Dear reader (readers, if more than one) it is time for a Botany lesson to correct information I wrote yesterday. I quoted the Kauri is plentiful in this area of Western Australia. Kauri is Agathis Australis, native to the North Island of New Zealand. The tree can reach 45 metres in height.
Karri, on the other hand, Eucalyptus Diversicolour, is a native to Western Australia and can reach 90m.
Thursday dawned clear, but crisp. Thought I would need my jumper before not too long. We packed the car and headed for Albany. The route was 380km. A little after 10:00am we arrived at Pemberton, a timber milling town. It shows its heritage. The timber mill dominates the town. There are two features we wanted to see around Pemberton, the Gloucester tree and the Beedelup Falls.
The Gloucester tree carried it's 1 millionth climber to the top in 2002. Standing 61 meters tall, it was pegged in 1946 so that people could climb it and use it as a watchtower for bushfires. The tree has been made accessible to tourists with a parking area and a Ranger who asks $11 per person for the privilege of getting close to the tree and even climbing it. Disappointment must have shown on my face with the mention of the $11, so the Ranger offered to let us drive past and not get out for free. Sill not a bargain. It was interesting to see tourists climbing the tree on pegs driven into the tree to make a circular staircase.
We then retraced our steps to Beedelup Falls. I expected something taller. The walk was good and the suspension bridge was fun to cross.
The next stop was Walpole for lunch. This is a seaside town servicing a grazing area. By afternoon tea time we reached Denmark. It had clouded over and become cold. On went the jumper.
We arrived in Albany and checked in at the George Hotel. My travel advisor was most concerned about this accommodation because it was budget; $59 a night for the room. She needn't have worried. We have stayed in more costly accommodation of a lower quality before. We are close to the docks which we will explore over the next few days.
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