Tarkine — Travelrags

The GuardianJul 12, 2026

Mushroom trip: a mycologist’s tour of the Tarkine

On a three-day fungi workshop in Australia’s largest cool temperate rainforest, Alexis Buxton-Collins unearths an unexpected appreciation for the third kingdom of life Revered as one of Australia’s last true wilderness areas, Takayna/Tarkine is a place of legends. Freshwater crayfish that can reach almost a metre in length lurk in the shade of 2,000-year-old Huon pines, and every few years a ru…

17 things in this story

Takayna/TarkineSightAustralia’s largest cool temperate rainforest, a place of legends.
Corinna Wilderness VillageHotelFormer mining town converted into an eco village.
Pieman RiverSightTannin-stained river with an inky black, mirror-like surface.
Huon pinesPlaceAncient trees that can reach 2,000 years old.
Mycology MayFestivalFestival started by Liz Davis in regional New South Wales.
pixie’s parasolsSightDelicate blue fungi found scattered on the forest floor.
ruby bonnetsSightFungi resembling bright red berries on the forest floor.
earth tonguesSightSlime-covered fungi resembling worms pushing through the ground.
bracket fungiSightGiant fungi the size of dinner plates.
echidna fungiSightFungi with thousands of spiky teeth beneath their caps.
Dr Alison PouliotPlaceMycologist leading a three-day fungi workshop.
Liz DavisPlaceWorkshop attender, forager, started Mycology May festival.
leatherwoodsPlace
celerytop pinesPlace
myrtle beechesPlace
Sylvia PlathPlace
Tourism TasmaniaPlace

Read the full piece at The Guardian →