Dixons Kingdom is the heart and soul of the Walls of Jerusalem National Park in central Tasmania. Surrounded by dolerite peaks, and containing a large stand of ancient Pencil Pines the area contains all that is special about the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Ancient pencil pine and Solomons Throne from Dixons Kingdom

Access to Dixons Kingdom

The area is accessible by foot only, a steep climb from the car park gets you up to a possible first night’s campsite at Wild Dog Creek, or you can push on through to Dixons Kingdom in one fairly long day (6 hours or so). For our trip we went straight to Dixons Kingdom and stayed two nights there, exploring the side trips and returning the way we came.

First evening among the mountains and pencil pines

The pencil pine, or Athrotaxis cupressoides, is one of Tasmania’s oldest trees, surviving since the last ice age, and is only found in the alpine regions. It is particularly susceptible to fire and will not regrow once burnt.

Early morning panorama from the Temple looking over the central Walls.

Pencil Pines on a cloudy morning in Dixons Kingdom

Side Trips

During our full day in the area I first climbed the Temple which is a short and easy walk once you are already in the area. I was hoping for a blazing sunrise but instead the dawn was cloudy which resulted in atmospheric shots nonetheless. After breakfast we climbed Mt Jerusalem, again, not a difficult walk from Dixons Kingdom.

View over the pencil pine forest from part way up Mt Jerusalem

I then spent the remainder of the day enjoying the old trees around our campsite under stunning blue skies.

Pencil Pines at Dixons Kingdom

Pencil Pines

Pencil Pines silhouette

The following morning was misty with a light rain which really made for some great opportunities with the weathered old pines and Solomons Throne as a backdrop.

Misty conditions for our last day in the Walls.

All in all a really great few days away 🙂

All images available as prints.