Trees / Australian Forests

mdvaden · 25th January 2008, 04:00 AM

In that same book I'm reading, The Wild Trees, which discusses the redwoods a lot, one of the last chapters is mainly about the climb and experience in an Australian forest with Eucalyptus regans, especially when they reached a certain elevation.

At one point, it rained, and then there were a type of land leaches.

Also mentioned, was a tarantula-sized spider among the tree bark.

Oh... and the possibility of falling tree branches on windy days.

So my curiosity is, are Australian forests comfortable for hiking in? Some better than others? Do the types of trees make a difference for hiking and safety?

Which hikes might be the best to see groves of certain trees? Legal access areas of course.

Done it · 25th January 2008, 10:33 PM

Very hard questions, it's a big place. Those spiders are Huntsman, they get big, live behind bark, in palms, my truck, my house, they won't hurt you but they do make women scream.

I worked on the Snowy Mountain System for 2 years and walked/worked all over that area, then used to fish there, some really remote areas there.

The Otways, in Victoria is great. Big trees, really great place. I've never been to Tasmania but you could spend years hiking there, I might get there someday. The place I am thinking about going to, if I can ever get some time off is The Valley of the Giants in Western Australia, our last big mainland trees.

Drouin Tree Service · 25th January 2008, 10:50 PM

Hant been there myself but high on the list...

Tree Top Walk - In Western Australia's South West

This is half hour from my place....

Attractions

Popular...

Daintree Rainforest - Cairns, Tropical Far North Queensland, Australia - Daintree Rainforest

And doesnt matter where just inland on a river etc...

Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Drouin Tree Service · 25th January 2008, 10:52 PM

philinsydney · 25th January 2008, 10:57 PM

Two points:

leaches re a fact of life in rainforests but not in eucalypt forest. The main problem is the itchy hive they leave behind.
I believe falling branches are a particular hazard for campers, especially on still nights when the trees have been sucking up water all day and the branches get very heavy (especially summer nights) Wind probably helps to support the branches and therefore reduces the risk.

Drouin Tree Service · 25th January 2008, 11:10 PM

Some nice leaches in the bush down here....Just burn them off.

Done it · 26th January 2008, 12:04 AM

Take no notice of these two. Gum trees only drop branches when it's dead calm, unless it's windy. Australian forests are not all red soil, yet. DON'T GO TO QUEENSLAND !!

azrael · 26th January 2008, 08:12 AM

Dont forget about TICKS....Last Nov, I had a job in Wet Sclerophyll Forest where the ticks, on that particular day, were dropping out the trees onto my clipboard...needless to say I packed up & went home...and came back a few days later....and there were NONE.

Another job....
Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning
...the owner of this place cant wear clothes dried outside...everything has to go thru the HOT cycle in the clothes drier.

TICKS make me really crook.....always a visit to the GP.

TAGS Inc. Australia - Comparison of Four Common Australian Ticks

azrael · 26th January 2008, 10:22 AM

In N.S.W., National Parks are a great place to start.
There is sometimes an on-site visitors centre ...with plenty of displays and extra information. Some parks DO have an Entrance Fee.

You could spend hours on the website...unfortunately not so many supporting photos though.
Find a park

Done it · 26th January 2008, 11:14 AM

This branch came down on Dec 13, nice day, no wind, but it was very windy a few days before. It was about 300 kilos. The little melaleuca caught it, just missed the house in the 3rd yard, no damage at all except a few small branches.

Sean Freeman · 26th January 2008, 01:03 PM

I was in Mount Tamborine Forest two weeks back pouring rain fantastic few hours finding fab fungi and beautiful trees and (yes) palms!! Pics below...but after walking out had to pick 13 leeches off me errrrrrrrrr orrible

reminded me of being a kid in Malaya all over again!!!

Also the shot with the palms knocked down was froma big section of dead Ficus falling through the forest canopy...you can see the Gmelina sp White Beech making abreak for the space!!!

25th January 2008, 04:00 AM	#1
mdvaden Former Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 397	Trees / Australian Forests In that same book I'm reading, The Wild Trees, which discusses the redwoods a lot, one of the last chapters is mainly about the climb and experience in an Australian forest with Eucalyptus regans, especially when they reached a certain elevation. At one point, it rained, and then there were a type of land leaches. Also mentioned, was a tarantula-sized spider among the tree bark. Oh... and the possibility of falling tree branches on windy days. So my curiosity is, are Australian forests comfortable for hiking in? Some better than others? Do the types of trees make a difference for hiking and safety? Which hikes might be the best to see groves of certain trees? Legal access areas of course.

25th January 2008, 10:33 PM	#2
Done it Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Australia. Posts: 784	Re: Trees / Australian Forests Very hard questions, it's a big place. Those spiders are Huntsman, they get big, live behind bark, in palms, my truck, my house, they won't hurt you but they do make women scream. I worked on the Snowy Mountain System for 2 years and walked/worked all over that area, then used to fish there, some really remote areas there. The Otways, in Victoria is great. Big trees, really great place. I've never been to Tasmania but you could spend years hiking there, I might get there someday. The place I am thinking about going to, if I can ever get some time off is The Valley of the Giants in Western Australia, our last big mainland trees. Attached Thumbnails

25th January 2008, 10:50 PM	#3
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,697	Re: Trees / Australian Forests Hant been there myself but high on the list... Tree Top Walk - In Western Australia's South West This is half hour from my place.... Attractions Popular... Daintree Rainforest - Cairns, Tropical Far North Queensland, Australia - Daintree Rainforest And doesnt matter where just inland on a river etc... Eucalyptus camaldulensis __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

25th January 2008, 10:52 PM	#4
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,697	Re: Trees / Australian Forests __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

25th January 2008, 10:57 PM	#5
philinsydney Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 110	Re: Trees / Australian Forests Two points: leaches re a fact of life in rainforests but not in eucalypt forest. The main problem is the itchy hive they leave behind. I believe falling branches are a particular hazard for campers, especially on still nights when the trees have been sucking up water all day and the branches get very heavy (especially summer nights) Wind probably helps to support the branches and therefore reduces the risk.

25th January 2008, 11:10 PM	#6
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,697	Re: Trees / Australian Forests Some nice leaches in the bush down here....Just burn them off. __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

26th January 2008, 12:04 AM	#7
Done it Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Australia. Posts: 784	Re: Trees / Australian Forests Take no notice of these two. Gum trees only drop branches when it's dead calm, unless it's windy. Australian forests are not all red soil, yet. DON'T GO TO QUEENSLAND !!

26th January 2008, 08:12 AM	#8
azrael Former Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 234	Re: Trees / Australian Forests Dont forget about TICKS....Last Nov, I had a job in Wet Sclerophyll Forest where the ticks, on that particular day, were dropping out the trees onto my clipboard...needless to say I packed up & went home...and came back a few days later....and there were NONE. Another job.... Blackbutt pre-construction clearance pruning ...the owner of this place cant wear clothes dried outside...everything has to go thru the HOT cycle in the clothes drier. TICKS make me really crook.....always a visit to the GP. TAGS Inc. Australia - Comparison of Four Common Australian Ticks Last edited by azrael; 26th January 2008 at 08:20 AM. Reason: More info

26th January 2008, 10:22 AM	#9
azrael Former Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Earth Australia Posts: 234	Re: Trees / Australian Forests In N.S.W., National Parks are a great place to start. There is sometimes an on-site visitors centre ...with plenty of displays and extra information. Some parks DO have an Entrance Fee. You could spend hours on the website...unfortunately not so many supporting photos though. Find a park

26th January 2008, 11:14 AM	#10
Done it Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Australia. Posts: 784	Re: Trees / Australian Forests This branch came down on Dec 13, nice day, no wind, but it was very windy a few days before. It was about 300 kilos. The little melaleuca caught it, just missed the house in the 3rd yard, no damage at all except a few small branches. Attached Thumbnails

26th January 2008, 01:03 PM	#11
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Re: Trees / Australian Forests I was in Mount Tamborine Forest two weeks back pouring rain fantastic few hours finding fab fungi and beautiful trees and (yes) palms!! Pics below...but after walking out had to pick 13 leeches off me errrrrrrrrr orrible reminded me of being a kid in Malaya all over again!!! Also the shot with the palms knocked down was froma big section of dead Ficus falling through the forest canopy...you can see the Gmelina sp White Beech making abreak for the space!!!

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