Growing up in Vancouver, Canada, there is a Pemberton just up the road and a place I've visited often to hike and roadtrip through. So when I found out there is a Pemberton in Australia, I simply had to visit for myself and find some beautiful spots there, too!
I first visited Australia in 2019 and, while I did make it to the west coast, on that trip I visited Perth and then headed northward all the way to Exmouth. I knew that when I planned to return down under with my partner in 2025 to drive "the lap" in our campervan around the entire country, that exploring the southern part of Western Australia was absolutely a must-do. We visited Perth again in 2025, primarily to watch James Blunt in concert, one of the best we've ever been to!
→ Check out my complete guide to visiting Perth!
We headed south out of Perth and visited some beautiful places along the way, including dolphins in Mandurah, the mangroves of Bunbury and a week exploring the Margaret River region. From there, we turned our attention to the southern coast of Western Australia.
The Noongar / Murrum people lived on this land for over 30,000 years before any Europeans arrived spanning the present-day Shire of Manjimup, a name coming from the edible Manjin reed.
A homestead, farm and flour mill was established on the site in 1862 by Edward Brockman and his family, an area which came to be known as Big Brook. In 1913, two saw mills were established to build and supply the sleeper cars for the Trans-Australian Railway which led to the quick growth of the town. It was renamed Pemberton with an official government townsite in 1925. To this day, the saw mill is still the most active industry of Pemberton as well as vineyards.
We spent just a day in Pemberton visiting the famous karri trees of the area, the crowning jewel of which is the Gloucester Tree, as well as to photograph the iconic Pemberton Pool.
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Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Pemberton. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In Pemberton, the traditional language of the Noongar / Murrum people is Bibbulmun.
→ Learn more about the language of the Noongar / Murrum people.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data/WiFi: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
There is free WiFi in the downtown area of Pemberton offered by the Shire of Manjimup.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Pemberton, situated on the southwest coast of the country, south of Perth in Western Australia, can get very hot in the summer and cool in the winter months. I recommend visiting in spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May) for pleasant, sunny days.
Length of stay: We spent a day in Pemberton which was perfect to visit the famous karri trees and see the iconic Pemberton Pool. It would be a great day trip to do from Margaret River.
By flight: The closest major airport is in Perth, a three-and-a-half-hour drive north. Most visitors to Pemberton will arrive in Perth if coming by air.
→ Check out my complete guide to visiting Perth!
There is also a smaller regional airport at Busselton Margaret River offering public transport routes to Sydney and Melbourne and a host of private charter routes. This airport is located just outside Busselton.
By car: If you're driving around the country as we are in our campervan, then the easiest way to get to Pemberton is with your own wheels.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Perth or Busselton.
You might want to start in Perth as your base for renting a campervan to explore Australia.
→ Rent a campervan in Perth with Apollo, Camplify, Indie or Juicy.
By bus: You can take a bus from Perth down to Pemberton; there are three different routes available with Transwa. You can go direct, go via the coast or go inland.
Pemberton is a town located in southern Western Australia, near the Margaret River region and at the heart of the Gloucester National Park.
Of course, the easiest way to explore is with your own wheels. We are traveling around the entire country in our campervan for a year and it gives so much freedom to get around.
→ If you don't have your own car, you can rent one in Perth or Busselton.
If you don't have a vehicle, you have a few other options, although they are infrequent. There is a local tram, the Pemberton Tramway Company, that does a 10km tour of Pemberton and the surrounding region.
Alternatively, Get Your Guide offers a half-day guided tour across the region.
Hotel: Not traveling by campervan? Visiting from nearby Perth? Driving in a car? Whatever your reason for needing a place to stay, there are loads of fabulous accommodation options in Mandurah, Western Australia's second largest city.
→ Check out places to stay to suit your budget and accommodation type.
Camping: We are driving "the lap" around Australia, exploring the country in our campervan. As with the rest of Australia, Western Australia permits freedom camping on designated sites. These sites can vary greatly; some offer a variety of facilities such as toilets, trash bins, picnic tables, outdoor cooking stations and others have none of this and might simply be a pull-out on the side of the road.
The best way to find legal freedom camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
There is no freedom camping in Pemberton, although there are a number of paid options. We were traveling from Margaret River so stayed at the Willow Springs free campground nearby in the Donnelly Forest before driving into Pemberton for the day.
We just spent a day in Pemberton as we drove through on our way from Margaret River headed towards the southern coast so there is definitely much more to do in this beautiful town beyond what I have recommended.
I don't have a photo of it, but there is a lovely little free library on the corner of Ellis Street and Vasse Highway in case you're in need of a new book (or a place to drop off what you've finished reading!).
See the Gloucester Tree
The region around Pemberton is famous for its karri trees. The official name is Eucalyptus diversicolor and is endemic to the southwestern coast of Western Australia.
The Gloucester Tree is perhaps Pemberton's most famous tree, a majestic 61-metre tall karri. It was once used as a fire lookout, tall trees which were climbed in order to be able to spot wildfires from far away. It was one of 18 across the region, used before planes became commonplace. Gloucester Tree was added to the list of active fire lookouts in 1947, named for the then Governer-General of Australia, HRH Duke of Gloucester.
You used to be able to climb the tree but it has been closed due to structural issues since 2023; there plans to invest and upgrade the platforms so that it can be reopened.
While there, you can also go on walking trails or head up on ziplines and ropes through the karri trees of Gloucester National Park.
The Gloucester Tree
Closed for climbing since 2023 for structural issues
Walking trails in Gloucester National Park
Spot tiny me!
Photograph (or swim in!) the Pemberton Pool
The Pemberton Pool is a manmade freshwater swimming pool tucked into the trees of Pemberton Forest Park. The water is so still that the reflections of the trees are just perfect for photography. On a hot day, jump into the fresh water to cool off and swim beneath the branches.
The pool has existed here since the 1920s when it was built for the families of the local timber workers to cool off in the summer heat.
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
