(33) calcified forest king island

Introduction

Walking Guide

hobart and surrounds

(01) Organ Pipes, Mt Wellington

(02) Coal Mines Historic Site

(03) Waterfall Bay

(04) Bivouac Bay

(05) Cape Hauy

(06) Cape Raoul

(07) Fluted Cape Walk

(08) Labillardiere Peninsula Walk

(09) South Cape Bay

(10) Duckhole Lake

(11) Lake Esperance

(12) Hartz Peak

(13) Tahune AirWalk

(14) Lady Barron Falls Circuit

(15) Russell Falls

(16) Tall Trees

(17) Pandani Grove

the western wilderness

(18) Lake St Clair

(19) Mt Rufus

(20) Shadow Lake Circuit

(21) Echo Point

(22) Franklin River Nature Trail

(23) Donaghys Hill

(24) Nelson Falls

(25) Kelly Basin

(26) Hogarth Falls

(27) Montezuma Falls

(28) Huon Pine Walk

(29) Dove Lake Circuit

(30) Enchanted Walk

(31) Crater Lake Circuit

(32) Cradle Mountain Summit

north west coast & king island

(33) Calcified Forest (King Is.)

(34) The Nut

(35) Fern Glade

(36) Leven Canyo Lookout

(37) Alum Cliffs

(38) Springlawn Nature Walk

launceston, tamar and the north

(39) Hollybank Forest

(40) Duck Reach

(41) Tamar Island

(42) Liffey Falls

(43) Pine Lake

(44) Meander Falls

east coast & flinders island

(45) Castle Rock

(46) Trousers Point

(47) Strzelecki Peaks

(48) Goblin Forest Walk, Blue Tier

(49) St Columba Falls

(50) Ralphs Falls

(51) Evercreech

(52) Apsley River Waterhole and Gorge

(53) Friendly Beaches

(54) Cape Tourville

(55) Wineglass Bay Lookout

(56) Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit

(57) Loontitetermairrelehoiner

(58) Bishop and Clerk

(59) Painted Cliffs

(60) Fossil Cliffs

Of all the Bass Strait Islands, King Island, because of its superb soft cheeses and legendary grass-fed beef, is possibly the best known of Tasmania’s offshore islands after Flinders Island, which is the largest of them all. However, King Island has another claim to fame, beyond its 57 shipwrecks, and the Southern Hemispheres tallest lighthouse (48m) at Cape Wickham. That other attraction is the strange, otherworldly Calcified Forest.

To see the shattered trunks of what appear to stone trees rising from the sand has been described as mysterious and fascinating and quite eerie. It is also regarded as a must see experience for visitors to the island. Set in the Seal Rocks State Reserve, the short 30-minute (800 metres one way) walk also gives visitors the chance to see Bennett wallabies, echidnas and many varieties of bird – so take a camera along.

The walk to the Calcified Forest is graded as Level 2 walk, suitable for most levels of fitness. There is a small flight of stairs to the forest viewing platform to contend with.

Walkers should have suitable footwear, a sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses and dress for the day, with a jersey or light jacket on hand.

Pets, bicycles and firearms are prohibited.

Facilities:
There are toilets as the start of the walk and untreated drinking water is available.

Vehicle Access:
King Island can be reached by small plane from Burnie airport.
To get to the Calcified Forest, which is 30km from Currie, the main town on the island, take road B25 towards Grassy. East of Currie, take the South Road directly to the Calcified Forest.

Website editor - Grant Shanks