Tolkien Grove
Unsigned 900 metre walk
1 hr 58 min from Hobart (dirt road)
33 min from Maydena (dirt road)
Waterfall Creek Road
The Tolkien Grove is home to Gandalf’s Staff possibly Tasmania’s most famous giant tree. This is a spectacular grove of trees just a few minutes from the Styx Tall Tree Reserve. Here you can find many volumetric giants rather than thinner taller trees. The forest understory makes walking easy but the trail is tricky to follow in places with no official markers.
The Tolkein Grove was the site of the Global Rescue Station from 2000 to 2003. This world famous protest movement was instrumental in obtaining World Heritage status for some areas of the Styx and Florentine Valleys. The Tolkien Grove is both a site of natural and historical significance.
SIte information
1 hr 58 min from Hobart (dirt road)
33 min from Maydena (dirt road)
Gandalf’s Staff (Euc. regnans)
84 metres tall
4.5 metre diameter
284 cubic metres
Many other giants easily visable
The 900 metre trail takes you past several very big trees. A fantastic trail to get up close to a diversity of tree structures and age classes.
Difficult, poor signage and muddy, steep and slippery terrain in places. Some recent tree falls have obscured the trail. Take care
The beginning of the trail can be difficult to find without an offline map. Driving onto Waterfall Creek Road from Styx Road introduces many false turns. Have the points saved to your favourites on your Google Maps app before leaving Maydena.
Stop at the bridge over the Styx River for great photos. The Styx Valley offers several big tree sites that are easily accessed so plan a big day out.
Dial 000 in an emergency
New Norfolk District Hospital
Richmond St
New Norfolk 7140
(03) 6262 2888
No mobile reception on site. The nearest reception is in Maydena.
Woolworths, New Norfolk
Fika Time Cafe in Maydena
Maydena Bike Park pizza & meals
Westerway Roadhouse takeaway
24 Hours New Norfolk
Westerway Roadhouse
Tolkien Grove Google Maps
Gandalf's Staff Tolkien Grove Tasmania
Gandalf's Staff Tolkien Grove Tasmania | Big Tree State
Myrtle Forest Tolkien Grove Tasmania
Track Conditions 24 June 2024
Gandalf’s Staff
This 84 metre tall 280 cubic metre beast is possibly Tasmania’s most famous tree. It towers over the Tolkien Grove, a stand of giant trees located in the Styx Valley Tasmania. This image took 64 days of field work to capture and weeks of editing to bring to life.
VISITATION BEST PRACTICE GUIDE
We all want to experience the trees, however, we also must appreciate that we all contribute to an accumulative impact.
-
Phytophthora is a microscopic pathogen that can kill trees. Typically it is transported into new areas on people's footwear and camping equipment. Simply cleaning your shoes can help prevent the spread. However, the most effective control measure is applying a disinfectant like PhytoClean which specifically targets phytophthora spores and destroys them in seconds. You can purchase a small amount of PhytoClean in our shop to use on your travels.
-
Tracks are there to provide access, but they are also very effective environmental control measures. Tracks limit the impact of hundreds of feet that can compact soils which limits nutrient absorption by the trees. Tracks are also very effective at controlling erosion and the spread of phytophthora.
-
We all want a great photo but standing or climbing on the tree base can damage the tree's vascular system that is very close to the surface under the bark. Once the vascular system is damaged no nutrients can be transported and the tree declines in heath.