$15.00

Dates
Saturday 8 July 10 am - 1 pm
Sunday 9 July 10 am - 1 pm

Location
Huon Valley Grove of Giants

Itinerary
Be guided by big tree expert Steve Pearce around the Huon Valley Grove of Giants. This is a rare opportunity to spend time with Steve in the forest, rather than above the forest. Please understand that both days will be a repeat of the same walk.

From 10 am we will depart the carpark and head into the forest. Our destination will be Lathamus Keep, Tasmania’s champion Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus). Along the 1.2km walk, you will see several giants including Monastery, Joy, Gargoyle West and East, Swifts Tower, and then arrive at Lathamus Keep. You’ll also see a remarkable forest transition from a dominant Eucalyptus obliqua forest into a dominant Eucalyptus globulus forest over just 100m.

Lathamus keep is our final destination, this 80m tall 325 cubic meters in volume absolute monster of a tree is a sight to behold. LK was discovered in November 2021 by big tree hunters Jan Corigliano and Carl Hansen. Since then we have climbed, measured, and spent months creating our most popular tree portrait ever.

On the return to the carpark we can either return via the Top Track or the Bottom Track. The bottom track is more dynamic in elevation change and in the forest makeup. It is a much wetter forest full of tree ferns and does need some care when crossing uncut logs, watercourses, and slippery slopes.

Numbers are limited to 20 people each day for the forest walk.

How difficult is the walk?
The walk is on a very simple track and stepping up and over obstacles is necessary. Equally, as the weather is cooler and wetter some sections of the track are on slippery clay soils. The ever-present slippery exposed roots is a constant. When it comes to elevation gains and losses the top track, over its 1.2km length, has a 50m loss. However, there are plenty of small ups and downs in typography that are not accounted for. Overall it’s a typical old-school Tassie bush track.

What to bring

• A full tank of fuel in the car is essential

• Prepacked food and water for the day is essential

• Warm and waterproof clothing is essential

• Good hiking boots are recommended

• Camera

• hiking poles if you use them