Add Pemberton to Your WA Travel Wish List. If you’ve ever dreamed of climbing into the treetops of an ancient forest, the Gloucester Tree should be at the very top of your Western Australia bucket list.

Towering above the majestic karri forests of Pemberton, this giant isn’t just another big tree—it’s one of the world’s most extraordinary climbing experiences. With steel pegs spiralling up its massive trunk, the Gloucester Tree invites adventurous visitors to scale a living giant for breathtaking views across the endless forest canopy.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t just a tourist attraction. Every step up the tree is a step through history.

Standing around 72 metres tall and estimated to be more than 300 years old, the Gloucester Tree has witnessed centuries of change in Western Australia’s Southern Forests. Long before it became a must-do attraction, it played a vital role in protecting the very forests that surround it.

Back in 1947, when Pemberton was a bustling timber town, the Forests Department transformed the ancient karri into a fire lookout. In an era before helicopters, drones or satellite technology, the only way to spot bushfires quickly was to get above the trees.

The solution? Turn one of the forest’s tallest giants into a lookout tower.

Workers painstakingly hammered hundreds of steel pegs into the trunk in a spiral pattern, creating a ladder that climbed more than 60 metres into the sky. At the top, they built a tiny timber cabin where fire spotters would spend long days scanning the horizon for the faintest sign of smoke. Armed with binoculars, maps and radio equipment, they became the forest’s first line of defence, helping protect communities and valuable timber from devastating bushfires.

The tree was named after Richard John Lloyd Gloucester, the Governor of Western Australia from 1945 to 1947, and quickly became one of several lookout trees safeguarding the region.

As technology evolved through the 1960s and 1970s, aircraft gradually replaced tree-top fire spotters. But instead of retiring the Gloucester Tree completely, it was given an exciting new purpose.

The lookout became one of Australia’s most unique tourist attractions.

Visitors could climb the very same steel pegs once used by fire spotters, experiencing the thrill of ascending a living tree with nothing but the trunk beside them and spectacular views waiting above. There were no enclosed staircases or elevators—just an unforgettable climb through the forest canopy that soon became a rite of passage for generations of travellers, school groups, backpackers and adventurous families.

As Pemberton evolved from a timber town into one of Western Australia’s premier nature destinations, the Gloucester Tree became its most recognisable landmark. For countless visitors, no trip to the Southern Forests felt complete without conquering the famous climb.

Then, in 2023, everything changed.

Following detailed engineering inspections and arborist assessments, climbing the Gloucester Tree was suspended. The ancient giant had developed structural deterioration in its upper section, and experts determined the original 61-metre lookout could no longer be safely accessed without risking the health of the living tree.

For the first time in decades, the famous climb was closed.

Visitors could still stand beneath the enormous trunk, but climbing was off the cards, leaving many wondering whether one of Western Australia’s most iconic attractions had reached the end of its story.

Thankfully, it hadn’t.

Rather than removing the experience altogether, conservationists and engineers embarked on an ambitious restoration project that balanced visitor access with the long-term survival of the tree itself. Around ten metres of deteriorated wood was carefully removed from the upper section, extensive engineering work was carried out, and a brand-new viewing platform was designed to place far less stress on the ancient karri.

The project formed part of a $3 million investment that also upgraded the nearby Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, ensuring both giants can continue inspiring visitors for years to come.

Then came the news everyone had been waiting for.

On 1 July 2026, the Gloucester Tree officially reopened.

While climbers no longer ascend to the original 61-metre lookout cabin, they can once again tackle the famous steel pegs to reach a spectacular new viewing platform approximately 37 metres above the forest floor. Wrapping around the trunk, the platform delivers incredible panoramic views while helping preserve the health of this remarkable tree for future generations.

It’s a thoughtful compromise—one that allows visitors to experience the excitement of climbing a living giant while protecting a tree that has stood watch over the forest for more than three centuries.

Today, the Gloucester Tree is much more than an adventure attraction. It’s a living piece of Western Australian history, a reminder of the ingenuity of early bushfire management, and a symbol of how conservation and tourism can work hand in hand.

So, if you’re planning a South West road trip, make sure Pemberton is on your itinerary. Climb the Gloucester Tree, wander beneath towering karri forests, chase waterfalls, explore local wineries and discover why this charming forest town is one of Western Australia’s most unforgettable destinations.

After nearly three years of waiting, one of WA’s greatest adventures is back—and it’s ready to inspire a whole new generation of climbers.