Calcified Forest
Calcified Forest
4.5
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4.5
76 reviews
Excellent
39
Very good
28
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
1
JElliot32
New South Wales, Australia3,963 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Visited here as part of a tour of the island. Site is accessed via short and not unpleasant bushwalk from the carpark, with two or three wallabies spotted along the way. The site itself is fairly small, and looks like a barren wasteland of sand, assorted rock fragments and a scattering of generally small, fossilised pillars, which turn out to be calcified tree roots rather than tree trunks. While the Calcified Forest is very different from anything else we saw on the island, you could not describe it as an exciting or compelling tourist site. In fact our guide said it had degraded significantly in the 15 years he'd been visiting it, partly due to vandalism but mainly the power of wind erosion. The information boards at the site are very helpful and around the corner is a boardwalk to Seal Rocks, which I did find much more compelling. Here you see King Island's wild and treacherous coast up close, and can readily understand the island's history with shipwrecks.
Written 12 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Poetripedla
George Town, Australia157 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
We took so long trying to find the Cataraqui monument, because there was no decent signage and we were driving a car not a four wheel drive (because we had been assured we would be able to get there in it), that we gave up on getting to the Calcified Forest. We had had many problems with lack of appropriate signage on King Islands back roads, from trying to find cafes to trying to locate Martha Lavinia beach, on terrible tracks, with no indication of distance to be travelled or whether a four wheel drive was necessary, that we didn’t have the heart to try to find the Calcified Forest or Seal Rocks. Very disappointing that inadequate signage stopped us.
Written 17 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
westy54
Sydney, Australia13,373 contributions
Feb 2022
The Calcified Forest is comprised of hundreds of unusually shaped limestone features sticking up in a large otherwise sandy area. According to the notice boards these formed after calcium carbonate stuck to the roots of coastal plants and trees and were exposed when the sand was subsequently blown away.
The Calcified Forest is located in the South West corner of the island about a 40 minute (32 klms) drive from Currie on mainly gravel roads. Once you have reached the car park, where there are picnic and toilet facilities, it is a 630 metre walk on a mainly compacted earth path to the viewing platform. The path has some gentle hills but is an easy walk. There are a few steps up to the viewing platform.
Whilst it was interesting and I was pleased that I saw it, I’m not sure it is a must see given the drive required to get there from Currie.
If you do go there though, drive about an extra 1-2 klms to the lookout at Seal Rocks which is perched high above the cliffs. Didn’t see any seals and don’t know if there are any there, but it was a wildly beautiful part of the coastline with the ocean slamming against the rocks.
The Calcified Forest is located in the South West corner of the island about a 40 minute (32 klms) drive from Currie on mainly gravel roads. Once you have reached the car park, where there are picnic and toilet facilities, it is a 630 metre walk on a mainly compacted earth path to the viewing platform. The path has some gentle hills but is an easy walk. There are a few steps up to the viewing platform.
Whilst it was interesting and I was pleased that I saw it, I’m not sure it is a must see given the drive required to get there from Currie.
If you do go there though, drive about an extra 1-2 klms to the lookout at Seal Rocks which is perched high above the cliffs. Didn’t see any seals and don’t know if there are any there, but it was a wildly beautiful part of the coastline with the ocean slamming against the rocks.
Written 8 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisaandsimon
Glenrowan, Australia52 contributions
July 2024 • Family
This is a little bit of a drive, but so worth it! you walk along a track surrounded by trees, it then opens up like you've stepped out on another planet - just incredible. Kids would absolutely love this, especially if they like dinosaurs - was waiting for one to appear. Well worth a visit for anyone - very different and unique.
There are a few steps and a viewing platform.
Information is available to read about what your looking at and how it evolved on the viewing platform.
There are a few steps and a viewing platform.
Information is available to read about what your looking at and how it evolved on the viewing platform.
Written 13 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jill K
33 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
Very interesting and well worth the drive. Make sure to visit nearby Seal Rocks - great views of Bass Strait
Written 13 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judi43
Melbourne, Australia149 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Did not know just what to expect when we decided to drive to the calcified forest, the drive its self was interesting and well worth deciding to visit the site, we were the only ones there and became very absorbed in the surroundings was also great to be able to have it explained by the information board
Written 4 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon M
118 contributions
Nov 2017 • Business
This attraction is very well presented by the Parks service, and the path is 620 metres, through amazing ti-tree and wattle bushland. You may be lucky and see some of the wild-life on the way.
When you get to the forest - it is really like arriving on the moon, however, the breathtaking views of the wild King Island coast will remind you of the current day.
Well worth the drive off the beaten track.
When you get to the forest - it is really like arriving on the moon, however, the breathtaking views of the wild King Island coast will remind you of the current day.
Well worth the drive off the beaten track.
Written 2 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fran A
sydney94 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Quite a trek, on dirt roads to get to this then about a 15minute walk in to them. I was glad we had a hire car and not our own. Beautiful area.
Written 24 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosemary d
City of Greater Geelong, Australia8 contributions
Sept 2015 • Family
Well worth the drive. Take the time to also stop off on the way to the forest. The view from the forest is amazing and it is easy walking from the carpark.
Written 22 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anita T
Melbourne, Australia341 contributions
Mar 2022 • Business
It was well worth the drive and then 1.5km return walk to this windswept landscape. The Calcified Forest was most interesting. An interpretive board gave all necessary information.
Written 23 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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