Tucked in between the Hartz Mountains National Park and the Southwest National Park, Tahune Forest Adventures offers a garden-path style wander through the tannin and sassaparilla infused ether of Tasmania’s southern forests.
Living in an open valley, largely surrounded by rolling rural countryside, it’s easy to forget that it’s only a short drive one of the many spots around Tasmania’s far south where I can immerse myself in the sounds and smells of a cool temperate rainforest.
Forests have a way of soaking up stress and worry, replacing it with a cool green soul balm – even if only temporarily. This is best expressed in the Japanese philosophy of Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. Even though it’s only a recent concept, I feel it has its roots in a much older idea; that natural spaces provide us with a restorative form of therapy.
I’ve made the trip down to the Tahune a couple of times already, it has all the benefits of an easy ramble – and scope for plant nerds to geek out over majestic Huon pines, fragrant sassafras, blooming leatherwoods, and kooky forked ferns. As an added bonus, it’s also a dog friendly spot if you want to treat your furry friend to a forest ramble – although I suspect not all dogs would cope with the swing bridge river crossings so well. To cap it all off, the impressive treetop walkway offers a leisurely saunter through the canopy with a bird’s eye view out over the Picton River.
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