Tag:cairns
The magnificent Curtain Fig Tree can be found in the heritage-listed Curtain Fig Tree National Park, situated in the breathtaking Atherton Tablelands region of Far North Queensland, Australia. The park, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, is approximately a ninety-minute drive from Cairns. The vegetation of the park is a mabi rainforest, which is a complex notophyll vine forest that is native to the area and is classified as endangered.
The Curtain fig tree, similar to the Cathedral Fig Tree in Danbulla National Park, is a gigantic strangler fig tree estimated to be more than 500 years old. It boasts a trunk circumference of approximately 39 meters (128 feet) and is about 50 meters (160 feet) tall. The tree’s canopy spans an impressive 30 meters (98 feet) in every direction from its trunk, making it an awe-inspiring sight to behold.
The Cathedral Fig tree is towering and upright, while the Curtain Fig tree is slightly different. It fell and leaned against a neighbouring tree when its host rotted away, and over time, it also consumed that tree too. As a result, it now lies at an angle, creating an impressive curtain-like appearance.
Forest fauna
Once a host tree has fully decomposed, it creates a hollow area that provides a natural home for various animals. These animals, such as birds, bats, rodents, and insects, utilise the hollow space as a secure shelter, nesting site, or food storage area. The Papuan Frogmouth, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, reptiles, possums, and Lumholtz’s tree kangaroos are some species that inhabit the area around the tree. Furthermore, succulent fruits from strangler figs attract Rose-crowned Fruit Doves, Emerald Fruit Doves, and Pale-yellow and Grey-headed Robins. In the Curtain fig tree national park, forty-one bird species are listed as inhabitants.
Life Cycle of Strangler Figs
The life cycle of a strangler fig tree begins with a seed that an animal drops onto the branch of a host tree. The seed germinates and begins to grow as an epiphyte, meaning that it does not have its own roots in the ground. Instead, it gets its nutrients from the host tree.
As the strangler fig grows, it produces aerial roots which gradually descend along the trunk of the host tree, until they finally reach the ground. Upon contact with the ground, these roots start to absorb essential nutrients and water from the soil. This enables the strangler fig to thrive and grow bigger, eventually becoming self-sustaining.
The aerial roots of the strangler fig play a crucial role in supporting its growth. These roots wrap around the host tree trunk, forming a latticework that keeps the strangler fig steady and upright. Gradually, the fig’s roots will cover the host tree trunk, impeding the flow of nutrients and water, leading to the death of the host tree. However, the strangler fig will keep growing and eventually stand independently as a tree.
As time passes, the strangler fig tree steadily thrives and develops, yielding fruits that lure in wildlife to assist in spreading its seeds. This process repeats over and over again. Subsequently, the strangler fig tree becomes the host for other plants and trees, helping to create a rich and diverse ecosystem.
Waps and Fig Tree
The hollow spaces inside the strangler fig trees also play a vital role in the tree’s reproductive cycle. Many species of figs rely on specific wasps to pollinate their flowers and disperse their seeds. Significantly, each species of the fig wasp is only able to fertilise the flowers of one species of the fig tree. The female wasp bores into the fig and deposits her eggs. In the process, the wasp fertilises many of the surrounding flowers.
As the larvae grow, they secrete a substance that prevents the fig fruit from reaching maturity. This mechanism is crucial in protecting both the larvae and the fruit from being consumed. When the larvae mature, they emerge from the fig and fly off to find a new fig tree to lay their eggs.
Getting there
From Cairns, drive to Yungburra and head towards Atherton along the Gillies Range Rd. Then turn onto Fig Tree Road. A short drive down this road takes you to the carpark. From the carpark, it’s a short 180m return walk along an elevated boardwalk to the tree.
Strangler figs are a fascinating example of how plants can adapt to their environment. They are able to grow in dark and shady areas where other plants would not be able to survive. And they are able to kill their host trees, which frees up resources for the strangler fig to grow even larger.
After a terrible night of almost no sleep at the Daintree River Village Lodge (I really should learn to travel with my own pillow!), we were up before the sparrows and down on the Daintree River Jetty by 6 am, still in the dark. The light came pretty quickly, though, and by the time we pushed off at 6.30 am, it was light enough to see. We took a cruise with Ian ‘Sauce’ Worcester,
Cape Tribulation Rainforest
Cruising up the various arms of the Daintree and up to the Barretts Creek bridge that you drive across to enter the village was a silent and serene experience. Cape Tribulation Daintree Rainforest expands over 1200 square kilometres and is the largest area of continuous tropical rainforest in Australia. It is believed to be around 135 million years old. It is also considered to be one of the most ancient and primitive rainforests in the world. The river is totally still and silent save for the occasional bird call… it was like entering a prehistoric world. The river banks are totally overgrown with lush vegetation and bring to mind what I would expect the Amazon to look like. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a native with a dart gun peering out of the trees).
Daintree River
Ian is an extremely knowledgeable guide with eyes like a hawk. How he spotted birds and snakes from a moving boat camouflaged was a skill to behold. We saw plenty of wildlife on the cruise, including Crocodiles, Tree Snakes, Sacred Kingfisher and Ulysses Butterfly. However, in a small moving boat, none are easy to photograph, especially the crocs. As soon as they slithered off the bank into the river, Ian throttled up and got out of dodge 😉
Hartleys Crocodile Farm
Returning to the jetty, we packed up our room, headed to civilisation, and headed back down the Captain Cook Hwy to Cairns, stopping at Hartleys Crocodile Adventures for yet more crocs.
Hartleys, while commercial, is extremely good. The entry price is fair, and their cafe serves some of the best food we had while in Cairns at excellent prices. The entire place is outstanding value for money. We had a delicious lunch (chicken schnitzels and salad) and then boarded the lagoon cruise boat, which is included in your entry fee. The cruise is only about 15 minutes around the lagoon, but you get to see a jumping croc. They rise straight up out of the water. So scratch sitting in on a low-hanging branch tree as an effective haven from crocs in the wild.
With our croc adventures complete, we continued into Cairns and booked into our hotel. We had chosen the Hilton alongside Trinity Inlet for its proximity to the reef cruise centre and esplanade. The room was lovely, and the view was great, but the service was pretty average. If I get back to Cairns again, I won’t stay at the Hilton. We had a delicious meal on the esplanade returned to the hotel, and crashed out early (was becoming a theme, up by 5.30 – 6 am and in bed by 9 pm lol)
Next Morning.
was another gloriously sunny day, and we left the hotel by about 7 am and headed up into the Atherton Tablelands and Waterfall Way.
The first stop was Curtain Fig Tree in Yungaburra… it’s a HUGE old tree with a massive canopy. They are Strangler Fig trees with the fig seed dropped by birds on the top of a tree. It germinates and sends aerial roots, some as long as 15 metres, down to the ground, eventually strangling the original tree as it takes over.
Waterfall Way
From the Curtain Fig Tree, we headed to Ellinjaa Falls, a beautiful waterfall that’s about a 15-minute downhill walk from the car park. Getting back up was a little taxing, but not as bad as some I have been to.
We drove from Ellinjaa to Milla Millaa, probably the most famous waterfall on the Palmerston Hwy circuit. It’s got a lot going for it. It is stunning, and just over 18 metres tall. There is plenty of water pounding over the top, and a pool below it that’s popular to swim in. Even better, it’s right beside the carpark!
We left the tablelands late afternoon and headed back for Cairns, a hotel with thoughts of a shower, wine and dinner… and suitably accomplished all three before crashing out again at about 9.30 pm.