Where to easily see giant and tall trees in Tasmania......
Mount Field National Park
The Tall Trees walk can be linked to the Waterfalls Circuit and some of the best old trees are to be seen along the section to Lady Barron Falls – there are also some huge old trees to be seen on the Lake Dobson road which winds up to the higher alpine areas of the park.
The Tall Trees parking area is at: 42°40'56.9"S 146°42'13.2"E
Styx Valley
Big Trees Reserve: Forestry Tasmania bestowed the rather unoriginal names of ‘Big Tree’ and ‘Bigger Tree’ for the two tallest old Eucalyptus regnans in this stand. The usual access is via Maydena and then take the Styx River Rd. The reserve is at:
42°48'48.9"S 146°39'22.6"E
Other places to explore in the Styx include:
The 'Tolkien Track', a path built by conservation groups through some spectacular old forest. The start of the track is sometimes obscured by young myrtle beech and ferns which have been reclaiming the the area since the road was widened in the early 2000s. You'll need to look out for the track sign on the right hand side of Waterfall Creek road - it starts around here: 42°49'05.1"S 146°40'23.1"E
Jacques road, starting here:42°48'01.9"S 146°41'27.7"E
This road includes the very tall trees of the Andromeda stand and some very old and large trees further up
Gee Creek Road - starting here: 42°48'28.2"S 146°41'29.5"E
This road features the famed Chapel Tree and many other fine old Eucalyptus regnans
Lady Binney Reserve
Take the Florentine rd past Maydena. After about 9km you’ll arrive at a wonderful stand of old Eucalyptus obliqua. There is still an old track that winds through the stand. Although it is currently not signposted, with a bit of searching it can be found on the lower side of the road near an obvious wider cleared section.
42°43'04.1"S 146°30'39.9"E
Manning Road Stand
Although you have to drive all through the virtually completely cleared Florentine Valley to get to it (before the 1950s it was pure old forest of pre 1800s origin), the Manning Road stand gives you an idea of the type of forest that once was widespread in the Florentine. This stand has its origins around the year 1800, so the trees are not as large in girth as those in other places, however, most still have intact crowns, something rare in old growth forests in Tasmania.
42°30'12.1"S 146°27'13.8"
Bennetts rd - Geeveston
While this area was impacted by the 2019 fires, there are still some living giants to see.
If you walk along the road from about 43°09'33.4"S 146°50'22.3"E
To 43°10'13.9"S 146°50'14.5"E you’ll see some wonderful old trees. Unfortunately the largest tree in the stand ‘El Maistre' aka 'Master Bennetts' has fallen as has the easily seen 'Elder' and 'Friar' Bennetts trees
Blue Gum Forest - Denison River
Accessed from Judbury and then Lonnavale, there is a wonderful old growth forest that contains some giant and tall Eucalyptus globulus as well as some ripper old E. obliqua with occasional E. regnans. A rough taped track takes you through the forest. To get to the start of the walk take the Denison road here: 43°00'06.9"S 146°49'12.4"E
Then take McDougalls road here: 42°58'05.0"S 146°46'38.5"E
Take the second logging track on your left here:42°57'43.1"S 146°45'52.8"E
Continue on this track and stay right until you get to a log landing area here: 42°57'46.4"S 146°45'18.5"E
There is a short track south that leads to a 90m tall Blue Gum named 'Neeminah Loggarale Meena', however, the more extensive track leads west from here and is tagged and takes you through some amazing old forest.
Blue Tier Giant - Weldborough
To visit the Blue Tier Giant, follow the sign north off Tasman Highway a few kilometers south east of the town of Weldborough in the North east of Tasmania. Follow this major forestry road for about 1 km just past a quarry, then a sign will lead you right, down on a lesser road - take it easy on this track: it is quite overgrown on both sides, visibility is limited and there is room for only one vehicle. The walk starts at approximately 41°13'50.7"S 147°59'03.1"E
Dip Falls
The Dip Falls Forest Reserve in the North West of the State has an added attraction to its waterfall: A beastly old E. obliqua. The reserve is found here: 41°02'05.6"S 145°22'36.7"E
Wielangta - Sandspit Forest Reserve
A great forest drive takes you through the Wielangta forests - heading south to north, the best section of which starts around here 42°42'33.5"S 147°50'24.2"E and includes some wonderful mature E. globulus and E. regnans:
Former big tree tourist sites:
The Big Tree - Arve Loop
For lovers of giant trees, this mighty beast was once the highlight of a trip to the Tahune Airwalk. Sadly it was burnt and fell during the 2019 fires
Evercreech Forest Reserve – Mathinna
Sadly, these trees are now dead - killed by orange bark disease - apparently brought on by extreme high temperatures and prolonged droughts in the last decade.
