| VICTORIA ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS - MELBOURNE (Victoria) RIPPON LEA FERNERY – MELBOURNE (Victoria) CITY OF KNOX MUNICIPAL OFFICES - MELBOURNE (Victoria) "FERNWORLD" NURSERY - SPRINGVALE SOUTH (Victoria) SASSAFRAS CREEK RESERVE – KALLISTA (Victoria) BALLARAT BOTANIC GARDENS – BALLARAT (Victoria) TARRA VALLEY – via TRARALGON or YARRAM (Victoria) FAIRY DELL - BRUTHEN (Victoria) This beautiful little rainforest gully is the nearest place to Melbourne where you can see Cyathea leichhardtiana growing naturally, along with a number of other subtropical ferns (and other plant species) that have their southern limits in this region. C. australis and D. antarctica can also be found here. Bruthen is about 320 km east of Melbourne. The road to Fairy Dell leaves the main road on the western outskirts of Bruthen, and while the road is unmade and somewhat narrow and steep in a few spots, it is only a few kilometres and we have travelled it a number of times in a conventional vehicle without problems (even in the wet!). |
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA MOUNT LOFTY BOTANICAL GARDENS – ADELAIDE These magnificent gardens are situated on the Eastern slopes below the summit of Mt Lofty, only a short drive (just under 20 km) from the centre of Adelaide. The fern gully is located close to the lower carpark (via Crafers) and contains many mature treefern specimens (most species are named, a few are not) as well as an abundance of other fern species. The following treefern species are among those that may be seen growing in the area, along with a few unnamed species. Cibotium glaucum Cyathea atrox var. atrox, C. australis, C. australis subsp. norfolkensis, C. brownii, C. capensis, C. celebica, C. colensoi, C. cooperi, C. cunninghamii, C. dealbata, C. leichhardtiana, C. macarthuri, C. marcescens, C. medullaris, C. robusta, C. smithii, C. spinulosa Dicksonia antarctica, D. lanata, D. squarrosa, D. youngiae Lophosoria quadripinnata Sadleria cyatheoides Visit <www.environment.sa.gov.au/botanicgardens/mtlofty.html> for general information. |
| NEW SOUTH WALES BURRENDONG ARBORETUM – WELLINGTON Located about 350 km NW of Sydney on the edge of Burrendong Dam (just east of Wellington), Burrendong Arboretum is a fairly extensive area set aside for collections of native Australian plants. A vast canopy has been erected over a section of previously dry rocky gully and this now houses an extensive collection of Australian ferns, including treeferns (or did when I last visited, many years ago – hopefully this is still the case, but I will check it out again next time I am in the vicinity, and hopefully again add some lists and photos). Visit <www.wellington.nsw.gov.au/arboretum.htm> for general information. |
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