Day 158 - Giant Trees

Sunshine and a mild temperature met our open door this morning.  This was the signal for this to be an "administrative" day and it was, until after lunch.

In the afternoon we visited the famous "Valley of the Giants - Tree Top Walk".  It involves a 500m walk through the treetops.  A steel walkway supported by poles and wires winds its way through the tops of karri and red tingle eucalyptus trees, up to 40m above the ground.  The trees themselves reach heights of up to 70m.   The structure swayed somewhat from time to time, providing a rock and roll sensation.

110914 The start of the treetop walk

110914  40m above ground level

110914 The big karri tree is higher than the walkway

110914 Red Tingle trees with their huge girths

110914 They don't come much bigger than this, estimated at 400 years old

There was also an "Ancient Empires Walk" which meandered through a grove of veteran trees at ground level.  The trees were mostly red tingle trees.  These differ from the karri trees by way of a larger girth, rough red bark and extremely large buttresses.

110914 Fire, insect and fungus infestations often remove
the soft wood near the base

110914 Some nodules caused by insect and fungus infestations

We saw some other trees such as the karri oak and a wildflower called the Tassel Flower.  The karri oak was much, much smaller than its big brother.

110914 The Tassel plant

We photographed the Gnome in the forest to verify the fact that when you are caught between a karri and a red tingle tree, it makes you realise how small you are.

110914 Small? Who says so.

110914 OK. I give in.  They are bigger than I am.
Yes, that's me sitting in the middle of the seat

One other thing of note.  The pelicans are very large around here.

110914 Pelicans at the waterside in the caravan park