Where to feast your eyes on the annual turning of the fagus

FEATURING everything from lazy lunches to roving rangers, the annual turning of the fagus celebration this weekend at Mt Field National Park is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.

The changing colours of fagus on the Tarn Shelf in Mt Field National Park. Picture: Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service

FEATURING everything from lazy lunches to roving rangers, the annual turning of the fagus celebration this weekend at Mt Field National Park is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.

Parts of Mt Field are turning delightful shades of rust red, auburn and gold, indicating the photogenic autumn transformation of Tasmania’s fagus tree, or Nothofagus gunnii.

From now until early May, visitors can view the turning of the fagus on the Tarn Shelf and at Lake Fenton at Mt Field.

Fagus is also highly visible on the Dove Lake circuit and the Crater Lake walk at the Cradle Mt-Lake St Clair National Park.

Fagus and reflections at Crater Lake, Cradle Mt, in the Cradle Mt-Lake St Clair National Park. Picture: TASMANIAN PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Organised by Waterfalls Cafe and Gallery and Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, this year’s turning of the fagus will be celebrated with a series of events on Saturday and Sunday.

PWS roving rangers will be answering questions and providing directions around Russell Falls, Lake Dobson, Lake Fenton, and on Tarn Shelf as part of the weekend.

Waterfalls is hosting a late lunch from 2pm on Sunday for weary explorers returning from the fagus, while Mt Field will also host one of the PWS’s Active Autumn Amazing Race Series events on Saturday from 1pm.

Rachel Power with fagus at Mt Field National Park. Picture: SUPPLIED

Waterfalls owner Rachel Power said the fagus was already looking fantastic.

“It’s not about being a great big celebration and a huge festival atmosphere, it’s about reconnecting with the park and remembering why you loved it as a kid and now why you love it as an adult,” Mrs Power said.

Mt Field’s fagus has grown in popularity in recent years.

“It’s become really well known amongst the photographic and Instagram community,” Mrs Power said.

“We’ve had a lot of [people with] cameras walking around already and it’s now being probably more understood and appreciated.”