As we celebrate Birak and the festive season, we—Graeme, Toni, and the team at Pemberton Discovery Tours—want to thank you for your support and friendship over the years. We’ve been lucky to see many returning guests (some from over 20 years ago!) bringing friends and family to share our adventures.
This year has been full of exciting changes and new opportunities, and we’re thrilled, once again, to share some highlights with you.
Graeme won the 2024 FACET Golden Guide - this is a big one here in WA, this lead them to include his submission in the Australia’s Top Tour Guide award - and he recieved Silver, second to Adam Hinks from Magnetic Isl. we look forward to joining him on his tour possibly next year!
Our business "Pemberton Discovery Tours" has been recognised as being one of WA's Dream Team. The "WA Dream Collective" is a selection of tourism operators whom not only provide best practice, environmental and accessible options to their customers, are bookable to agents and wholesalers, are accredited and regularly update their social media (amongst other things). We are so proud to be recognised amongst the best operators in WA.
You can still visit the fire towers - the Bicentennial Tree has reopened to the 20M platform and the Gloucester Tree will be reopening this year (all going well!) Here is just some of my list of reasons to return to Pemberton:
Aerial Adventures Pemberton: www.aerialadventurespemberton.com.au are open and swinging through the trees near the Gloucester Tree with their exciting aerial experiences - definitely book online to avoid disappointment
WA Wilderness: www.wawilderness.com.au - We continue to offer bespoke camping experiences in the stunning Warren National Park.
Lavender Berry - Veska Cafe: www.veska.com.au – Revitalised under new ownership, offering delightful culinary experiences.
Forest Lodge Resort: www.forestlodgeresort.com.au- Expanded dining options to breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Grumpy's: Brilliant Pizza’s and burgers in Pemberton, using local ingredients.
Pemberley of Pemberton www.pemberley.com.au : Private group wine tastings around the table with the owners at their vineyard. (We visit them on our wine tours).
Pumphill Farm: Offering yoga retreats and hay rides in the mornings most days.
RAC Karri Valley www.rackarrivalleyresort.com.au : Now open at the Lodge on the highway with their food van. Perfect for caravanners or people staying in the Beedelup area.
Lot2 Artspace - A unique art gallery owned by Leigh Gray-Smith, bringing a taste of art to the Main Street shops. Open 6 days from 10-2.30 (3pm Saturdays), you may find artist Tony Windberg as artist-in-resident.
Hidden River Estate www.hiddenriver.com.au :
Open Wednesday to Sunday for a spectacular luncheon menu - also now providing Picardy wines for tastings, by the glass and to purchase by the bottle to complement their Hidden River wines.
Ampersand Estates https://ampersandestates.com.au/ : Open 7 days per week for wine, the famous Donnelly River Port, Rainfall gin and vodka tastings with lunch hampers available.
Pemberton Discovery Tours www.pembertondiscoverytours.com.au : Yes this is us again! Ready for the busy period with additional eco-tours through the enchanting Yeagarup Dunes, we have also put on an additional vehicle. We would also love you all to welcome Aaron and Michael who have joined us. They are absolutely fantastic tour guides - we love them! Colin is still here helping in the background too :)
Pemberton Tramway www.pemtram.com.au : Recently purchased and refurbished by a local family, twice daily tours (three tours per day during the busy Christmas period) from the Tramway station.
Balang Miya (Pemberton Visitors Centre): Now located at the new co-location, combining the Visitors Centre www.pembertonvisitor.com.au , Community Resource Centre, Chamber of Commerce, RSL, and Library.
Pemberton Crossings bakery need a shout out here - they have been preparing our lunch’s now and are doing such an amazing job. If you are in Pemberton you must try their pies - award winning and delicious.
Did we mention Avocado’s? They grow remarkably well here and in fact provide some 90% of the avocados supplied to Australia over Christmas! Farmgate Avocado’s here in Pemberton are worth stocking up on ($2 for 2 is the usual rate or you can get boxes of seconds for next to nothing!)
And so much more!
🎬 Lights, Camera, Pemberton!
Pemberton was buzzing as Mystery Road filmed here over the past five months, bringing over 7,000 bed nights to local accommodation. The production employed 180 locals, and it was amazing to see our community come together to support such a big project.
We even had our turn in the spotlight—Graeme, Kieran, and I got to be extras, and Kieran worked as the EPK (Electronic Press Kit) - behind-the-scenes videographer (fancy title and all!). You can watch the series on ABC iView here.
🌟 Exciting News from Pemberton
New Tour Vehicle: Our new 4WD bus is up and running, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the Yeagarup Dunes and national parks. Check out the video Kieran created—it’s fantastic!
Pinot Picnic 2025: Mark your calendars for the 1st to 3rd of March 2025—a celebration of all things Pinot with tastings, dinners, and more.
ATE Brisbane: We’ll be attending the Australian Tourism Exchange in Brisbane next year, reconnecting with operators and agents. Let us know if you wish to catch up!
WA Wilderness Camping: Our fully set-up campsites are perfect for a hassle-free escape. Book now for availability pre- and post-Christmas: www.wawilderness.com.au.
🍷 Local Favourites
Ampersand Estates: Open 7 days a week for wine, gin, and vodka tastings. Don’t miss their incredible lunch hampers or weekend pizzas. Visit their website.
Veska Sauna Resort: A private Belarusian sauna experience by the lake—perfect for relaxation.
Southern Forests Chocolate Co.: Watch this space for their latest creations!
For more bookable Pemberton experiences, check out our curated list of local operators here.
💡 Community Highlights
Pemberton Visitor Centre Website: The new site is live! Book tours, camping, and more at www.pembertonvisitor.com.au.
Balang Miya Move: The Visitor Centre has moved into Balang Miya, sharing space with the CRC and Library. With air-conditioning and plenty of info, it’s the perfect place to plan your trip.
Christmas Decorations: Thanks to the Chamber’s funding, schoolchildren’s festive drawings now adorn the town as banners—bringing a cheerful holiday vibe to our town.
🌱 What’s New?
Beach Clean-Up: Over 60 volunteers collected 2 tonnes of rubbish, most of it washed up from the ocean. Thank you to everyone who pitched in!
Jasper’s Tree Campground: It’s finally open! We’re excited to welcome you to this special spot and are exploring ways to extend the season in the future.
The sale of Dumbleyung - our tree planting legacy lives on with a new family taking on the reigns. We are really looking forward to seeing how Andrew and the family change what we have created.
💛 Farewell and Gratitude
It’s the end of an era as we say goodbye to the Pemberton Lodge. We wish the new owners all the best.
George Fowler (Georgy Scott Restaurant & Silkwood) brought amazing food to the region, and his legacy lives on in the quality of what local restaurants provide. From great coffee to fine dining, Pemberton has a plethora of choices.
Whilst we talk about gratitude, we must say a huge thank-you to our incredible team for keeping everything running smoothly this year. You’ve made all the difference.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we wrap up 2024, we’re excited for what’s to come. From the Pinot Picnic to new trails funded by Trails WA, the future of Pemberton is bright.
Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with discovery, adventure, and unforgettable moments.
Warm regards,
Graeme, Toni & Team
WA Wilderness
Our WA Wilderness Glamping for Campers is still running, a little slower this year whilst we confirmed our location in the National Park.
We are still operating from Drafty’s and are anticipating moving to a new part of the National Park next year.
We still have spaces for this year, pre and post Christmas, so feel free to jump online and book here : www.wawilderness.com.au
As we move towards Birak, the first summer, we're filled with excitement for the adventures and new experiences that await in the new year. We can't wait to welcome you back and share the many wonders of Pemberton with you.
Wishing you a joyous festive season and a new year brimming with discovery, adventure, and unforgettable moments.
Warm regards,
Graeme, Toni & Team
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