Wetlands, wildflowers and swamp gum country at Honan

Overview

Honan Native Forest Reserve sits in South Australia’s Limestone Coast near Glencoe, about 16 km from Mount Gambier. It is a relatively small reserve at 72 hectares, but it packs a lot into that area, with native bush, wetlands and low-lying forest all giving the place a distinctly local character.

This is one of ForestrySA’s native forest reserves in the Green Triangle, managed for biodiversity and heritage values as well as quiet recreation. The reserve is especially known for its floristic diversity, with different vegetation communities occurring across sandy rises and wetter ground.

Highlights

What stands out here is the contrast between heathy stringybark woodland and the reserve’s wetland pockets. In the wetter parts of the forest, boardwalk sections pass through swampy country and into a notable area of swamp gum woodland, giving the reserve a very different feel from the drier forest blocks that surround much of the district.

Seasonal changes are a big part of the scenery. In spring and into summer, the wetland edges and heathy ground are known for colourful wildflower displays, while the broader landscape remains mostly gentle and low-lying rather than dramatic.

Best Time to Visit

Spring is the standout if you want to see the reserve at its most colourful, when wildflowers are typically at their best through the heathy woodland and around the wetland margins. The wetter months also tend to bring more life to the swampy areas, which helps show the place’s mix of dry forest and seasonal wet ground.

At other times of year, Honan still has appeal for its quieter forest atmosphere and varied plant communities, but it is a place whose character is most strongly shaped by seasonal moisture and flowering cycles.

Plants and Animals

Honan Native Forest Reserve is recognised for rich biodiversity and a diverse range of plants, including rare species and strong wildflower displays. Vegetation across the reserve includes heathy stringybark woodland, wetlands and swamp gum woodland, reflecting the shift from better-drained ground to waterlogged areas.

The reserve’s best-known plant is the Honan Mint, Mentha atrolilacina, a small creeping herb with deep purple flowers that was discovered here in 2007. It is known only from within about 20 km of this site. Wetland habitat in the reserve also supports waterbirds when conditions are wet.