Tuart Forest National Park, Nature reserve near Busselton, Australia.
Tuart Forest National Park is a nature reserve near Busselton with tall Eucalyptus gomphocephala trees reaching 33 meters high, covering an area of 20 square kilometers. Beneath this dense tree cover, open grassland spreads across the forest floor, shaping the overall structure of the woodland.
The woodland developed over long natural history, but underwent major changes in the 1800s when European settlement brought extensive timber cutting for building and fuel. Much of the original forest disappeared during this period of intense use.
This woodland held deep meaning for the Wardandi people, who hunted and sheltered in the open grasslands beneath the tall trees. The space under the canopy provided essential resources and gathering places for those who lived on this land.
Visitors can walk the 2 kilometer Possum Spotlighting Trail, which has reflective markers for nighttime exploration and starts from the Layman Road parking area. Sturdy shoes are helpful for moving safely along the paths.
This reserve protects the world's largest remaining pure tuart forest, making it a refuge for endangered western ringtail possums found nowhere else in Australia. These rare animals depend on this specific forest type to survive.
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