Bibbulmun Donnelly River - Pemberton Pack & Camp 5 Day Hike

The Bibbulmun (Bib) Track stretches 1,003 kms from Kalamunda to Albany and is Western Australia's longest walking trail. Join us for a 108 km multi-day hiking adventure from Donnelly River to Pemberton and be totally immersed in the best of the Southern Forests! Hiking from the historic Donnelly River Village, over and across huge fallen trees turned into makeshift bridges as we ride up and down on the infamous Donnelly River Rollercoaster all the way into Pemberton itself. On this adventure you will experience parts of the South West of Western Australia that are only accessible on foot on this 6-day adventure off the beaten track in WA!

Itinerary:

Day 1 | (Departing 6:30am) | Drive Day & Donnelly River Village to Tom Road Campsite (16.2km) 

After driving down to Donnelly River Village, with a cheeky stop at the Balingup Bakery, we will begin our 5-day hike along the Bibbulmun track to Pemberton by walking through the holiday village at Donnelly River itself. You will make friends with all the local Kangaroos and Emu’s of which we may encounter over the next few km’s. On day one we will only walk a few gentle hills which will warm us up for the climbs coming up, our minds will be kept busy getting to know each other and learning to spot the different types of tree’s we will hiking past with a mixture of flora giving us a taster of what’s to come. Ending our first day at Tom Road campsite, we will set up our tents for the first time alongside a beautiful deep river where if your keen enough you can brave the cold water for a swim under large trees and then warm up next to our first camp fire enjoying a hot cuppa.

Day 2 | Tom Road Campsite to Boarding House Campsite (24.2 km)

Our second day on the track takes us 24.2 km all the way to Boarding House campsite, over the next few km’s you will have to keep a sharp eye as you will start spotting many different kinds of fungi and mushrooms accompanied by great river views and plenty of moss covered log’s, It really will start to look like a magical fairy garden. After crossing the new ‘One Tree Bridge’ suspension bridge you will get to pass the halfway point between Albany and Kalamunda along the Bibbulmun track and we might even get our first group selfie with the half way point sign using the in built selfie stand!! With the last few hundred meters to camp we will cross our first “Tree Bridge”, a crossing made from and old tree which has fallen across the river, which will take you into the Boarding House Campsite, a gorgeous shelter nestled along the banks of a stream, your home for the night.

Day 3 | Boarding House Campsite to Beavis Campsite (21.1km)

Starting with an energy filled breakfast and leaving early in the morning to give ourselves plenty of time we will begin to tackle to Donnelly River Rollercoaster, the trail will take us up and down steep hills, over and through giant trees, winding through green tree tunnels and along high ridge lines with awe-inspiring views. We aren’t going to lie, today is a tough one but the scenery along the way will make up for it. You will get to encounter tranquil trickling streams, some of the most superb fungi and even more “Tree Bridges". After a tough day on the feet we will plod on into Beavis campsite where we can take our trusty shoes of and let our legs relax and just maybe if were lucky enough be able to soak our feet in the nearby cold water pool. Tonight will be spent under towering Karri Tree’s listening to the peaceful sounds of the forest.

Day 4 | Beavis Campsite to Beedelup Campsite (22km)

Day four and well over halfway along your journey, after a tough previous day today will feel a lot easier on the feet. The trail today will make its final climb out of the Donnelly Valley you have called home for 3 days and through to Beedelup National Park where we will come across our first Jarrah/Marri forest that we have seen in the last few days. Although we are nearly to the end there is still plenty to see, especially the amazing Beedelup Falls where water will cascade over the very end of the Darling range Fault line into the depths of the forest below. Crossing yet another suspension bridge you will make your way through the last few km’s to your final forest home, Beedelup shelter, hiding under tall Karri Trees alongside a bubbling brook which if your bold enough can make for a nice ice bath to soak in before your final track diner eaten by a warm glowing fire as we recall stories of our time spent on the track together.

Day 5 | Beedelup Campsite to Pemberton (25.1km)

Your final stretch and homeward bound and your longest day of your journey on the track. Although this is your longest stretch it is by far the easiest, with only a handful of small hills and plenty to see. The track today will take you over a Stile and though private farmland where we can make friends with the local Pemby cows and hopefully soak up the sun in the open-air paddock before heading down our last decent back into dense forest and following old railway formations into the Big Brook Arboretum which is home to many native and exotic trees including giant sequoia redwoods all the way from California. Passing by Big Brook Dam and shortly after, Pemberton Trout Farm signifies our last few Km’s on the trail before Pemberton which means a nice hot shower, a scrumptious pub meal and a real bed awaits.

Day 6 | Breakfast at Wild At Heart - Depart Pemberton 9am - Arrive back in Perth by 2pm

After what may be one of the most relaxing sleeps of your life it is time to head on home and back to reality but not before we treat you to a big, delectable breakfast at Wild At Heart in the Centre of town to refuel your body from a glorious full 5 days deep in the forests of the South West. Its now your time to relax as we drive you back to Perth. You will feel empowered and invigorated, with plenty of amazing memories and stories to tell!

Departing from: 6:30am Cockburn Central Train Station, ‘The Siding’ pick up area, Junction Boulevard, Cockburn. Please arrive 6:15am ready for a 6:30am departure.

Experience Includes:

5 x days of guided hiking

5 x nights camping at Bibbulmun Track shelters

1 x night accommodation in Pemberton

OTBT Overnight Hiking Kit Hire (optional extra)

Transport from Cockburn Central to Donnelly River Village

Transport from Pemberton back to Cockburn Central

All track meals (4 x trail breakfasts, 5 x trail lunches, 4 x trail dinners + snacks) (optional extra)

1 x celebration dinner

1 x cooked breakfast

Virtual Information session & Preparation pack

Access to all OTBT photographs

50% discount on OTBT Endurance Hikes (training)

Individual Equipment Hire Available:

65ltr backpack

1 person tent

2 person tent (to share with a pal)

Sea to Summit sleeping mat

Stove & Pot set

Or make life easy and hire the full Overnight Hiking Kit which includes the below (pricing as per above):

OTBT Overnight Hiking Kit

Hiking poles

Own tent (or shared if preferred)

Sleeping mat

65lt backpack

Hiking stove with gas

Lightweight pot set

Mug, Bowl, Spoon

Head torch

Water purification tablets

Dry sack for food storage

Dry sack for clean clothes storage

Upon registration, you will be issued with a client information pack which contains a training plan, packing list, copy of itinerary and other useful information.

Fitness Level: A high level of fitness is required for these hikes. You do need to have overnight hiking experience and to have done at least one overnight hike before embarking on a multi-day journey. We will guide you through the packing and preparation and even assist you with some training suggestions. During the hike, we will be going at a pace where we will enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

Off The Beaten Track WA provide a trained and experienced Lead Guide for their hikes, carry two-way communication devices, a personal location beacon and is a fully licensed, insured and accredited tourism business aiming to provide hiking experiences with a twist!