Taking a walk through a Tasmanian forest is like indulging in a feast for the senses. Cool air beneath the dense foliage, melodic birdsong ringing through the trees, the scent of damp vegetation and mottled sunlight playing on the forest floor all heighten our awareness of our surroundings. The Tahune Airwalk in the Tarkine Forest, close to the little town of Geeveston, takes our perceptions of the forest to yet another level.
The tallest flowering plant in the world grows in the Tarkine Forest: Eucalyptus regnans, commonly known as the swamp gum. When we are standing on the forest floor we crane our necks to look skywards to the tops of these giants, but up on the Airwalk we’re at canopy level. Looking over the railing down the length of the tree trunks to the ground is a dizzying experience.
The Airwalk leads to a cantilevered platform which is suspended 48 metres above the ground. From here we can see the Hartz Mountains, the highest of which still has a dusting of snow, and the confluence of the Huon and Picton rivers, stained dark brown by the tannin leached from decaying vegetation on the forest floor.
Other natives grow in the forest alongside the swamp gum – King Billy pine, sassafras and the Huon pine, one of the slowest growing and longest lived plants in the world, prized for its exceptional timber. Huon pines are ancient plants. They were growing on the supercontinent of Gondwana 165 million years ago. Today they are protected and cannot be felled, but timber lying on the forest floor or on the river beds is still usable, centuries after the trees died, due to the natural oils which make the wood resistant to rot. It is one of the best boatbuilding timbers in the world.
When we are replete with the sights, sounds and smells of the forest, we drive back to Geeveston where we indulge the last of our senses – with mugs of steaming hot chocolate and enormous serves of homemade wagon wheel slice at the Country Café on Church St. Simply sense-ational!
Not what you think of as typically Australian but amazing none the less.
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We thought Tasmanian and New Zealand forests were very much alike.
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That looks fantastic. I’d love to do an airwalk/treetop walk.
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We’ve done three now, in different national parks. It’s an amazing feeling being among the treetops.
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Wow! How fantastic. I’m going to have to make a concerted effort to try and do one one day.
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It’s worth it!
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oOoO, I know that smell! Love it. Gorgeous forest, beautiful pics and good info! =)
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Thanks. It was a great day.
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Amazing photos – I would love to do the high walk trail – they have a similar one here in Singapore but haven’t quite got there yet. I went on a shorter version at Gardens by the Bay on Sunday – haven’t downloaded the photos yet – but nothing like the one featured in this post! Cath
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We will be in Singapore in September for a day. Your walk sounds like something we would enjoy. What’s it called?
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It’s called the TreeTop Walk – here’s the link: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=attractions&id=64&Itemid=73 . (Hope you can click on this link, if not, google Tree Top Walk Singapore and it should come up!
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Thanks. I will look.
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Just to let you know I went on the Singapore Tree Top Walk this weekend and have published a post about it here: http://lizzierosejewellery.com/2013/02/26/a-tree-top-walk/. I mentioned your air walk – hope you don’t mind! Cath
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That’s great! I loved th photos on your post. It looks like a fun walk to do.
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So envious of all your travelings! 🙂
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It’s great to share my stories.
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I would love to do that treetop walk – but I’m so scared of heights I’d be terrified. These are fantastic pictures! Well done 😀
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Wow! I’m dizzy. What a great story!!! I’m in awe of your travel stories. I started a new website, though for my fiction writing. Meanwhile I’ll look for a good travel story to send you. How’s your shoulder today??? 🙂 Marsha
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