South Regional

Karri Valley Resort

RAC Karri Valley Resort channels classic North American vibes. Here, you’re both up at the lake and amidst Pemberton’s epic karri forests.

And the best part? You’ve got all the comforts you’d expect from an RAC property on hand, no matter whether you hunker down in one of the caravan or camping sites, or rest your head in a lakeside room or chalet. Lakeside rooms have the well-appointed feel of a city hotel, but with a lakeside balcony that’s perfect for sundowners (and perhaps the occasional visit from a feathered friend).

While the idea of a resort may conjure thoughts of crowds and non-stop action, you’re never too far from a quiet woodland spot that’s perfect for what the Japanese call ‘shinrin-yoku’, or forest bathing. While there’s certainly no shame in just slowing things down here and soaking in the beauty of the natural surroundings, you’ve got activities galore at your disposal, too, from fishing and canoeing to archery and tennis. Perhaps the ultimate amenity is the freedom to take it all at your own pace.

Need to Knows

  • 32 Rooms (Lakeside Room, Lakeside Room Queen) and 36 Chalets (Two Bedroom Accessible Forest View Chalet, Two Bedroom Chalet – Forest View, Two Bedroom Chalet – Lake View, Three Bedroom Chalet – Forest View, Three Bedroom Chalet – Lake View, Three Bedroom Chalet – Family Lake View).
  • The campsites and caravan park are less than a 20-minute walk from the resort facilities and comprises both unpowered and powered sites, as well as powered slab sites and ensuite sites, all of which accommodate up to six guests.
  • Check-in: 2pm; Check-out: 10am.
  • Mobile phone reception is limited at the resort, and while complimentary WiFi is available across the property, there are black spots.
  • EV charging is available on-site, and there are barbecue facilities and guest laundry at the campground.

What’s There 

For those who want to take to the water, there’s swimming, fishing, row boating, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. Away from the lake, there’s a host of family-friendly activities like table tennis, mini-golf and even an animal farm. Depending on how long you’re staying, it easily becomes a question of how to pack it all in.

What’s Around

If you’ve got a head for heights, the new high ropes and zip-line course at Aerial Adventure Pemberton should be on your Southern Forests to-do list. Otherwise, there’s lots of ground-level hiking to be done nearby as well. Below ground, the region is known as the heart of Australian truffle country. Between mid-June and late August, you can head out on an organised hunt for black truffles, or taste the precious harvest fresh throughout the region.

What’s Super Special

A sunrise walk around Lake Beedelup ticks the essential ‘connect-with-nature’ box on that Southern Forests bucket list, especially on misty mornings.

 

Children

The resort is especially suited to children with its abundance of family-friendly activities, but there’s still plenty of space for adults.

Breakfast

Rooms are equipped with tea and coffee facilities, but à la carte and buffet breakfasts are available at the restaurant daily. During peak season, buffet breakfast may be the only option available, so call ahead to confirm.

Eating and Drinking

The Lakeside Restaurant is the centre of the action all day here, from breakfast through to dinner daily, with a light grazing menu available in the late afternoon. Happy hour – between 4-5pm – is a highlight, when the views out over Lake Beedelup are particularly vibrant and better still with a Tall Timbers Brewing Co beer in hand. At reception, meanwhile, they sell all the essentials, in addition to snacks and a strong selection of West Australian wines and beers.

Things to Book

The resort’s restaurant does get booked out for dinner in busier periods, so bag your table early. The indulgent Truffle Kerfuffle festival – held most years at the end of June in Manjimup – is also a calendar highlight well worth planning ahead for.

Notes

Head to Manjimup’s Hound & Hunter Fine Foods, where chef-turned-truffle-grower David Coomer and his team make superb bread, pies and pastries daily, as well as an excellent miso utilising black truffles. The house-made gelato has also become something of a local favourite.