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The northern part of the forest country is watered by the Blackwood River and divided by scenic roads through jarrah woodlands linking the riverside mill towns. NANNUP , on the Vasse and Brockman highways, 60km southeast of Busselton, remains a picturesque town, a cluster of wooden cabins nestling quietly among wooded hills. The tourist office (tel 08/9756 1211) is located in the old police station on Brockman Street; the Blackwood Cafe nearby is an ideal lunch spot. For accommodation , the laid-back Black Cockatoo Hostel , 27 Grange Rd (tel 08/9756 1035; under $20), is a cosy backpackers' treat, while the upmarket Lodge (tel 08/9756 1276, fax 9756 1394; $115-150), on the hill, will spice up your sex life with lavish comforts. Lost among the jarrah 6km northwest of town, the Nannup Bush Cabins (tel & fax 08/9756 1170; $50-70) are enchantingly situated hideaways. Blackwood Expeditions (tel 08/9756 1209) offers canoe rental and guided tours on the lower Blackwood River. From Nannup, a scenic drive winds 41km along the river to unremarkable Balingup, while the equally tree-lined Brockman Highway heads east 46km to BRIDGETOWN , a busy mill town with a large tourist centre (daily 9am-5pm; tel 08/9761 1740) on Hampton Street. Despite some token tea and craft shops, Bridgetown is really a place to get your ute serviced or chainsaw sharpened. By the river, where some pleasant bankside walks begin, the National Trust property of Bridgedale House (10am-4pm; closed Tues & Wed; $3) rents out canoes . Thirty-seven kilometres south of Bridgetown, MANJIMUP is the region's commercial centre, handy for shopping and other services but, apart from a visit to the Timber Park (daily 9am-5pm), behind the tourist office (daily 8.30am-5.30pm; tel 08/9771 1831) on Rose Street (both celebrating the local timber industry), it has little appeal. Graphite Road is a picturesque forest drive heading west 22km to One Tree Bridge and, after another couple of kilometres, to the magnificent Four Aces , a quartet of huge, 350-year-old karri trees standing in a row. With a detailed map it's possible to spend all day driving around these gravelly, winding logging roads, but should you head south to Pemberton along the tarmac road you'll pass a turn-off to the Diamond Tree , where you can climb a fifty-metre lookout tree for free.
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