The Forest Floor Comes Alive - Fungi Month Returns to Corinna in 2026

Walk the trails at Corinna in May and the forest floor tells a different story to the one you read in summer. The towering myrtle beeches and ancient sassafras are still there, but beneath them something extraordinary is unfolding. Vivid toadstools push through the moss. Delicate caps emerge from bark and decaying timber. Glowing fungi appear in colours that seem to belong to a painting rather than a forest path.

This is the takayna/Tarkine at its most quietly spectacular, and May and June are the months to see it.

Fungi Month has become one of the most anticipated events on the Corinna calendar, and the 2026 season builds on what was a genuinely remarkable 2025.

Two sold-out workshops, a growing community of fungi enthusiasts making the journey to the wild west coast, and a level of interest that has already seen the 2027 events locked in well ahead of schedule.

Matt, General Manager at Corinna Wilderness Village, reflects on what that momentum means:

"Fungi Month started as a way of celebrating something that was already happening in the forest every autumn. The response from guests has been extraordinary. To have both workshops sell out, and to have people already asking about 2027, tells us that this is something people genuinely connect with. The Tarkine is one of the world's great fungi habitats, and it is wonderful to see more people discovering that."

What Makes the Tarkine a World-Class Fungi Habitat

The takayna/Tarkine's cool temperate rainforest creates near-perfect conditions for fungi. The damp, undisturbed forest floor, the ancient decaying timber, the dense canopy that holds moisture long after rain, and the sheer biodiversity of the ecosystem combine to produce a fungi display that is among the most diverse in Australia. Some species found here exist nowhere else on Earth.

Fungi play a fundamental role in the health of the rainforest, breaking down organic matter, cycling nutrients through the soil, and forming the underground networks that connect plant and tree root systems across vast distances. Walking among them is not simply a visual experience. It is a reminder of how much of the forest's life happens beneath the surface, quietly essential and largely unseen.

The 2026 Workshops

This year's programme draws two of the finest practitioners in their respective fields.

Fungi Foray with Alison Pouliot, 18-21 May 2026

Four nights with expert mycologist Alison Pouliot, one of Australia's leading voices on fungi ecology and culture. Highly interactive, with hands-on forays through the rainforest, seminars, and discussion about the ecological and cultural significance of fungi. This event is now sold out.

Fungi Photography with Luke O'Brien, 27-29 May 2026

Three nights with leading Tasmanian photographer Luke O'Brien, exploring the trails at the peak of the season. The workshop covers focus techniques, camera settings, composition, and post-processing, all in the field. Bookings are still available. Enquire at reservations@corinna.com.au.

Five Quick Tips for Photographing Fungi

You do not need specialist equipment to take a compelling fungi photograph. These five habits make the biggest difference:

1. Get low -- Crouch or lie at the fungi's eye level. This reveals texture, gills, and form that a top-down shot misses entirely.

2. Shoot in soft light -- Overcast days are often better than bright sunshine. Early morning after rain is ideal.

3. Use something for scale -- A fallen leaf, a twig, or a hand in the background gives the viewer a sense of size. Context transforms a close-up into a story.

4. Include the setting -- The moss, the bark, the surrounding leaf litter are part of what makes a Tarkine fungi photograph distinctive.

5. Be patient with focus -- Macro shots have very shallow depth of field. Take multiple frames and shift your focus point slightly between each one.

Want to go further?

The best possible investment is three days in the field with Luke O'Brien at Corinna from 27-29 May. A small number of places remain. Contact reservations@corinna.com.au to enquire.

How to Stay During Fungi Month

Corinna offers a range of accommodation options to suit different kinds of visits:

• Unpowered camping platforms -- closest to the forest, simple and immersive, with the trails beginning a short walk away

• Eco-cabins and wilderness cottages -- ranging from the intimate Roadman's Cottage (circa 1910) to the Mezzanine Eco Retreat sleeping four, to The Old Pub sleeping up to eight

• The Tarkine Hotel -- open for dinner throughout the season, with the Ahrberg Bar and a dedicated Tasmanian whisky selection for cool autumn evenings

There is no Wi-Fi and no phone reception at Corinna. As it turns out, that is exactly the right condition for spending a few days looking closely at the forest floor.

The Fatman Barge crosses the Pieman River every day of the year. The crossing itself, three to five minutes over dark tannin water with the rainforest pressing in on both sides, is a good way to mark the transition from the outside world to this one.

May is waiting. The forest floor is already putting on a show.

Book your stay or enquire about the Luke O'Brien workshop at reservations@corinna.com.au.