Hobart's mountain suburb of Fern Tree features cool, shaded walks up and around the slopes of Mount Wellington - and botanical evidence of our ancient links with Antarctica. For millions of years Australia was joined to Antarctica as part of a supercontinent which also included South America, Africa, India and New Zealand. Tasmania was then joined to what is now north Victoria Land in Antarctica.

Fern Tree's Pipeline and Fern Glade tracks offer comfortable walks allowing access to Tasmanian rainforest species, including tree-ferns, myrtles, sassafras and scoparia, which are direct botanical connections to the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Related species are found in South America and on the South Island of New Zealand - powerful evidence of the Gondwana link.

Originally a coach stop on the road to Huonville, Fern Tree is a good starting point for walking to 'The Springs' or to Mount Wellington's pinnacle. Its plants were of great interest to Charles Darwin, author of The Origin of Species, who walked to the summit when his ship Beagle called at Hobart in 1836.

If you have a fast broadband internet connection, you can also view the media-rich version of this Pathways site, which includes an audio narrative and slideshow.