Walking Among the Giants
Deep in the hills west of the Huon Valley, the Tahune AirWalk rises above the forest like a silver ribbon suspended in air. Opened in 2001, this eco-tourism wonder invites visitors to step into the canopy itself—600 metres of elevated walkway that climbs to 30 metres above the forest floor and cantilevers out 50 metres above the Huon River. From here, the view stretches across rivers and wilderness, a perspective once reserved for birds alone.
The journey to Tahune begins in Geeveston, a small town nestled in the Huon Valley. From there, the road winds through dense forest, each turn revealing glimpses of towering eucalypts and mossy undergrowth. By the time you arrive, the sense of immersion is complete—you are deep in Tasmania’s wilderness, surrounded by trees that have stood for centuries.
The AirWalk Experience
The adventure begins with 104 stairs leading to the elevated walkway. At 619 metres long, it winds through treetops of celery-top pine, blackwood, sassafras, myrtle, and leatherwood. Fallen giants lie below, survivors stretch upward, and the cantilever platform at the end offers a dramatic finale—suspended high above the Huon River, swaying gently in the wind. It is thrilling, unnerving, unforgettable.
From this vantage point, the forest reveals its secrets. The canopy is alive with birdsong, the rivers glint in the distance, and the peaks of Tasmania’s Southern Wilderness rise beyond. The walkway vibrates lightly as others pass, a reminder that you are suspended in air, sharing the forest’s perspective. For those who fear heights, the sturdy fences offer reassurance, but the sensation of floating above the trees is part of the magic.
Swinging Bridges Walk
A one-kilometre loop, easy yet exhilarating. Suspension bridges cross the Picton and Huon Rivers, offering new angles on the forest and the AirWalk’s cantilever. The Picton Swing Bridge stretches 62 metres, swaying lightly as you cross. At the junction of the rivers, the view back towards the walkway reveals its daring design against the wilderness backdrop.
The walk continues along the riverbank, where the water runs swift and clear. Ferns fringe the path, and the sound of rushing water accompanies every step. Even in its shorter version, the walk offers a sense of intimacy with the rivers, a chance to pause and watch the currents meet and mingle.
Huon Pine Walk
Gentle and serene, this 20-minute stroll follows the riverbank through the world’s most accessible stand of Huon pines. The boardwalk is smooth and welcoming, perfect for wheelchairs and prams. Here, time slows. Huon pines grow at just 1mm in diameter per year, yet they endure for millennia—some living more than 3,000 years. Their sweet-scented oils once made them prized for shipbuilding, their timber resistant to rot. Today, they are protected, a living testament to patience and longevity.
Walking among them is like stepping into another era. The air carries their fragrance, subtle yet distinct, and the river reflects their silhouettes. Fallen logs, preserved by oils, lie along the forest floor, reminders of a past when these trees were harvested for ships. Now they stand as guardians of the valley, symbols of endurance and resilience.
A Forest of Stories
The Huon River begins at Lake Pedder, winding south and west to Tahune before turning north to Huonville and finally south to the sea. Along its course, it changes character—broad and slow near its mouth, fringed with reed beds, swift and wild near Tahune. The forest around it shelters rare species: Southern Brown Bandicoots, koalas, lace monitors, emu-wrens, and the wedge-tailed eagle soaring above.
The towering stringybarks, hollow at their base yet strong at their crown, speak of endurance. The Huon pines whisper of time measured in centuries. The cantilever platform, trembling in the wind, reminds us of our own fragility against nature’s scale.
A Journey Into Wilderness
Tahune AirWalk is one of Southern Tasmania’s most beloved experiences, a place where adventure and contemplation meet. Whether crossing swinging bridges, wandering among Huon pines, or standing suspended above the river, visitors find themselves immersed in a forest that is both ancient and alive.
It is a journey into perspective—seeing the canopy as a bird might, feeling the resilience of trees that have stood for thousands of years, and walking among species that define Tasmania’s wilderness. Tahune is not just a walkway; it is a story of grandeur, survival, and wonder.