Bibb Track – Pemberton to Donnelly River

A wonderful forested section of the Bibbulmun Track will leave you fit, relaxed and proud of your achievement – 100 km walked over 7 days! $2,550pp – 7 Days ex Perth, moderate terrain, 100km

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This 100 km section of the Bibbulmun Track, from Pemberton to Donnelly River Village is perfect for forest lovers! The trail passes though some of the most beautiful stands of Karri trees in the south west of Western Australia as well as taking in Big Brook Dam, Beedelup Falls, One Tree Bridge and the old timber milling town at Donnelly River.

It’s a moderate and sometimes challenging section, with a number of hills and many uneven (although mostly firm) surfaces. Each afternoon we’ll take you back to comfortable accommodation, with beautiful surrounds, in Pemberton to relax with your fellow walkers. Enjoy all of the sights, sounds and smells of the track without compromising on comfort.

Download the Bibbulmun Track, Pemberton to Donnelly River Walking tour Itinerary here

Download the Bibbulmun Track, Pemberton to Donnelly River Walking tour Information sheet here

Tour Length:
100 km
Distance walked:
8 – 19 km
Difficulty:
Moderate to challenging; See FAQ
Dates:
12 – 18. Sep 2021
See the PDF file for printing
Ask us a question

Highlights of this walk

Escape to the southwest forests, in the heart of karri country, for seven great days of walking the Bibbulmun Track. The accommodation, with its beautiful gardens, at Pemberton Forest Lodge is a great place to relax in the evenings.

Walking Tour Itinerary

A guide will accompany you as you walk between 8 and 19 km each day. The total distance walked is approximately 100 km. Each day we resume the walk from where we finished the previous day.

The walk is moderate, with some challenging, hilly days. By carrying only a day pack people with a moderate level of fitness will be able to complete the walk. We recommend that you do some training first, as preparation always makes the experience more enjoyable.

Guides will carry morning tea, first aid kit, satellite phone etc. You just carry what you need for the walk. This might include water, camera, a jacket and, on some days, your lunch. 

The plan may alter depending on local conditions and weather.

Day 1 Drive from Perth, walk Pemberton to Stirling Rd

Day 1 Drive from Perth, walk Pemberton to Stirling Rd

11.5 km

It’s a full day today, starting at 8 am when we will pick you up in Perth CBD. We’ll be in Pemberton for lunch and begin our walk from there.

The walk today is fairly easy and mostly flat with some short hills. It’s firm underfoot, including a section of bitumen road and path. We’ll pass the lovely Lefroy Brook and Big Brook Dam as we walk through some nice forest with good smells.

Day 2 Stirling Rd to Carey Rd

Day 2 Stirling Rd to Carey Rd

18 km

Today we wander through mixed forests of jarrah, marri and karri trees on fairly flat and gentle gradients.

We’ll pass through the Beedelup Campsite at about lunchtime and then the Beedelup Falls shortly afterwards. After this it’s a gradual incline to the end of the day.

Day 3 Carey Rd to Beavis Campsite

Day 3 Carey Rd to Beavis Campsite

17 km

A shorter walk today allows us to rest up for tomorrow’s more challenging section. It’s a nice walk, mostly through karri forest but with a great stand of jarrah thrown in before lunch.

Day 4 Beavis Campsite to Palings Rd

Day 4 Beavis Campsite to Palings Rd

20 km

There’s no way around it – there are some good hills to conquer today! After lunch the terrain gets more gentle and you get some absolutely stunning views across the valleys in the karri forest. It’s a splendid walk.

Day 5 Palings Rd to Green Island

Day 5 Palings Rd to Green Island

14.5 km

We’ll enjoy a pleasant walk today with the Donnelly River our constant companion. The sound of running water and birdlife, combined with the rich earthy smells will ensure our relaxation. There are a couple of hills early on, but no biggies.

Day 6 Green Island to Tom Rd

Day 6 Green Island to Tom Rd

16.5 km

We spend another day mostly beside the beautiful Donnelly River, beneath a canopy of karri trees. Tom Road Campsite, situated beside a delightful pool is a perfect place for lunch and the walking in the afternoon gives us some magic forest views.

Day 7 Tom Rd to Donnelly River Village

Day 7 Tom Rd to Donnelly River Village

8.5 km

After checking out of our accommodation we head off for our final walk into Donnelly River Village. It’s fairly flat and easy walking through mixed forest – a great opportunity to reflect on your achievement this week.

We will have lunch at Donnelly Village before driving back to Perth, arriving around 6 pm.

Details about accommodation, what to bring, transportation, food, etc.
Details about accommodation, what to bring, transportation, food, etc. See the PDF file for printing

Accommodation

For the first three nights we will stay at the picturesque Forest Lodge Resort in Pemberton. Here we will stay in charming twin share/double lodge guest rooms. Each room has their own ensuite.

For the last half of the tour we will stay at the Kingsley Motel in Manjimup. Again we will stay in standard twin share /double motel rooms with ensuites.

What to bring

Recommended Clothing and Equipment

  • Day-pack – one with a waist strap is best to help take some weight off your shoulders. In wet weather, a waterproof cover or a bin bag to wrap your belongings in can be handy
  • Shorts/long pants and shirts for walking
  • Socks – whichever thickness you’re comfortable walking in
  • Boots/shoes for walking (make sure you wear them in well)
  • Windcheater or lightweight jumper for walking
  • Waterproof jacket and (possibly) pants*
  • Sun protection – hat, sunglasses, sun cream
  • Casual clothes for evenings – we don’t mind if you wear your slippers, but keep in mind that some people will walk between cottages to get to/from dinner.
  • Torch/headlamp to help light your way after dinner
  • Any preferred first aid supplies – such as your favourite blister treatment! (we will carry a first-aid kit)
  • Water bottle/s – 2 to 3 litre capacity
  • A lunch container (with freezer brick if desired)

*You have to expect some bad weather at any time of the year down here so bring we weather gear even if the forecast is fine.

Optional items

  • Fly net
  • Camera and charger/batteries
  • Gaiters for snake bite protection are highly recommended unless you are wearing long pants and long socks.
  • Small towel to carry during the day
  • Snacks and alcoholic/carbonated drinks – there will be time to purchase more during the week if you need to
  • Walking poles

Food

For breakfast and dinner we will enjoy the accommodation’s restaurant.

On some days, when there is vehicle access, lunch is brought to the track at lunch time and shared as a picnic. On other days you will pack your lunch in the morning from a selection of salads, meats, cheese, spreads and bread, which your guides lay out for you and prepare fresh each day.

Your guide will carry tea, coffee and a home-made cake for morning tea. Fruit is also available for you to take with you. Feel free to bring additional snacks if you feel you need them. Lollies, muesli bars, nuts, seeds and dried fruit are popular options.

Alcohol is not provided but there is plenty of time for you to purchase this and other supplies during the week.

All meals are included. Please let us know of any dietary requirements when you book – we are happy to adapt our menu to a variety of dietary needs.

Transport

We use a well serviced and maintained air-conditioned minibus to drive from Perth to Pemberton and back, and to and from the Bibbulmun Track each day. As the transport from Perth is provided at no additional charge, discounts cannot be offered if walkers choose to find their own way to Pemberton.

This walk includes

icon-meals
All meals, homemade from the best ingredients

We pride ourselves on providing you with fresh, wholesome food. Enjoy healthy breakfasts, delicious home-made morning teas, fresh picnic and packed lunches, fruit and hearty two course dinners each day.

All transport via air-conditioned bus, departing from and returning to Perth

Central pick-up points in Fremantle and Perth CBD. Transport each day to and from the track.

Delightful accommodation in Pemberton

Peaceful self contained accommodation set amongst beautiful gardens at Pemberton Forest Lodge

Emergency support

Wilderness first aid trained guides carry radios, satellite phones and a full first aid kit so you can walk without worry.

Excellent itinerary and planning

Drawn from 14 years experience.

Professional guiding and support from local guides

We go the extra mile to make sure your tour will be memorable. We guide you on each walk, tell stories about the surroundings and make sure you return home feeling better than ever.

About Walking Tours In General

How hard are the walks?

The difficulty of the walks ranges from tour to tour, from easy to challenging. We design all of our walking tours to be achievable for those with a moderate level of fitness. We do recommend doing some training before most tours, because physical activity is always more enjoyable if you are physically prepared. We will send you information about how to train when you book.

When on tour we find that a positive mental attitude is most important and that if you focus on the scenery, the company and the moment, and not on the kilometres, then you find yourself reaching your destination with little problem. You can always have a day or sometimes an afternoon off to relax if you feel like it. If you have any concerns about your fitness or ability to complete a walk, give us a call on (08) 6219 5164 and we can talk you through it.

Posted in: About Walking Tours In General

Do I have to twin-share accommodation? Can I have my own room?

Our tour prices are based on rooms being twin share (two single beds in one room) or double (one double/queen bed in a room, shared by a couple). If you are travelling alone, we will give you a room with someone of the same sex. Sometimes, depending on the accommodation, it is possible to pay a single supplement to ensure that you have a room to yourself – please ask us if this option is available when you book. We won’t always be able to guarantee your own bathroom and king/queen beds with a single supplement due to the types of accommodation we use for group bookings. Often we stay at 2 or 3 bedroom chalets so that we can cook and have a common area for the group to relax and mingle at the end of your days walk. If having your own bathroom is important, give us a ring and we will see if it is possible.

Posted in: About Walking Tours In General

Will I hold up the group if I’m a slow walker?

We find a lot of people who haven’t been on a walking tour before worry about this, but it’s rarely an issue. We keep a comfortable steady pace with plenty of opportunities to rest and take in the scenery along the way. Usually the group will spread out over a couple of hundred metres as we walk.

Normal walking pace on a formed surface like a road or footpath is around 4.5 – 6 km per hour and we tend to average just over 3 km per hour on bush tracks. It’s not a stroll but it’s not a brisk walk either. If you feel you may be slower than this, try some longer training walks to increase your walking fitness.

Posted in: About Walking Tours In General

What is the average age of Inspiration Outdoors’ guests?

About 80% of our walkers are aged between 45 – 75, but we welcome all adults on our tours. We get a roughly 60/40 female to male split.

Posted in: About Walking Tours In General, Day Walk FAQs

What’s the food like? Can you cater for my dietary needs?

We serve simple, nutritious and delicious food on tour, using fresh and local ingredients as much as possible. Of course, if you like, you can indulge in some less nutritious treats as well – you’re on holiday after all and the team bake some mean cakes. Breakfast, home-made morning tea, lunch, fresh fruit, pre-dinner nibbles and a two course evening meal are all included. We are happy to adapt our menu to suit many dietary needs including gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diets – please ask when you book.

Posted in: About Walking Tours In General

Are your walking tours just for “bushwalkers”?

Our walks are for anyone who enjoys walking and nature – bushwalkers or not. Our walks are conducted in safe, supportive and fun environments and you don’t need specialised equipment or experience to undertake them. We give you information about what you will need to bring and how you should prepare for each tour and we’re always here to answer any questions or concerns.

Posted in: About Walking Tours In General, Day Walk FAQs

Do I have to walk every day on tour?

Of course not – it’s your holiday and you should do what you feel! Relax at the accommodation, come for a drive, get dropped off in town or go for a stroll of your own. On some days there is also the opportunity to walk for part of the day. This last option depends on whether there is vehicle access to the track.

Posted in: About Walking Tours In General

What do I have to carry when I walk?

Very little. A water bladder or bottles, a rain jacket, some personal first aid supplies and, on some days, lunch. You will probably want a camera as well. We return to accommodation each evening so there is no need to carry a large backpack.

Posted in: About Walking Tours In General

What people have said

We both enjoyed the easy going trekking without the problem of where to drop off and pick up. The accommodation was well chosen and comfortable and welcome after a long day of walking. Good wholesome food was such a bonus.

Gary and Yola, Pemberton to Donnelly River, 2014

The accommodation was excellent – spacious, comfortable and quiet. The food was first class, with generous portions always. And the track? – the pace of the walk was just perfect too. Simon and Emily know the track well and have measured out the kms to the days perfectly. They shared interesting history and information on plants etc without too much information overload.

All we had to do was keep putting one foot in front of the other and, at the end of each day, relax and enjoy good food and good company and finally a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed.

Noreen, Pemberton to Donnelly River, 2014

Pricing

AUD $2,550 inc GST (single supplement $300)

Hold your place with a $350 deposit

Money-Back Guarantee

Our number one priority at Inspiration Outdoors is to ensure our guests have a great experience on EVERY tour.

We can't guarantee the weather, bush fires or events beyond our control, but we do guarantee that:
– your guides are professional, friendly and hard working.
– your itinerary is well organised and thought out.
– the particulars of your tour (accommodation, transport, food etc), are as described on the website and in the tour notes.

We stand behind our guarantees. If you come on a tour with Inspiration Outdoors and we do not fulfil these promises, we will give you your money back.

Ask about this tour:

If you would like to book this tour, or just want to learn a bit more about it, please fill in the enquiry form below and we will get back to you to confirm availability or to answer your questions.

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Other ways to get in touch

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What happens after I book?

After you have filled in a registration form, we will send you all extra information you may need, including a list of what to bring and how best to prepare for the tour.

Payment in full is required at least six weeks prior to the tour (bookings can still be made within six weeks of tour start date if there are places available). We will email or call you to remind you when this is due.

Finally, we will contact you prior to your tour to confirm pick-up times and locations. If you have any questions or concerns at all before or after you have booked, please don’t hesitate to get in touch so we can go through them with you.

What are my payment options?

Payment can be made by:

  • Direct deposit
  • Cheque
  • Credit card

Can I cancel my booking?

If you need to cancel your tour;

  • 85 days or more, you will be refunded all monies paid, less a $50 administration fee.
  • 42 to 84 days prior to departure, you will lose your deposit
  • 28 to 41 days: 25% of full tour cost
  • 14 to 27 days: 50% of full tour cost
  • less than 14 days: 100% of full tour cost, no refund

If you have any concerns about cancelling, please take out travel insurance covering this contingency. This policy will be adhered to despite the most compelling and compassionate circumstances.

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