Styx Tall Trees Walk: Where to See Tasmanian Giant Trees

A guide to seeing the Largest Trees on the Styx Tall Trees Walk. Includes everything you need to know about getting to the Conservation Area and what to expect.

Many people visit Tasmania to witness one of the last, truly wild places on earth. A visit to the Southern Forests of Tasmania allows you to get a glimpse of some of the largest trees in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area is a very recently added forest reserve that came as a result of a bitter but successful activism campaign. This site now protects some of the world’s tallest flowering trees, some of which are taller than 90 m.

Below, I’ll explain where to see the giant trees on the walk. Plus everything you need to know about getting here, what to expect, and some information about these colossal wonders.

Where to See Tasmanian Giant Trees?

While there are several places to see Tasmanian giant trees, the Styx Tall Trees walk is in my opinion, the best. That's because this small reserve is home to several giant trees accessible on an easy, boarded walk in the lush Tasmanian Rainforest.

The Styx is located less than 2 hours from Hobart, making getting here easier than other tall tree forest reserves in Tassie.

My Personal Experience Getting Here

There are two roads into the Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area. However, only one is accessible to the public since the other is a private logging road. Therefore, to get here, you'll need to first head to Maydena on Gordon River Road. Don't make the mistake of coming in from near Westerway. There is often a locked gate blocking access further down the road.

Just past Maydena heading west, you'll see a dirt road called "Styx Road", an unsealed and bumpy road. Don't worry too much though, we managed in our big campervan so most vehicles shouldn't have any trouble.

Once onto Styx Road, continue for another 14 km before reaching a signpost for the Big Tree Forest Reserve. There is adequate parking on the side of the road for cars and vans. This is the starting point for the Tall Trees Walk where you can see some of the biggest trees in Tasmania.

Spotting The Giant Trees of Tasmania

• Hiking Distance: 1 km loop
• Duration: 20-30 minutes
• Elevation: Mostly flat
• Difficulty: Very easy

As I mentioned earlier, there are plenty of Tasmanian giant trees in the Styx. But, visitors will find some of the biggest and most accessible on the Styx Tall Trees Walk.

This walk is a short forest loop with boarded sections. The track is mostly flat and very easy to navigate with toilets and information boards at the trailhead.

This track is a circuit loop that passes some of the tallest giant trees in Tasmania. Some of the largest trees are in a clearing approximately halfway along the track.

The largest trees are the "Big Tree" and the rivalling "Bigger Tree", The Devil's Pitchfork, and the Chapel Tree.

Continuing onto the Styx River Walk

On the other side of Styx Road, opposite the trailhead for the Big Trees Walk, is another beautiful short walk leading to the Styx River. This track is an out-and-back track that is also very easy and flat. This forest walk is incredible and provides visitors with views of the river in three different spots.

While you won't find many giant trees on this walk, it's possible to continue on to Tolkien Grove from here. Be mindful however that the tracks after the river walk are community-carved and often a little overgrown.

What Species are the Tasmanian Giant Trees?

The largest trees in Tasmania are known as Eucalyptus regnans, or Mountain Ash (also Swamp Gum and Stringy Gum). This is the species that dominates the list of largest trees at the Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area.

In fact, the Eucalyptus regnan is the largest flowering plant in the world and the tallest species of tree in the Southern Hemisphere. The largest tree species is the Coast Redwood, or Sequoia sempervirens, the tallest of which (115.92 m) is found in the Redwood forests of California.

The tallest of all the Tasmanian giant trees is Centurion, another Eucalyptus Regnan standing over 100.5 m tall (third tallest tree in the world). However, this tree is located further south in Tasmania and locals don't like to reveal the exact location to help protect the site. (which is understandable as nowadays they're all being cut down!)

Don't worry though, Tasmanians will welcome you to visit the Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area to admire many 500+-year-old trees that are just a little shorter– their size will blow you away.

About the Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area

Unfortunately, much of the Styx Forest is and has been dedicated to logging. However, after a long campaign organised by dedicated volunteers, the areas housing the largest trees in the forest were incorporated into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

There are a few sections of the Styx Forest Reserve where you can see large trees. These include the Styx Big Tree Reserve, Tolkien Grove, and the Outer Styx Valley.

However, if you're visiting the area to see some of the largest Tasmanian giant trees on a short walk, I'd recommend just stopping by the Styx Tall Trees Walk (Styx Big Tree Reserve).

This area is incredibly beautiful and one of the world's most carbon-dense forests. The canopy reaches over 90 m and shadows a lush understorey of myrtles, man ferns, and vibrant Tasmanian shrubs. The lifeline to this biodiverse forest is the Styx River, which runs a dark-red colour and delivers nutrients to the forest.

If you've visited Mount Field and you were impressed by the beauty of the forest, do yourself a favour and check out the Styx. This is a beautiful representation of much wilder ancient-growth forests in Tasmania.

I hope that this guide has proven useful to you in planning your trip to the Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area to see Tasmanian Giant Trees.

For more travel and adventure guides to Tasmania, make sure to check out some of my other articles below.

• 65 Epic Things to Do in Tasmania - My ultimate guide to exploring Tassie, complete with must-visit icons & hidden gems.
• Hikes in Tasmania - Discover 40+ of Tassie's best hiking trails, including short walks and long overnight treks!
• Waterfalls in Tasmania - A guide to 25+ of Tasmania's best waterfalls!
• Where to Stay in Tasmania - The ultimate accommodation guide to help your stops and places to stay.
• Best Tours & Experiences in Tasmania - This years' roundup of my favourite bookable tours & experiences across Tassie!