TRAVERSE Issue 22 - February 2021 | Seite 85

TRAVERSE 85
railway and declining gold deposits saw the township decline , eventually becoming what it is today … a wilderness experience that restricts numbers , adding to the experience .
With a remote location comes a cost , Corinna isn ’ t a cheap place to set base although , there can be levels of expense . Camping in the limited areas is an option , there ’ s even free camping areas if you look for them . Camping at Corinna limited to just a handful of raised platforms set amongst the wilderness , you won ’ t find gigantic white boxes with occupants watching television here . River cruises will see your bank account depleted , kayaking or canoeing offer a more cost-effective option and provide an experience you cannot find on a power boat . The plentiful wilderness walks are free and create an experience found nowhere else on Earth , the Tarkine and Tasmanian rainforests are one of a kind .
As the mist cleared the forest called , I stepped into the dark beyond the camp , the mysterious green world felt welcoming despite an eery feeling of being watched . The track , well formed , still felt untouched . Bird noises were few , insects buzzed about , plant life reached out as if looking for something interesting . Giant trees reached skyward , though no Huon Pines on this side of the river , apparently too far north .
The ground felt soft , spongey , a result of Anodopetalum . Endemic to western Tasmania this tree known colloquially as ‘ Horizontal ’ bends under its own weight , sending out branches that grow across the ground . This prehistoric plant is abundant and as the branches criss-cross the forest floor forms a cover that becomes its own ecology . Fascinating , yet a hell for those exploring the region in the early days .
Wandering amongst a world of
TRAVERSE 85