Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area

The Styx Tall Trees Conservation Area is renowned for its towering Eucalyptus regnans, also known as giant ash, which can reach heights over 90 meters and ages exceeding 500 years. These remarkable trees, among the tallest hardwoods and flowering plants on Earth, have been given legendary titles such as the Chapel Tree, Firebird Wonder, Gandalf's Staff, Icarus Dream, and Two Towers. The reserve offers several signposted walks, including the Styx Rivers Walk, a 200-meter stroll by the Styx Bridge at the confluence of the Styx and South Styx rivers, and the Big Tree Reserve, a 700-meter boardwalk with a viewing platform and toilet, allowing visitors to wander among these forest giants. The lush rainforest and wild rivers constitute the area, providing a haven for wildlife such as platypus, native water rats, pygmy possums, owls, bats, and black cockatoos. The reserve is accessible via Styx Road from Maydena, approximately a two-hour drive from Hobart and 45 minutes from Mount Field National Park. Visitors are advised to dress appropriately for the moderate to high rainfall and to be aware that there is no mobile phone coverage in the area. The reserve is in an isolated location, and the last stop for fuel and basic food supplies is Westerway, open all year round. Please be aware that the Styx River Road still carries large logging trucks, and the Styx Road, east of the Big Tree Reserve and heading towards Karanja, crosses private property and may be closed at any time without notice. For more information, visit the Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania website.