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“Hi, I'm Shannon, during the summer of 2011 as a bursary student with Forestry Tasmania, I took the challenge to visit Forestry Tamania's 52 visitor sites.
This reserve is located in Tasmania’s north east and can be accessed via Fingal by first travelling along Mathinna Road and then Evercreech Road. Evercreech Forest Reserve is famous for having the tallest white gums in the world, standing at 91 meters and some are believed to be 300 years old. The forest reserve was created in 1977, with 52 hectares included.
It all began back somewhere in the 1940s and 50s when the logging machines (bullocks) weren’t strong enough to remove these giant trees. Then later in the 1970s a road was built right up to the base of the tallest tree and was set to be cut down until local forester Des Howe realised just how big the tree was. Des Howe ordered the tree not to be cut down and a surveyor was called in to measure that tree and a few others in the area.
After proving that the trees were in fact white gums (as a lot of doubt came from botanists) the area was declared a reserve and the big trees were saved! Now the area is used for many recreational purposes and along the White Gums walk you can see a memorial made for Des Howe; the man who made this reserve possible.
There is so much to do at this peaceful reserve. The first thing I did was take the loop walk in to view those famous White Knights. It only takes about 20 minutes to complete the loop and it winds its way past the giant trees before taking you up a bit higher to view the trees from above. For those who have prams or wheelchairs, this track is great and accessible up to the viewing platform. However, continuing on, the track goes slightly uphill and gets narrower as you wind your way through the dry forest and back out to the car park.
Due to the popularity of this area, the facilities are well maintained and recently several gas barbeques have been installed. There are also several great picnic spots, with one large undercover shelter and also some tables and wood fuelled barbeques dotted along the Evercreech Rivulet. After lunch, there is another walk starting at either the car park (near where the white gum tree walk ended) or you can cross the rivulet over the bridge and go from there. This walk is a bit longer and takes about 45 minutes return. The rain had started quite heavily as I started out so I only went a short distance before turning back, but it takes you out to Evercreech Falls.
Then a quick toilet stop before heading off, however if you are looking for something else to do in the Fingal area there is a sign in the car park with a few ideas. Off the top of my head, Mathinna Falls and Griffin Camping area are close by, but I will tell you about those another time!
GPS Coordinates :
LAT : 41°24'49.45"S
LON : 147°58'24.83"E
Click here to view in Google Earth!
52 Places to Visit