Fern Tree
Tree ferns are arborescent (tree-like) ferns that grow with a trunk elevating the fronds above ground level, making them trees.
Many extant tree ferns are members of the order Cyatheales, to which belong the families Cyatheaceae, Dicksoniaceae, Metaxyaceae, and Cibotiaceae. It is estimated that Cyatheales originated in the early Jurassic, and is the third group of ferns known to have given rise to tree-like forms. The others are the extinct Tempskya of uncertain position, and Osmundales where the extinct Guaireaceae and some members of Osmundaceae also grew into trees. In addition there were the Psaroniaceae including Tietea in the Marattiales, which is the sister group to all the leptosporangiate ferns.
Getting around Fern Tree the local way
- Get inYou can also take a car from mainland Australia via Devonport, with a ferry departing nightly from Melbourne.
- Get aroundDerwent Ferries operates services between Brooke Street Pier in the city and Bellerive Pier in Bellerive.
- Get aroundSightseeing cruises and water taxis operate services between Brooke Street Pier in the city and outlying piers along the River Derwent.
- Get aroundThere is a poorly developed network of off-road cyclepaths, but Hobart drivers tend to be tolerant of cyclists, and most roads tend to be wide enough to accommodate them.
- Get aroundOne old railway line from the city as far as Claremont has been converted to a first-class cycle and walking path (take care from motor vehicles at intersections).
- Go nextMany nearby destinations are close enough to allow for a day trip from Hobart or even a few days away if you wish.
- Go nextA popular day trip from Hobart, there is much to explore on the whole peninsula including Tasman National Park, which is brimming with spectacular views and natural rock formations.
From Wikivoyage: Hobart, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Dietmar Rabich (see Commons), Wikimedia Commons.