Styx self-drive & walking guide

Map of Tasmania - Directions to Styx Valley

The secluded Styx Valley is less than two hours drive west of Hobart. Discover ancient rainforests, majestic mountains, the swirling waters of the Styx River, and the tallest hardwood trees in the world, Eucalyptus regnans.

Download printable map here (PDF 124KB)

• The numbers on the map refer to the numbers in the text.
  

1. Getting there

Drive through the Tyenna Valley to Maydena (90 km from Hobart) on the Gordon River Rd.

Go 2.5 km past Maydena and turn right onto the graveled Florentine Rd. Turn right again onto the Styx Rd and drive beneath the overpass. You are now in an active logging area so beware of log trucks and industrial vehicles.

Stay on the Styx Rd and drive past Roberts, Risby Basin, Stump, Maynes, Mueller, and Gold Creek Roads. You can glimpse the mountains of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area on your right as you go.

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2. The Styx Bridge

After about 10.4 km you will come to the Styx Bridge. Stop here to see the beautiful junction of the Styx and South Styx Rivers. Here the river has a mysterious feel, its waters stained a tea colour by patches of buttongrass further upstream.

3. The Big Tree Reserve

This tiny reserve was established to protect some of the giant trees that are found throughout the valley. In 2005 this reserve was expanded to include the Tolkien Track. A boardwalk has been established to provide a quick circuit of the reserve.

Map of Tolkien Track - Tasmania - Self-drive

600m on from the Big Tree Reserve, turn right onto Waterfall Creek Rd. Drive for 800m and park near the small grassy track on your left. Walk back down the road 40m to the start of the Tolkien Track. This track winds through a spectacular piece of forest that was once threatened by logging. Use the map (link to tolkien track map.jpg) to explore the network of trails. You can retrace your steps to return to the road near your car, or join the road further up and walk back down the hill to your car.

There is plenty to see on this track. Walk under Morannon, the “Black Gate”; see the 75-m giant with twin trunks named Fangorn; enter the Cave Tree; walk along the trunk of the Felled Giant; and stand in awe under Gandalf’s Staff, the 84-m tall giant that was host to the Global Rescue Station.

If you are in the mood for a longer walk, follow the track to the intimate seclusion of the waterfall (20 minutes). This track can be slippery, so please take care.

5. The Chapel Tree

Once on the Styx Rd again, continue 2.9km then turn right onto Gee Creek Rd. Veer right again after 800m onto Skeleton Rd.

About 1 km up the hill from the creek you will see markers indicating the 50-m track to the Chapel Tree. This tree is the second most massive living thing in Tasmania. It is so old the hollowed out centre has breached the trunk, creating a quiet, peaceful ‘chapel’ big enough to walk into. Take a torch along to get a good look at the inside of the tree.

Eucalypt trees take over 100 years to develop hollows for birds and animals to nest in. The large hollows that have developed in this 400-year-old giant provide fantastic habitat for creatures such as pigmy possums, owls, bats and black cockatoos.

There is a 30-minute, moderate to difficult track marked between the Chapel Tree and the Christmas Tree. Follow the pink tags and wind your way through more fantastic forest. You’ll exit the forest on the same road you entered it from and can either return the same way or walk down the road to your car.

6. Shinglebend

800m further along the Styx Rd (about 150m before Jacques Rd on the right) is the start of the track to the picturesque Shinglebend. This is a lovely shingle bank on the Styx River surrounded by rainforest. Shinglebend suffers occassionally from flood damage. Walk quietly as you approach the river, keeping your eyes open for platypus and  native water rats. Shinglebend is the perfect spot for lunch or a snack; don’t miss it.

Warning! Swimming is dangerous here due to submerged logs and the swift current.

Although the Styx River and Road wind further down the Valley, there is no reliable exit from the Styx Rd at Karanja. This is a private road with gates that are often locked. Feel free to explore the rest of the valley, but you will need to re-trace your route back out to Maydena.

When leaving the Styx Valley be alert for the overpass, and turn hard left immediately after it to re-join the main road. If you miss this turnoff you could be driving for a long time! Turn left at the bitumen road to return to Maydena.

Important Information

Although suitable for two-wheel-drive vehicles, the roads get slippery in the wet, and very dusty in the dry. Ensure you have a spare tyre and jack. Drive slowly at night and at dusk to spare wildlife. Beware of logtrucks, especially if you decide to drive into these areas on a weekday.

These are dirt roads, many kilometres from the nearest township and out of mobile phone range. Fill your petrol tank before leaving Maydena. Drive no faster than 50 kph and slow down for potholes, corrugations and other hazards.

Bring food, water, sunhat, raincoat and stout shoes. Bring toilet paper. After leaving Maydena there are no more built toilets.

Note that the Styx Bridge has a five tonne limit, which excludes use by larger buses.

Bushfire Warning

Please do not light campfires or smoke cigarettes while in the forest. It is not advisable to visit the forest on days of total fire ban.

DISCLAIMER: Visitors to this area should be aware that natural hazards occur within Tasmania’s forest environments. The Wilderness Society accepts no liability for any injury or damage resulting from such hazards.