Established: 1997
Area: 121 ha
Location: 190km NE of Hobart
Traditional Owners: Tasmanian Aboriginal people
Detailed map >
In your rush to get down to the glittering ocean waters of Tasmania's Friendly Beaches Reserve you'd be forgiven for overlooking what lies further back behind the sand dunes.
A Bennetts Wallaby amongst coastal wattle at Friendly Beaches. Photo Wayne Lawler / EcoPix.
But a more leisurely exploration of this reserve, which is a natural extension of its famous neighbour, Freycinet National Park, would turn up coastal heath overlooking a large saltwater lagoon, and beyond that Black Gum and Silver Peppermint Forests.
The coastal heath here is particularly precious, being one of the most diverse plant communities found in Tasmania.
Swamp Gum and Manna Gum forests on Friendly Beaches Reserve. Photo Wayne Lawler / EcoPix.
Its flowers, which can burst into life at any time of the year, produce a profusion of nectar that draws honeyeaters, such as the Eastern Spinebill and New Holland Honeyeater from far and wide. The coastal heathlands on this stretch of coast are among the largest remaining in Tasmania.
Farther inland lies Black Gum forest, which loves the wet drainage lines snaking out from Saltwater Lagoon. Since European settlement more than 90% of these forests have been destroyed, and Black Gum forest is now endangered in Tasmania.
All this has been protected thanks to the generosity of our supporters.
What Friendly Beaches protects
Friendly Beaches Reserve helps protect one of the few natural coastal systems remaining on the east coast of Tasmania. The coastal heath and the forests are known habitat for the nationally endangered Tasmanian devil. It also protects these significant species and communities:
A Scarlett Robin. Photo Wayne Lawler / EcoPix.
Animals
Spotted-tail Quoll (nationally vulnerable), Scarlet Robin, White-bellied Sea-eagle (vulnerable in Tasmania).
Plants
Sand Grasstree (nationally vulnerable), Southern Grasstree, Warty Paperbark (rare), Tasmanian Blue Gum, Juniper Wattle (rare), Slender Honey Myrtle.
Vegetation communities
Black gum forest and woodland (endangered), Silver Peppermint forest and woodland (vulnerable), coastal heathland, Black Peppermint coastal forest and woodland.