Choosing the best firewood for your outdoor fireplace

No matter your location, Australia, New Zealand, America, or anywhere in between, choosing the right firewood is essential for getting maximum heat, efficiency, and longevity from your outdoor fireplace.

3 things to think about when choosing the right firewood

1. Heat Output

Prioritise firewood with high heat output. Dense hardwoods; such as Ironbark, Red Gum, and Box Wood, burn hotter and longer, giving you consistent warmth through cold evenings.

While, softwoods like pine ignite quickly, making them excellent for kindling or starting your fire, but they burn through faster and produce less heat than hardwoods.

2. Burning Time

If you want long-lasting fires, choose hardwoods. Red Gum and Ironbark are standout options thanks to their slow, steady burn. They’re ideal for keeping you and your guests warm, without needing constant topping up.

3. Moisture Content

Whether you’re coastal, alpine, or urban, low moisture content of is key. Firewood should be well-seasoned with less than 25% moisture.

Why you shouldn't use wet wood in your outdoor fireplace:

• Burns inefficiently
• Produces more smoke
• Dramatically reduces heat output
• Increases creosote buildup in your chimney

Wondering how you can tell if your firewood is 'well-seasoned'? Look for splits/cracks, feels lighter weight, not wet to touch, lighter in colour, a dull grey on the 'face'/end.

To 'season' wood it can take 6-18 months but, most commercial firewood comes seasoned.

Top Firewood Types in Australia 

Red Gum

A popular Australian hardwood, red gum burns extremely hot and slow, making it ideal for long, consistent warmth. Its density means you won’t be topping up the fire as often. It produces minimal smoke when properly seasoned, so make sure it's nice and dry before burning it.

Ironbark

Known for its exceptional heat output and very long burn time, ironbark is a premium choice for outdoor fireplaces (and indoor too). It’s dense, clean-burning, and produces a strong, steady heat, perfect for chilly nights. Because of its hardness, it can take longer to season, but the performance is worth it.

Box Wood (Yellow Box / Grey Box)

Box varieties are another excellent hardwood option in Australia. They burn hot, clean, and slow, with a reliable flame and very little ash. Their balanced burn characteristics make them popular for both indoor and outdoor fireplaces.

Stringybark (Eucalyptus)

A medium-density hardwood, stringybark, still offers strong heat output and decent burn time. It's easier to split and ignite then denser hardwoods previously mentioned. Stringybark, is a good middle-ground option if you want efficient heating without the weight of ironbark or red gum. But it does produce a bit of smoke, would be best mixed with a hardwood.

Plantation Pine

This softwood is easily sourced and affordable across Australia. Pine ignites quickly, which makes it ideal for kindling or jump-starting your fire. It burns faster and cooler than hardwoods, so it’s best used to get a fire established before adding denser wood for a long-lasting burn.

Firewood to Avoid Burning

• Wet or green wood
• Treated or painted wood / old furniture
• Driftwood
• Radiata Pine (aka Old Man Pine)

3 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Firewood

1. Buy by the cubic metre: This is the standard in Australia and New Zealand and ensures you know exactly what you’re paying for.

2. Choose seasoned wood: Properly dried firewood burns hotter, cleaner, and more efficiently.

3. Store it properly: Stack your wood in a dry, ventilated area, off the ground, with airflow between pieces.

Whether you’re after the long-lasting heat of Ironbark or the steady, reliable warmth of Red Gum, there’s a firewood to suit your budget and needs. Choosing well-seasoned, quality wood and storing it properly means you’ll enjoy a cosy, efficient, and safe fire all season long, making those chilly nights something to look forward to.

Now the fun choice, what Trendz outdoor fireplace will you be using?