Cold climate deciduous tree, the fagus, puts on annual autumn show for sightseers in Tasmania

Leaves on a fagus tree starting to change colour. (ABC Radio Hobart: Georgie Burgess)

Hundreds of people have started heading out into Tasmania’s alpine areas to glimpse the annual turning of the fagus.

The fagus, or Nothofagus gunnii, is Australia’s only cold climate winter deciduous tree and attracts sightseers who make a pilgrimage to see its rich autumn colours.

Mount Field National Park visitor information officer Darroch Donald Hobart said Anzac Day was one of the busiest days for fagus fanciers, with many people using the public holiday to get back to nature.

Mr Donald said the fagus leaves were “fairly well advanced” at the Tarn Shelf in the park, which sits at 1,200 metres above sea level.

“At the Tarn Shelf, I’d describe it as peaking,” he said.

“It’s at its best, so to speak.

“I think April is arguably one of the best months at Mount Field for that reason. You’ve got the fagus and the fungi coming up in the forest.”

He said the ancient tree would likely continue to put on a show into May as it turned from glossy green into brilliant shades of red and gold before losing its leaves for winter.

“It all depends on the weather of course and what’s happening up there,” Mr Donald said.

“How long the autumn leaves stay on the branches depends on wind.

“All it takes is a big storm to come through at the right time and most of the leaves will fall.”

Fagus found only in alpine areas

Sometimes called a “living fossil”, fagus is only found in certain parts of Tasmania.

It needs a lot of rain and it needs to be protected from bushfire, as the thin bark on the ancient tree means it cannot spring back if it is burnt.

“You’re looking at a plant that has been around for 40 million years,” Mr Donald said.

“It helped the scientists confirm the concept of Gondwana.

“It’s a very special species that we need to protect. If fire goes through the fagus, they very probably will not recover.”

Where to see it

Mount Field, north of Hobart, is the most popular location for fagus hunting in the state’s south, while northerners can see it at Cradle Mountain, in particular at Dove Lake and Crater Lake, as well as Mount Murchison in the north-west.

While the Tarn Shelf at Mount Field is in full colour right now, Mr Donald says the leaves still have a way to go at the more accessible walk at Lake Fenton in the park, which is 800 metres above sea level.

“Lake Fenton at the moment is turning from green to yellow,” he said.

The Lake Fenton fagus walk is only a few hundred metres and fairly flat, making it a good option for people who cannot manage the climb to the Tarn Shelf.

“People shouldn’t be disappointed if they can’t reach Tarn Shelf because you can see fagus easily at Lake Fenton,” Mr Donald said.

“I think Lake Fenton can be just as beautiful.”

Getting to the areas where fagus grows can be difficult.

In Mount Field, to visit Lake Fenton or the Tarn Shelf, visitors need to use Lake Dobson Road, which is 17 kilometres further from the visitor centre and takes about half an hour.

“It’s unsealed. It’s very narrow and windy in parts,” Mr Donald said.

“Care needs to be taken.”

He said people using rental cars should check their insurance details for unsealed roads.

Getting the kids to love fagus

Josh Pringle from Keep Tassie Wild told Joel Rheinberger on ABC Radio Hobart that anyone going into Tasmania’s wilderness should be prepared for all weather.

“We take our friends up to Mount Field to show them just how quickly the weather can change,” he said.

“You get up on the Tarn Shelf and suddenly it shifts and you’re getting smashed with sleet.”

Mr Pringle said if you’re taking younger kids to go see the fagus, it can be worth making the trip a bit of a treasure hunt for them.

“Our kids are never like, ‘Yay, let’s go bushwalking’. We’re always sort of dragging them out, and then once they’re there, they’re enjoying it,” he said.

“There’s those flip books for finding fungi and different types of trees and I used to make little lists with a million things for them to find on there that they could tick off as they go along the way … just to keep them sort of occupied and their imagination firing.”

Mr Donald said all visitors to Mount Field are asked to be aware of the “leave no trace” principles of being in the bush, pointing out the “alpine vegetation is very delicate”.

“Do not pick any branches off the trees and stick to the tracks,” he said.

“Take as many photographs as you like, it’s beautiful.”

Drones are not permitted in the Mount Field area.