THE GLOUCESTER TREE
by Graeme Olsen
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
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| 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.
January 2004
