We are thinking about spending a day on the Karri Explorer drive. We like forests and hikes but am not sure this is a good way to spend the day. Does anyone have experience with this drive?

Hi AOTR,

This would be well worth considering. We absolutely loved Pemberton - a very quaint town and I think we stayed for about 3-5 nights there and used it as a base. The Karri drive is beautiful. My DH and two sons all climbed the Gloucester Tree - I decided to be cheer squad on the ground.

For the life of me I cannot remember the Beedelup Falls though but memory isn't what it used to be.

I hope this helps, I think Melanie, a regular contributor, is down that way at present so hopefully she'll read this and also give you some advice on what she thinks but personally I would say yes - do it.

One of the reasons I am asking is that we are staying in Yallingyup and it is a 1 1/2 hour drive to the start point of the Karri Explorer drive.

I'm currently in Denmark, leaving shortly for a few days in Pemberton, then on to Yallingup.

You absolutely cannot go wrong visiting this area, it's fabulous. In fact, we're seriously considering a return visit at Christmas.

If you're staying in Yallingup, it might be a bit ambitious to do the entire Karri Explorer Drive. We once drove from Margaret River to Pemberton and back in a day and it was a bit of a haul - lots of driving with very little time to get out and explore.

If you can manage to fit in a few days in the Pemberton area, you'll be glad you did. The massive trees and national parks are gorgeous.

PS to Stormbird - I've climbed the Gloucester Tree, the Bicentinnal Tree and the Dave Evans Tree, but I think I've since regained my sanity.

Oh Mel,
You are a brave, brave girl. I just took one look and said no way jose!!

The biggest surprise was our youngest son, who was only about 9 at the time, was not always the risk taker of the family, he was the one that was determined to climb that tree and he basically just took off. My husband got a bit panicky and thought he'd need to keep an eye on him, so he went up also. As always with the eldest son, no show without punch, he went as well.

So glad you seem to be having a really wonderful time there at present.

If you think the Karri Explorer might be a stretch from Yallingyup then do you have some other suggestions for things to do.

Presently we have one day of wine tasting and another for the Bushtucker Canoe and possibly a few cave visits.

Other ideas for a day of outings?

Just returned from three nights in Yallingup.

Sounds like you've got quite a bit planned already - how long will you be there?

If you enjoy walking, you could set off on a hike or two - although it may be very hot - not sure when you're going - and mind the snakes, we saw a few doozies.

We'd walk in the mornings (Leewin Naturaliste National Park), then spend the afternoons exploring; having a nice lunch and a few wine tastings along the way.

You'll be very close to several beaches (fun to watch the surfers) and you'll be a short drive away from all that the MR region has to offer - a chocolate factory, cheese factories, a lighthouse (Leewin), a lavendar farm, berry farms, a venison farm that sells venison products as well as exotic meats like emu, kangaroo and ostrich. There are also olive farms, arts/crafts and wood galleries, etc.

You'll be spoiled for choice really.

If you're still interested in the Karri Explorer Drive, let me know - I brought home a detailed brochure and can take a look at it if you need some details.

Mel,

Thank you.

We will be in Yallingup for four nights during the first week of January.

Suggestions on walks would be great. We like to be active.

I like the idea of the Karri Explorer but am not sure about spending so many hours 1.5 there and 1.5 back - thus, my original post.

My daughter would shoot me if we did not go to the Chocolate Factory.

Thank you, AOTR

A walk suggestion then:

Walk to or park in Rabbit's carpark (can't miss it, it's a surfers area not far from Smith's Beach, just follow the main road through Yallingup and you'll end up there).

To the right of the carpark is the Wardanup Track, a 5 km, 2.5 hour loop (we logged it at 4.55 miles on our GPS, and it took us just under two hours, and we're not spring chickens).

The track begins above the beach and ocean, then climbs over a rather steep hill, then through forest alongside Ngilgi Cave (we stopped there for coffee). It then winds down through a rather lush area and ends up in a gorgeous park, which we later identified as the Emily Rose Terrace at the back of Seashells Resort. You can then walk along the road or along the beach back to the carpark.

A nice diverse walk, but we did see a rather large snake that refused to get off the path. Still not sure what kind it was, but it was a biggie.

Another option is to walk to/park at Smith's Beach carpark, then walk the Cape to Cape trail down to the beach. You can then backtrack and take the Torpedo Trail to town or continue walking to Rabbits carpark, then turn around.

There are also several walk options on Cape Naturaliste (near Dunsborough) - there's a lighthouse there. We took the 40 minute Lighthouse Loop, but didn't care for it. Too dusty, too many flies, nothing to see from the track. The other walks might be better, I don't know.

If you want to see kangaroos lounging about, drive south from Yallingup on Caves Road, turn left onto Biddle and drive into the subdivision, loads of kangaroos in the fields in between the houses.

Yallingup Wood Fired Bread is also located here (wonderful stuff), as is an olive oil business.

Here's a map of the area that might help you out:

http://www.happs.com.au/downloaders/HappsSWMap.pdf

PS -

The drive from Pemberton to Yallingup took us well over two hours on the highway.

The Karri Forest Explorer route winds through forest, and many of the roads are unsealed. It goes through three National Parks and there are plenty of reasons to stop along the way. It might certainly be possible to do a portion of the drive, but IMO it's just too much for one day.

FYI - if you do decide to take the Karri Explorer Drive, be sure to pick up a parks pass that covers all three parks before you go.