100 metre high tree near Huonville, Tasmania

Recently measured at just over 100 metres tall, Centurion is the tallest flowering plant on earth. It is in the Huon Valley, about 1.5 hours drive south from Hobart. This is challenging both for navigation and physically. It is not a visit for unprepared tourists:
  • The road is accessible by 2WD but is rough in places. There are few road signs so good navigation skills are required.
  • It is surrounded by active logging areas. Roads might be closed without notice.
  • There is no mobile phone coverage, so your phone GPS will not get you there unless you pre-load the maps while you have signal.
  • The car park is at the end of a short section of narrow abandoned logging road. This is the beginning of a muddy route to the tree itself. Here you must disinfect your shoes, tripod feet and anything else you have with you that has contact with the ground. You will need to take your own disinfection equipment (we can provide that to qualified people at Huon Bush Retreats)
  • The route to the tree is a taped route, not a constructed track. However the tapes might not be present on the day you visit.
To protect this tree from damage by over-visiting and disease spread by boots, we do not provide a map here. To get the map:
  • Book at least 2 nights stay at Huon Country Cottage.
  • Agree to scrub your boots with the cleaning kit that we will supply when you arrive at HCC.
  • We will give you access to the map with the boot cleaning kit.
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Falls and track head photos: Kevin vanHecke
Centurion is the world's tallest known flowering plant. It is in a rare group of trees in the world, over 100 metres height, that probably number around 20. (The others are a few coast redwood and the yellow meranti trees in US).

The tree was measured in 2008 by climber with a tapeline at 99.6 metres. Two more recent measurements show that the tree is still growing. In January 2014 the tree was again climbed and the tape drop indicated 99.82m. A tape drop in 2016 showed a height of 99.67m. Centurion was measured by laser in December 2018 and was found to have possibly reached 100.5 meters.

More info is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_(tree)

Centurion Update February 2023

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Gone is the lush surrounding understory, but Centurion still towers to 100m tall.
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The walking track to Centurion is chocked with charred and fallen trees.
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The world's tallest flowering plant has sustained fire damage but seems to be surviving.
In 2019, wildfires burned much of the Huon Valley, including the area of Centurion. The tree was damaged but seems that it will survive. However access to the tree is a different experience nowadays. Read this Feb 2023 report below.
The tree is fairly easily accessible via the route you specified. The driving roads are in good condition though the final road to access it is not great for low-clearance cars. These cars can park at the turnoff which adds a few hundred metres of track walking.

There is pink tape at regular enough intervals and, though the area was burned, there is not the super-thick regrowth that we encountered on the far side of the ridge the previous day. The tree is very difficult to access via the East...we turned back after a few hundred metres of bushbashing took us over an hour.

The tree itself seems to be living well enough but is fire affected. There are classic 'cathedral arches' around it and several people could fit inside the tree...there are several points along the lower trunk where holes seemed to have burned through letting light into the cavity at its base.

Given the length and condition of the walk via your route, I would say any uninjured person of a reasonable age could do it without navigation aid- though I would recommend an appropriately equipped first aid kit (we had plenty of both).

Drone video of Centurion, the tallest flowering tree on earth.

Other Walks and Waterfalls south from Hobart

Where to stay and eat near Centurion, the tallest flowering tree on earth

Classic farm cottage on the way to the world's tallest flowering plant

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Castle Forbes Bay
Overlooking the Huon River, just off the highway from Huonvile to Geeveston, this classic farm cottage can be your base to explore the Huon Valley. Huon River Country Cottage has three bedrooms to suit couples, families or small groups.

Facilities to disinfect your boots before you walk to the tree, are available at this accommodation.

Two bedroom
eco-cabin
​Far South Tasmania

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Far South
Visit Centurion, then continue south to this 2 bedroom eco-cabin on the edge of the wilderness, at Ida Bay, Far South Tasmania.

Apple Museum, Cider, tastings, Whiskey distillery, Cafe/Restaurant

All about apples: Food, drink, history. Morning and afternoon tea, lunches everyday. Dinner Friday nights. Up to date times and menus on their Facebook.

Multi Award Winning Winery and Restaurant

With award-winning wines and a menu overflowing with fresh local and Tasmanian produce.
Lunch most days 12 til 3 (check days on website). The cellar door is open for tastings 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm.