Exploring the National Parks surrounding Pemberton by 4WD can be an exhilarating experience – there are quite a number of 4WD destinations in the region which are fun to explore. These include; Marlimup Beach, Meerup River, Coodimurrup and Fish Creek, Broke Inlet, Yeagarup Dunes, Black Point, Lake Jasper not to mention the numerous ex-forestry trails through the Karri loam country. Before you head out you may wish to take some advice from Graeme Dearle – owner Pemberton Discovery Tours. The opportunity to load up the four wheel drive and head off is normally a priority for any avid four wheel outdoor adventurer. Escaping the madness of the city for something a little more simple and down to earth can make your adrenalin running just thinking about it.... Well, maybe it’s time to start planning your next trip down south! Fortunately there are still some destinations left on the map in reasonable proximity from the city of Perth for some decent outdoor exploring. Pemberton is surrounded by a number of national parks encompassing a large mixture of forest drives and coastal experiences and located only a four hour drive south of Perth. It has become a popular destination over the years as a four wheel drive destination. The D’Entrecasteaux National Park has the majority of four wheel drive opportunities. The park stretches 130km from Black Point, south of Augusta all the way down to Walpole, following some of the most spectacular coast line in Australia accessible only by four wheel drive vehicle and home to Western Australia’s true giant and the king of the forest (Eucalyptus diversicolor) Karri; the word majestic is the only word that truly describes this tree and its forest. There are a number of ways to access the coast by four wheel drive vehicle - and in doing so you experience a complete contrast of landscapes. The pristine and isolation of our national parks needs to be appreciated and respected by all users, the opportunity to be able access this amazing country is a true privilege that has being lost elsewhere around Australia due to misuse and land use changes. Four wheel driving can be a fun and rewarding experience – providing you keep in mind that it can be hazardous if you don’t have the appropriate expertise or are not travelling with the right equipment. The minimum you should carry onboard: A good supply of potable water First aid kit A good jack and base plate Recovery equipment Shovel Compressor If you have the right gear and the know how of using it you are more than likely to have a good time – also remember safety in numbers as you may require a second vehicle to get you out of that sticky situation. (Don’t rely on a recovery service as there isn’t one!!) If you need a tractor you will be required to fork out around $1000 - John has a high success rate and can be called on 9776 1432) Whether you are experienced or just a novice there are tracks and circuits through the south west that can suit you. Remember that the road rules that apply on the main roads also apply off-road. The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) maintain the national parks and state forests so you have to abide by their rules whether they be in regards to tyre pressures or roads closed due to dieback, maintenance or safety issues. For more detailed information on road conditions or any other national park information The Pemberton (DEC) office can be contacted on 08 9776 1207 There are a variety of different tracks in the national park that can be used to explore the park. Maps to help find your way around can be purchased in town at our shop - the Pemberton Discovery Centre. One of the best circuits out of Pemberton is the Yeagarup/Warren Calcup Hill circuit. This is one of my favourite half day tagalong circuits in the park that I provide for anyone who may not know the area or may not have the expertise and confidence to attempt by themselves. This particular circuit can be restricted seasonally by the river mouth, and high tide. Normally only accessible from December to April, unless you have the required skills or you are travelling with a responsible four wheel drive club or group, I wouldn’t recommend you attempt the crossing of the Warren River mouth or any other crossing in the park as a number of victims do come stuck on a annual basis. You will need to reduce your tyre pressures to suit the current conditions in the Park this is not only to be able to gain access in to the sandy boggier areas but is to help maintain the condition of the track, reducing your impact on your visit is crucial in maintaining our access to this amazing area. If you are looking at camping - you will not go past the Yeagarup Hut - a private group booking campsite you can book the whole facility! Visit www.wawilderness.com.au for more details. Don’t forget to take out what you take in and report any one who disrespects the use of our National Park to the Police or DEC all you need is a rego. Visit www.lnt.org.au for Leave no trace Australia. Litter reporters are able to report someone throwing litter or dumping matter from a car, trailer or boat to Keep Australia Beautiful Council by: Registering as a litter reporter with Keep Australia Beautiful Council Access the online reporting form I’m on UHF 10. Graeme Dearle is owner of Pemberton Discover Tours, and a certified trainer and assessor. He has been guiding in the region for over 16 years prior to that he was a field tech travelling off road through inland Australia.

We are really excited to be involved with the 2016 Truffle Kerfuffle and have organised some pretty special tours for guests to book before, during and after the event. We start the weekend off with a daily run through the forests, dunes and along the coastline near Pemberton - Yes you have guessed it! It is the "Beach & Forest Eco Adventure" with a significant twist - we have upgraded the lunch and included Truffle!!! To Book - head to the TK website at this link The afternoons are also options to sit back and let us drive for you as we discover the beautiful wineries and valleys of the region. This TK version of our "Pemberton Wine Discovery Tour" does have a heavy emphasis on food - expecially the truffle! We do pick up from accommodation for this tour - so let us know where you will be staying and we can organise everything from there. To Book - once again head over to the TK website If you still haven't booked accommodation there are still rooms available onsite with our 'Glamping' http://www.trufflekerfuffle.com.au/whats-on/wa-wilderness-glamping-at-fontys-pool/ #Information #Events #TruffleKerfuffle

Pemberton Discovery Tours is a family run business, operating since October 1999 and with over 5000 fantastic tours under its belt. The Beach & Forest Eco Adventure experience is well developed and has been highly recommended by tourism familiarisations to the area by our national and state tourism organisation over the past 10 years. We have also been fortunate enough to be showcased on 8 different television programs including The Great Outdoors and Postcards WA (twice!) and have fantastic reviews on Trip Advisor, Facebook and other websites. If you are coming to Pemberton by conventional 2WD vehicle, bus or hire car, this tour is the only way to access this amazing area. The selection of questions and answers below are taken from experiences we have had in the shop and may assist you in deciding to take our AMAZING ADVENTURE! F A Q 's What do we bring? Please bring your water (we have some onboard but it is inaccessible whilst we are driving). We do have water for sale at the shop and will happily fill any water bottles you may have in the car (check under the seat). Also ensure you are wearing appropriate clothing and don’t forget your camera equipment/batteries, hat, sunscreen, bathers or umbrella (in season) and a sense of adventure! Where do you meet, where do you park, how do we get in touch if we are running late? Departure is from the Pemberton Discovery Shop - Located 'downtown' at 12 Brockman St Pemberton - next door to the Mill House Tearooms, opposite the road to the Pool and Caravan Park. There is free parking in the street or down the side of the building. If you have a large van you can park in the Pemberton Sports Club Carpark. Please contact us via phone on 08 9776 0484 or SMS my mobile 0427133335 if you are running late. Tours duration and availability. We endeavour to run tours will run with a minimum of 4 passengers, however this does depend on vehicle and guide availability. Beach & Forest Eco Adventure runs from 9am - 1pm OR 2pm - 6pm The Black Point tour runs for between 8 and 10 hours with a minimum of 4 passengers* The only days we do not operate are Christmas Day (reopening 2pm Boxing Day) Do you have a layout/tour itinerary available? Yes, it is available to view on the individual tours - scroll down the page or click here. STILL UNDECIDED TO JOIN US? HERE ARE SOME OTHER REASONS… We are only here for one night. Great - we would love you to stay longer however what we offer you is something you will not be able to do yourself - complete with a guided view of the region. You may decide to do the tour as your special experience of Pemberton and you will not be disappointed. If you are only in for one night, book in advance to grab a 2pm departure the day of arrival - otherwise if you choose a morning tour we can make sure you are back on the road, with a full tummy (ie lunch) 1pm. If you decide not to join us - that's ok – grab a brochure and now you have a very good reason to return to Pemberton. We always recommend joining us during Wildflower season – but love each and every season as they all offer a good reason to return to Pemberton. We don’t do tours Ok this is fair for personal reasons – however do you have the capacity of going out to the area’s we visit without taking a tour? The tours are small in number and are not in the same category as tours who can take a larger number of people. Often once people who say this and have been persuaded to do the tour are so grateful they return every year to repeat the experience. So we hope we can change your mind! We are the tour people who 'don't do tours' do! It is too expensive Based on comparison with equivalent tours, our clients often comment on the good value. Our fees include National Park Entrance Fees (of $6.60 per person), delicious picnic Lunch or home made afternoon tea and the services of a professional and proficient guide for 4 hours including GST. Small groups enable a very personalised aspect to the tour; and we are fully insured, accredited and licensed with the Department of Parks & Wildlife, Transport, Ecotourism Australia, Tourism Council Western Australia, Australia's South West, Pemberton Visitors Centre and Tourism WA. So we hope this gives you a better understanding of our pricing. We don’t have a 4WD The tour seats up to 13 passengers in a heavily modified 4WD Arkana converted Landcruiser. The vehicles uniqueness is often a topic of conversation. Our second vehicle is a Toyota Prado which can seat up to 4 adults or a family of 6. So you don’t have to drive yourself... you hop onboard with us! We have our own 4WD vehicle We have found that 20% of people joining us onboard our vehicle have their own 4WD. They would prefer to park it up and join us onboard for the tour so they don’t damage their own vehicle and often means of transport home. Alternatively have you considered a tag along tour? Our guided tag along tours are a great way to enjoy the great outdoors as part of a guided group. We offer UHF communications and have a compressor available. The tours have commentary and, based on the experience of the driver, some instruction and guidance on the different terrains. Perfect for someone with a new 4WD or for someone wanting to learn to drive a 4WD (ie teaching the wife to drive a 4WD –that happens a lot!). We don’t do 4WD tours We try hard not to be perceived as a 4WD adventure tour however the label sticks as it is the only vehicle that can get us into these parts of the national park. We endeavour to offer an adventurous experience through terrain which is only accessible by 4WD. The safety of our passengers, the environment and the life of our vehicles are too precious to us to destroy by careless actions…. Also the majority of our clients are doing the tour to see the sights and would not appreciate a purposely bumpy ride. The kids are too young Cameron, Kieran and even Georgia (our kids) have grown up on the tour – and from the age of 2 months they participated on the tours. We have found that young children tend to sleep on the bumpy bits :o) We often have kites onboard and encourage the families to roll down the dunes and have fun in the beautiful clean sand. Child seats are available for infants and juniors. We do have family rates and are negotiable for infants off peak season. Every family we have had onboard the tour has loved the trip as it offers time out for the adults as children are entertained. Children are very welcome and LOVE the tour. DEFINITELY A MUST DO WITH KIDS! I or my children get car sick We do tell people that it is a 4WD adventure although we are not out to throw the vehicles around the dunes, however sections are bumpy. We advise people to medicate themselves for car sickness should they require it under normal situations. However please let the guide know if you feel ill as they will arrange priority seating and extra stops to alleviate symptoms. I have had back surgery/bad back. We do not recommend the tour to people who have back surgery in general however have had a number of people over the past 17 years who have chosen to do the tour – one in particular said that his back was pulled back in! Again the tour is not a ‘throw the vehicle around’ tour however sometimes the tracks are poorly maintained and the roads can be bumpy. Please advise the guide at time of booking and priority seating and extra stops can be arranged. Seniors and Disabilities. I am reminded of a tour which the 86 year old lady passenger said to Graeme “don’t worry I was young once too and I love a bit of excitement” If you are travelling this far from home to Pemberton then you are already out of their comfort zone and so the tour is suitable for you! The terrain is not smooth – however we endeavour to ensure the safety and comfort of all our passengers. The tours take in around 70km of national park which is considered inaccessible to the majority of visitors to the town and the seniors market is a large component of our business. We recognise the largest draw card to seniors who do our tour is the price (it is good value with the $16 discount for seniors including lunch) and the small tour group size. The tour groups are small, so we value all of our clients’ discussions, questions, input and experience to the tour so you don’t end up feeling like you are taking up the tour guides time. We don’t speak English The tour travels through 4 totally different terrains in as many hours and every international visitor we have had on our tour has enjoyed the experience. We find they often returning to the shop and emailing home and friends photos they have taken on the tour. Worried about safety All vehicles are maintained in accordance with the Transport WA vehicle maintenance schedule. All vehicles are fitted with a satellite phone, fire extinguisher and safety instructions should an event occur. All our guides are licensed with F class licences and hold current first aid certificates and are proficient drivers and guides. What happens if it is raining The locals say Pemberton rains 9 months of the year and drips off the trees the remaining three. So every business in Pemberton caters for wet weather. Our tours depart daily all year round – the scenery and experience differs greatly during wet weather with some amazing opportunities for photography. We have found that our tours during wet weather offer our clients the opportunity to witness raw nature at work and it can be a very emotive experience. We do carry umbrellas onboard and ask our clients to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. We would like to fish Fishing is no longer available unless booked as a private tour. We like to travel during quiet times. During quiet times we have found our percentage of small groups increases. This is mainly because the type of traveller changes – often people coming during the quiet times are more likely to take a guided tour than people heading down for a quick break. – it is really beautiful having the place to yourselves. Also often if people get a good deal on accommodation they have funds available for tours and meals out. We will miss out on hay ride (etc) Under different circumstances, pick up can be from selected accommodation (ie at 9.15am for the Pumphill hay ride, from a restaurant for a special birthday breakfast, from an accommodation place for a large group booking or the caravan park if you have a motor home or are without transport) so let us know when booking. We would like a private booking or full day tour Private group bookings are available, couples and singles are encouraged to join the normal tour however private rates are available on all tours. Let us know if you wish to do something out of the norm – it is normally not a problem to organise the tour for your private group. Any other questions - let us know! I would love to answer them all! #FAQ #Information #BOOKINGS #KNOWLEDGE

Spring is everywhere we look… The tightly budded flowers are hinting at a fabulous display for this 2015. Further south, where the fires hit Northcliffe, there are wonders to be seen with the bushfire reaching places which had never seen fire in many years. The orchids and tiny spectacular plants that make this region their home are coming out in all their glory. The ‘Blooming Wild’ festival will be held in the region this September, October and November and is a wonderful time to visit. Be prepared to see the forest dressed in all her glory!

Yeagarup Dunes in D’Entrecasteaux National Park is a mobile system of aeolian (wind blown) dunes currently moving inland at a rate of 4 metres a year. This coastline experiences an annual cycle of sand being removed from the beaches over the stormy autumn to spring seasons during big swells and a slow, gradual beach building with sand being redeposited over the summer months. During the last Ice Age, which occurred from approximately 25,000 to 8,000 years ago, the northern hemisphere was completely encased in ice. The southern hemisphere wasn’t so badly affected but the climate became much drier and windier than today. Along the D’Entrecasteaux National Park coastline there was an extra 30 kilometres of land as the sea level had receded dramatically with water being taken up in ice in the northern hemisphere. Throughout the southern hemisphere, sand was deposited along the new coastline and the sand was piled up into massive dune systems by the winds. When the Ice Age ended, the sea level rose and submerged much of the coastline. The Yeagarup Dune system was too large to be swallowed by the ocean and over the past 12,000 – 8,000 years has been blown further inland by the winds. The prevailing winds through the area are generally south-westerly and are moving the dunes in a north-easterly direction. The high rainfall of the area (currently around 1100 mm annually) helps to pack the sand down and prevents it from moving more rapidly. Over Summer/early autumn when the area receives lower rainfall levels the winds tend to be from the north or north-east, pushing the dunes back onto themselves slightly. The sand has a high silica content and the grains pack down tightly, forming high ridges along the top of the parabolic dunes. These ridges will eventually reach a critical point and then fall, creating drifts of soft sand at the base of the dune. Along the inland face, the dunes are progressing over Jarrah/Marri forests growing on old established, stabilised sand deposits and changing wetlands. Naenup Swamp, which is evident on old historic maps of the area, has almost completely disappeared. A large dune has been approaching Little Yeagarup Lake and has forced the water to push further to the north, doubling the surface area of the lake over the past couple of years. Yeagarup Dunes is currently 8 kilometres inland from the coast and coastal heathland vegetation has encroached behind it. Throughout the dunes, old Jarrah stumps are being re-exposed after being buried for thousands of years as the sand moves through. Pemberton Discovery Tours have been visiting the Dunes since 1999 and offer a safe and easy way to enjoy this unique National Park. Sources: Shannon and D’Entrecasteaux National Parks Management Plan No. 71 2012, Department of Environment and Conservation, Conservation Commission Western Australia. Geology of Western Australia’s National Parks – 2nd Edition, Peter Lane, 2011 #KNOWLEDGE #Information #FAQ #Yeagarup #4WD #4x4