Shannon National Park

Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree

Gloucester Tree

We were planning to head towards Pemberton which is surrounded by the karri forests. Stewart Road was still closed due to fires so we were diverted to Nannup. Just before Pemberton we drove part of the Karri Forest Explorer Drive along the Old Vasse Road. The majestic karri trees grow straight up and are the third tallest trees in the world (after the sequoias and Victorian mountain ash). They can reach heights of 90 metres and can live to an average of 300 years. Thankfully, in February 2001 after many years of campaigning the WA government ended logging in all old-growth forests. We stopped at the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree which is one of three fire tower lookouts and the tallest at 68m. When fire spotter planes were introduced in the early 1970s the lookout trees were opened to the public. I was quite amazed at this as it is only laddered with a daunting metal spiral stairway that winds it's way all the way up to the top. Rick was keen to climb as was I but chickened out as I didn't like the thought of coming down. Rick completed it and said he didn't particularly like the feeling and felt like he was suffering a little vertigo. We drove into Pemberton and stopped at the visitors centre before heading to Gloucester National Park and another lookout - the Gloucester Tree. We did a couple of short walks and continued onto Shannon National Park where we decided to camp for the night.