The Fern Glade, entered at the junction of the Blue Trail and the Koala Glade and finishing at the Yellow Track, is an area of quiet beauty. Amongst the luxuriant native grasses and sedges growing in this moist and shaded habitat, may vines embrace ancient trees with no apparent ill-effect. Several species of unusual ferns may be observed, such as the soft leafed bracken fern (Culcita dubia) and hard-leafed brackens (Pteridium esculentrum), climbing maiden hair (Lygodium microphyllum), and crow's nest / bird's nest ferns (Asplenium australasicum). Vines seen close to the track include the barbwire vine (Similax australis), monkey rope / silky pod (Parsonsia staminea), scrambling lilies (Geitonoplesium cymosum) and wombat berry (Eustrephus latifolius). Gently touch the leaves of the puppy dog's ears (Psychotria loniceroides), whose velvety texture explains this common name.
When moving from the wetlands towards higher ground to join the Yellow Track, notice the sudden transition to dry scerophyll forest, with dominatiing eucalypts, rusty red gums (Anophora leiocarpa), she-oaks (Allocasuarina littoralis) and red ash (Alphitonia excelsa). The latter is a host for the small green-banded blue butterfly (Danis hymetus), and is often called soap tree because it contains saponins which cause frothing in water.

Acknowledgements
 Last updated 02 April, 2000
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