Bushwalk Australia

Here is an interesting article on why trees do not grow above particular altitudes that might interest people -> http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/ ... 839899.htm
Even though it is not a gallery related post, I decided that it would fit in this particular thread, rather than create a new stand alone thread.

So many of these, weathered worn and enduring...

So why hasn't the cell production process evolved to accommodate the lower temperature?

On the Canberra Centenary Trail between the Spring Range and Old Joe ( near the Northern ACT Border), there are many stunning old trees. I left the CCT after passing the old Gungahlin State Forest and headed North to the Schaeffe Line where I came across this crazily shaped old Blakleys Redgum.




A beautifully proportioned Red Stringybark ... and the first fog of Autumn '14. The Karma Grasslands, ACT.




Warren.

I do love eucalyptus, but I thought I might share one from my couple of years in New Zealand.

There's also an amazing book on New Zealand trees that was published a few years ago — one of my favourite books on my shelf:

http://www.craigpotton.co.nz/store/book ... rd-edition

Came across this old fellow on sunday while struggling through man and bracken fern forests for an hour and a half as the sun was sinking. What joy to come across this "clearing" and beautiful tree before plunging back into head high bracken and 15' manferns (almost made it worthwhile). I wasn't lost.....really, I wasn't....

E. coccifera. Fenton blockstream. Mt. Field Nat. Park.

All I can say is the trees were there a couple of years ago but when I came back to Coolangubra State Forest to photograph them last month they were all gone!

Tidier up there than in Tassie.

I've got no idea who took all the trees, or what they did with them, but thank goodness, since then someone's come along and planted thousands of little pine trees that you can't make out in the picture. So one day when they all grow up it will look even tidier.

So a pine plantation is preferable to what once would have been native forest?

I suppose a plantation is better than bare ground. Not by much though

After visiting Norway with their selective harvesting I realised how brutal our clearfelling in Australia and New Zealand is.

The lonely snowgum is all alone above the tree line on Mt. Stirling. Apparently it has been aged at about 500 years old.

Interesting you should say that NathanielB. The area in view was deleted from a national park proposal in the 1990's as a concession to the Forestry Commission which claimed the area was needed for their program of sustainable logging (selective harvesting). Somewhere along the line apparently they found an even better purpose for it.

Lol, Right, where are we- seen this popular photo op?:

Just love these Staghorns (Platycerioideae)


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Very nice Giddy_up. Stags (Platycerium superbum) and elks look magical in their natural environment. Unfortunately we don't get them growing naturally down here in Victoria.

Horsetail casuarina on the way to Point Perpendicular near Laurieton NSW. Southern end of their range, they extend to soutg east Asia.

Found this old fellow adjacent to the track last week on my way up the Acropolis. Scared the crap out of a German fellow who didn't see me lying in the dirt until he was almost on top of me.

Snowgums between King Billy No.1 and No.2

My kind of tree...on the way to Tali Karng up the river

We stumbled across this while exploring Tapin Tops National Park - NSW largest Water Gum. It was a monster too, a really tall tree, not like the regular gnarly, twisted river gums I am used to seeing hanging over the water.

So many of these 'big' trees and their signs now seem neglected. This one was right beside the road but down an embankment and not obvious from the nearby walking pad. It is in State Forest but the other side of the creek is National Park. Although the tree's presence was vaguely mentioned in the parks brochure there is no signage to it, it is kind of hidden, and the sign is obscure. Had a similar experience with NSW's tallest River Oaks which are on the Allyn River in State Forest on the edge of Barrington Tops National Park. Would love to hear of, or see photos of, other obscure signposted trees from time past if anyone has them.

Here is another big tree in a state forest near Port Macquarie and Wauchope. A couple of years before i heard about it. Has been done up a year ago with a new picnic area and walkways:

http://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/v ... ate-forest

There is another big tree between Port and Taree called Bird Tree. Not far from the highway, again its in a state forest with minimal signage.

If you want to 'bag' some big trees check out this site http://www.trusttrees.org.au

Thanks Neo, those are great links! Definitely going to go and check out that amazing looking bloodwood. I have visited the Bird Tree but had never heard of Old Bottlebutt!

Here is one i saw the week before last in Tana Toraja, Sulawesi Indonesia. The locals are officially Christian (Protestant) mixed with their traditional religious beliefs. They believe they came from the sky and return there (heaven) so bury their dead in high places.
This tree is for children who die before they have teeth. They make a little tomb in a big tree.
Not sure of the species.
Looks as though the tree has suffered some storms (snapped) but there is one tall shoot with a few big leaves. Also there is a little thatched roof over the trunk wound.

One from the Monda track of some very old giants. Clearly demonstrating there is nothing wrong with a big butt.

sorry about the quality.......

This was a beautiful and iconic Cider Gum near Shannon Lagoon in the Tassie Central Highlands.
Unfortunately some morons doused it and set it alight. It is gone forever.

An interesting trunk at the entrance to the Armidale Regional Gallery, New South Wales.



There is a myth that witches had the power to steal a man's penis and place it in a tree ... this is no joke. It was believed that the very real phenomenon of penis captivus was a punishment from God for the sin of adultery.

I found that very interesting and so typical of what men think that women can do.

Warren.

On the subject of "big trees" - a trip to Dergholm State Park recently saw us visiting Bilston's Tree, which is supposedly the world's largest river red gum. Not sure about that one. That's my other half who is 6'6" standing at the base of the tree.
Apologies for the extremely poor photos, I think my camera is on the way out. The large limb on the ground has some lovely carvings, the other side is better with local native animals depicted.
Again the signage is somewhat old and neglected. The tree is estimated to date from around 1200AD.