nervousness as they look down and take that first step onto the ladder rung below!
The Gloucester Tree is in Pemberton, within the striking karri forrests of the south west, and only about 3km from the post office. Pemberton is great at any time of the year. Winters within the forrest are beautiful, but the summers have their own attractions too, with plenty of cool fresh water rivers to swim or fish in.
To get exact directions to the Gloucester Tree, or any of the other climbing trees around Pemberton, drop into the Pemberton Visitor Centre. Their web site is at www.pembertontourist.com.au.
who is the youngest person to climb the Gloucester tree
This is really cool. I saw this tree on a Globe Trekker episode. I wish I had the money to go to Australia to climb to the top of that beautiful tree.
I first saw the tree in 1967 at the age of 7. I was not allowed to climb it at the time but never forgot about it. On the 4th of Jan 2009 41 years later I found myself back in Pemberton and I competed a life long dream of climbing the tree. Not an eazy task I must admit, for someone not crazy about heights like me.
hey did you know that my pops dad, 'george' reynolds was one of people how first peged the tree.
my pop jack reynolds was also one of the first to climb it, their names are in the recording book, next time you go check it out!
I climbed the gloucester tree above 5 years ago when i was in australia visiting family, my brother and i were the only two of our group to climb it. It was amazing, even though i climbed bare foot and in a skirt.
I climbed it twice in the early 1970s, and I never did have a head for heights! I think I would have to partake of several neat whiskies if I were to consider doing it again. Crikey!
I climbed this tree when I was 24...am now 53. It was absolutely amazing...only thing was the small matter of getting down...my hubby had to climb up to rescue me.
In Jan.09 I climbed up (@55years). 2 girls in front of me were in bare feet and screamed all the way to the lower platform. They wouldn't take the last few rungs to the top! It sure is a great challenge and worth doing!
I climbed the tree when I was 7 or 8. Apparently the sign said I wasn't supposed to climb it because I was too small, but I did it. It was amazing!
I heard about and climbed the tree for the first time on the 11/07/09. It was a fantastic experience!!
I climbed the tree in 1981 when I was 39 years of age, married with three small children. That was 28 years ago. I remember it vividly as if it were yesterday because I had had 4 operations on my left knee for cartilage damage and still decided to risk it. I'm so glad I did even though there was no protection then. I will never forget the amazing view from the platform at the top.
Just got back to Melb from WA, climbed it for the first time, very daunting! After getting back down, had some lunch, worked out the cramps, then at my daughters' insistence, climbed it again with them-12& 13yrs, it was great fun
I am 61years young and I climbed this beautiful tree whislt touring the south west part WA.My son who is half my age followed me to the top where we enjoyed the wonderful view above the tree tops. Heights do not bother me but for my son it did.
I climbeb the tree first when I was 51 years old.
I did it again when I was 63, and hope to do it again this year now that I am 71.
Dude, im 15 and i just climbed the this tree and the bicentennial tree (which is in face taller and has a better platform at the top), as i was climbing down this kid was climbing up and it was like right at the top and i asked kim how old he was and he said 9! i was like WTF!! anyway if you like the gloucester tree, dont forget the bicentennial tree, cos its even better
I managed the first 5 metres but at 65 decided that I really ought not to climb to the top, wish I'd had the nerve though!
climbed it last year (12 years old). i could hear all my family friends screaming and struggling on the first few pegs. such wimps xD hope to climb it again one day
Just got back from riding in the Karri Cup mountain bike race which starts and finishes in Northcliffe....got down there on Saturday and had some spare time so took the family to "the tree"....I climbed while my wife looked after the kids....took in the views for a bit, came down, then she climbed while I looked after the kids....while she was up there, I discussed with my 6 year old whether he wanted to try it or not, and in the end he said he did....so I climbed it again, this time with him just above me! Apart from him stepping on my fingers a few times, he did really well and made it to the top really quickly. Coming back down was a bit harder because it's quite a drop between each peg for a 6-year-old's legs....I was very proud of him. He now thinks he's the youngest ever to climb it but I doubt that somehow! For the record, he'll be 7 in August 2010. Great job, son!