Pemberton Stage

The road

The Pemberton to Northcliffe road is the backbone of the South West WA Stages - 30 kilometres of sealed road through the heart of the karri forest on the Pemberton-Northcliffe Road. The karri trees along this route reach 60 to 80 metres and the canopy closes overhead in several sections, creating a tunnel effect that makes the road feel both enclosed and vast at the same time. The Targa South West rally (now Tarmac South West) uses this road as a special stage, describing it as fast and flowing with lots of crests and dips and long sweeping corners through glorious forestry. The narrow blind crests demand precise teamwork between driver and co-driver. Outside of rally events, the road carries minimal traffic and the drive between the two timber towns is one of the best in the South West. The surface is well maintained and sealed throughout. Dappled light is the main challenge - the road transitions from well-lit to shadowed within metres, making both the surface condition and the line through corners harder to read than on an open road.

The region

Pemberton and Northcliffe sit in the karri forest belt of Western Australia's South West corner. Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) is the third-tallest tree species in the world, reaching up to 90 metres. The forest was heavily logged from the 1860s for the British timber trade and has been managed for conservation since the 1990s. Northcliffe is 30 km south of Pemberton through the Dombakup Forest and Gloucester National Park.

Before you go

Fuel in Pemberton. Northcliffe has basic services - fill up before heading south. The Pemberton Visitor Centre has good information on the forest. Both towns have accommodation and cafes. The road is open year-round but best driven in the dry months when leaf litter is less of a factor.

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