Posted by: Debra Kolkka | December 27, 2017

Giant trees

I remember learning about Karri trees in primary school, many, many years ago. Now I have finally seen them growing for the first time.

Karri trees are native to Western Australia and are the third tallest trees in Australia and one of the tallest species in the world. They can reach heights of 90 metres. The tree has a tall, straight trunk that separates into branches at the top of the tree. For most of the year the bark is pale grey, but at the start of winter the grey bark is shed and the trees become golden orange and salmon pink for a few months. (I want to come back to see that)

We got to see the trees close up in the Boranup Karri Forest just south of Margaret River.

Boranup Karri Forest

Boranup Karri Forest

Boranup Karri Forest

Boranup Karri Forest

Boranup Karri Forest

Boranup Karri Forest

Boranup Karri Forest

The Karri Forest is in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park so these magnificent trees are protected.

The area was once home to a large logging network with 3 timber mills. Logging in this area ceased in 1913 allowing the decimated forest to regenerate. Left alone these trees will continue to grow for future generations to enjoy.


Responses

  1. They’re quite magnificent – are they a eucalypt ?

    • They are eucalypts. They can live to be 300 years old.

  2. What magnificent trees. Lovely to be able to see these regenerated Australian Native forests

    • It is a stunning forest. It was wonderful to be able to wander among the trees.

  3. They are amazing! We took a gap year between work and retirement to travel in or bikes. We spent 4 months n Australia and new Zealand (after three training I northern California where 2 of our grandkids live, then
    3 months Pienza before your end of three world, and followed by 3 months in southern italy.) We visited many shoes with Kauri trees.

    • The forest is stunning. We hope to see more as we venture south tomorrow.

  4. Really magnificent trees! Worth a visit just to see them.

    • The whole area is stunning. The trees are magnificent.

  5. I can remember being there many years ago and one of the trees was so big you could stand inside the trunk – it’s a gorgeous part of Australia – we went to the southernmost tip of Australia – It was awesome

    • These trees are not all that old, but some of them are huge. We went to Cape Leeuwin yesterday…where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean.

  6. We may be bias…because we live here…..but the trees really are stunning. So glad you have come to visit our part of the world.

  7. Wonderful that logging was stopped 100 years ago so that there is a forest to enjoy today

  8. It must be amazing to see them up close.


Leave a Reply

Categories

%d bloggers like this: