baumzaehlen - Primeval Forests & Their Trees

Tarra-Bulga National Park, Victoria, Australia

This park (20 km ² ; elevation approx. 200-700 m) protects small remnants of tall Eucalyptus regnans (mountain ash) forests, which covered large areas in Victoria´s mountains before European colonization. The park consists of mountain ridges and gullies. As usual ¹ , E. regnans forms pure stands on slopes and ridges. Old stands are approx . 60 m tall . The tallest measured tree is 79 m tall ² . The trees rise from the undergrowth like pale smooth giant pillars. Long bark strips hang from the point where the rough bark of the base turns to the “gum” bark of the upper trunk. There are also second-growth stands in the park. The gullies are full of Dicksonia antarctica (soft tree fern). Tree ferns – in addition to D. antarctica also Cyathea australis (rough tree fern) and C. cunninghamii (slender tree fern) – are abundant under E. regnans , as well. Tree identification is not difficult.

Camping is not allowed, and walking off-trail is almost impossible due to dense undergrowth and steep slopes.

References :

1 Nicolle, D. (2006): Eucalypts of Victoria and Tasmania. Bloomings Books.

2 Mifsud, B. M. (2002): Victoria´s tallest trees . Australian Forestry Vol. 66 , No. 3 pp. 197-205.

Official site:

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks/tarra-bulga-national-park