Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range NP
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Before you psych yourself out by contemplating the 1099 metres (above sea level), I want you to take some time to contemplate the photo below.
The photo was taken by myself at around 6.30am, after an hour and a half of solid hiking (not to mention after a full day of wine tastings). But, my goodness, it was definitely worth it.
[SECTION]On Route to Bluff Knoll[/SECTION]
My boyfriend and I spent three days traveling to Bluff Knoll from Perth. On our initial day we woke early, stopped in Bridgetown for lunch at the
Blackwood Cidery (a lovely relaxed country atmosphere to stretch the legs and fill the tummy!), and continued to Pemberton where we would stay overnight. Feeling down on our luck after paying a whopping $50 for an un-powered site at the
Pemberton Caravan Park , we strolled across to the
Pemberton Hotel . We'd been warned that their trout may be the best we would ever eat, and now I'm certain of it. For a very basic pub meal it was absolutely divine.
The next day was all about trees... big ones! Despite the rain spitting down on us, my boyfriend (being very game!) decided to climb all 75m of the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree. You can find out more information about Pemberton's various trees from the Pemberton Visitor Centre or from their
website . We continued our journey through Walpole, taking in the breadth of the enourmous Karri trees and breathtaking wildlife as we went.
The Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk was overwhelmed with people, and we thought that $15 each was probably pushing it a little. Despite this, we saw some humungous trees! That night we stayed at
Parry Beach Caravan Park which charged us $10 for both of us, and even offered us free fire wood! I definitely recommend staying there.
Day 3 was all about wine tastings, which, by the way, I would NOT recommend doing the day before you are set to climb Bluff Knoll! After calling ahead to book a site, we arrived at
Stirling Range Retreat , which was another clean and well-equipped campsite at just a small fee.
[SECTION]Climbing Bluff Knoll[/SECTION]
At about 4:30am our alarm went off. It was absolutely freezing, and I wearily covered myself in four layers of clothing- including a long sleeved shirt, a jumper, a jacket, and a beanie. We drove to the car park at the southern end of the summit, head torches on as we began sleepily stumbling down the dark path. Before reaching the first achievement marker, I had already stopped to take my jumper off and have a swig of water. I remember muttering "why did I agree to this?!" as I reminisced on the comfortable bed that I had left behind. As we surfaced higher, passed a stream and appreciated the September wildflowers, the hike gradually became more enjoyable. Our hike was time sensitive because we aimed to reach the top by sunrise, but brief water stops ensured that we didn't miss out the scenery that accompanied our progress.
After an hour and a half of solid hiking and a few cases of "oh my god, I'm going to be sick", we finally reached the summit. This is what we saw-
After a lengthy period of gratitude, snacks, and photos, we began the descent. Our legs were still in shock, so we took it carefully, all the while absorbing the remarkable experience.
Check out this
website for some spectacular photos of Bluff Knoll!
#adventure
#health_fitness
#lookouts
#national_parks
#outdoor
#western_suburbs
%wnperth
152881 - 2023-06-14 07:14:31