You can now climb the Gloucester Tree again.
After more than two and a half years shut to the public, the giant karri just outside Pemberton has reopened with a new lookout platform sitting 37 metres up its trunk. That’s roughly the height of a 12-storey building, reached by climbing a nerve-testing spiral of metal pegs that has made the tree a popular adrenaline experience for generations of visitors.
The lookout is the result of a $3 million investment by the WA state government in the two Pemberton climbing trees, the second being the Bicentennial tree. The newly designed climb wraps around the trunk while minimising impacts on the living tree, so that people can reach the canopy and views while easing the strain on a living tree that has carried climbers for the better part of a century.
Tourism Minister Reece Whitby commented, “Nature-based tourism is one of Western Australia’s greatest strengths, and investments like this encourage more people to visit the South West, stay longer, and support local accommodation providers, cafes, wineries, and tour operators.”
Anyone who scaled the Gloucester Tree before its closure will notice that the climb is no longer at the same height. The old lookout sat at 53 metres, near the crown of the 61-metre tree, and the climb broke at a midway platform. The rebuilt version stops at 37 metres with no halfway rest, making it a single steady haul up rather than the two-stage ascent that defined the experience for decades.
Closed since 2023
The tree has been shut since November 2023, closed alongside the nearby Bicentennial Tree, and the wait has not been without friction. Former Nationals MP for the South West Region Louise Kingston had called it unacceptable that the trees were closed heading into the summer tourist season, and Pemberton business owners raised concerns that visitors would bypass the town or cut their stays short with its best-known drawcard out of action.
Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn acknowledged that patience while pointing to what the work secures. “The Gloucester Tree is one of Western Australia’s most iconic visitor experiences, and this investment ensures people can continue climbing into the karri canopy for generations to come,” he said. “I want to thank the local community, tourism operators, and businesses for their patience while these important works were completed. It’s fantastic to welcome visitors back to this unique attraction.”
“We’re continuing to invest in experiences that encourage visitors to stay longer, explore more of the South West, and support local businesses, while protecting the natural places that make this region so special.”
