Ferndene

Ferndene State Reserve is a compact reserve in the Dial Range hills behind Ulverstone on Tasmania's northwest coast, featuring a walking track along McBrides Creek through fern-filled forest. The reserve protects a sheltered gully environment where tree ferns, soft tree ferns, and mosses create an enchanting understorey beneath tall eucalypts. The Dial Range provides a backdrop of forested hills rising above the coastal plain, and Ferndene offers a peaceful accessible bushland experience close to the town of Ulverstone. The creek environment with its permanent water supports diverse moisture-loving plant and animal communities.

The creek-side habitat of Ferndene supports moisture-dependent fauna that require permanent water and dense fern-covered terrain. The platypus inhabits McBrides Creek, and the spotted-tail quoll may use the dense fern understorey for shelter. Insectivorous bats forage along the creek corridor at night. The forest birds of northwest Tasmania are well represented, including the Tasmanian scrubwren, green rosella, and various honeyeater species. Frogs including the brown tree frog and the Tasmanian tree skink are present in the moist gully environments. The creek provides important wildlife connectivity between the Dial Range and the coastal lowlands.

The dominant feature of Ferndene's vegetation is the dense concentration of soft tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) and hard tree ferns (Cyathea australis) that line the creek banks and fill the sheltered gully. These ancient fern species create a prehistoric-looking landscape of arching fronds and fibrous trunks. Myrtle beech and other rainforest species occupy the most sheltered parts of the gully, while tall swamp gum and other eucalypts form the upper canopy on the drier slopes flanking the creek. The ground layer in the wettest areas consists of mosses, liverworts, and various small ferns that carpet every surface.

The Dial Range, which forms the backdrop to Ferndene, is composed of Jurassic dolerite that has been shaped into a distinctive ridge by differential erosion. The creek at Ferndene has cut through the softer materials at the range's base, creating the sheltered gully that supports the fern-rich vegetation. Alluvial deposits along the creek bank have accumulated over time, creating the fertile, moist substrate that sustains the tree fern communities. The geological contrast between the hard dolerite of the Dial Range above and the softer sedimentary and alluvial materials in the creek valley creates the topographic variation that drives vegetation diversity.

Ferndene receives the reliable rainfall of northwest Tasmania's coastal ranges, with annual precipitation typically around 1,300 millimetres. The sheltered creek gully retains moisture effectively, creating permanently humid conditions that support the tree fern community. Temperatures in the reserve are moderated by the coastal influence, with mild summers and cool winters. The reliability of the wet conditions in the gully makes Ferndene a pleasant destination throughout the year, with the fern community at its most luxuriant in spring following winter rains.

The Dial Range country was traditionally occupied by the Tommeginne and Peerapper peoples who made seasonal use of the coastal areas and hinterland ranges of northwest Tasmania. European settlement of the Ulverstone area from the 1850s led to extensive clearing of the coastal plain for dairy farming, while the steeper slopes of the Dial Range were retained in forest due to the difficulty of clearing them. The McBrides Creek gully and its fern community likely survived because the land was unsuitable for agricultural use.

Ferndene State Reserve was established to protect the fern gully environment of McBrides Creek as an accessible bushland reserve for the community of Ulverstone and the northwest coast. The reserve serves both conservation and recreation functions, providing habitat for moisture-dependent species while offering a distinctive natural experience for local residents and visitors. Walking track development has made the fern gully accessible while minimising vegetation damage from off-track foot traffic.

The walking track along McBrides Creek through the fern gully is the reserve's primary attraction, an easy stroll through the tree fern understorey that is suitable for visitors of all ages and fitness levels. The immersive experience of walking among the towering tree ferns is memorable, particularly when light filters through the fronds creating dappled forest light effects. The creek itself, with its clear running water and rocky bed, adds to the sensory appeal of the walk. The reserve is particularly pleasant in the morning when mist rises from the creek through the fern canopy.

Ferndene State Reserve is located a short drive from Ulverstone on the north coast of Tasmania. Car parking and basic facilities provide the walk starting point, and the reserve is suitable for family visits including young children given the easy terrain. The reserve is typically visited as part of a day exploring the Dial Range and northwest coast, which might also include visits to Gunns Plains Cave and the Forth area. A national parks pass is required. Ulverstone provides all visitor services including accommodation, restaurants, and shops.

Conservation management at Ferndene focuses on protecting the tree fern community from invasive species and maintaining the hydrological conditions of McBrides Creek. Phytophthora cinnamomi management is important, as this dieback pathogen poses a significant threat to the fern-rich understorey species. Weed management targets garden escape plants that have colonised disturbed areas near the car park. Maintaining the water quality and flow of McBrides Creek is essential for the health of the fern community and the aquatic organisms including platypus that depend on the stream system.