Tuart Forest National Park

Tuart Forest National Park is a peaceful forest woodland, perfect for a forest walk, picnic or nature watch. But you might not know of this park’s important purpose. It protects the largest remaining pure forest of Tuart trees in the world. It has the tallest and largest specimens of Tuart trees on the Swan Coastal Plain. Some trees are more than 33m high and 10m in girth. Wow!  It’s quite an experience to walk or drive through a whole forest of these majestic trees. Tuarts only grow on coastal limestone, 200km on either side of Perth. And nowhere else! 

Tuart forests were once abundant. They were open, with good visibility and tall grassland carpeted the forest floor. Aboriginal people used this grassland to shelter and hunt wildlife. 

European colonisation changed the landscape dramatically. Tuart forests were cleared for settlement, timber and fuel. Timber cutting operations continued throughout the 1800’s and into the 20th Century. The National Park was declared in 1987. Now the area is a refuge for these majestic trees, famed for their tallness and straightness. 

There’s lots to see here. In Spring the park is a riot of colour as wildflowers burst into bloom. In wetter months look out for the many types of fungi, some have yet to be named! All year-round bird spotters will love the waterbirds and other species. 

The forest is home to WA's largest remaining wild population of the endangered western ringtail possum. Follow the Possum Night Spotlighting Trail. Follow the reflective trail markers and use your torch. You could be lucky and spot nocturnal residents including the brush-tailed phascogale, bush rat, kangaroo, quenda, and at least 11 species of birds of prey and nocturnal birds. That’s worth staying awake for! 

Review - Lovely forest views 

Beautiful drive through the Tuart Forest National Park, watch out for the kangaroos between dusk and dawn! Wm551 - Trip Advisor