From the Great Southern to the Southern Forests, we were leaving the dramatic coastline for some dramatic flora.  Enroute our favorite cow, the Belted Galloway, made a rare appearance beneath a rainbow.  A treetop walk in a Tingle forest was pretty incredible on a 15-metre high bridge that spanned six 100-metre sections. The tingle is much like a redwood with shallow roots and often hollowed out at the base from fire, fungal or insect attack. They are actually a eucalyptus and can grow to 75 metres tall with a girth of 20 metres.

 

 

 

The Karri is another type of eucalyptus that grows to dizzying heights, quite literally because there are three of these beautiful trees that can be climbed on a series of rungs that encircle the trunk. We reached the top of the 63 metre Gloucester Tree for a view of the forest for miles. The rungs are wide enough that 2 people can pass each other on the trip up or down. The Karri sheds its bark in long strips leaving a smooth trunk. It flowers which means its a hardwood; softwood trees don’t flower.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We drove over kms and kms of forest roads, always narrow, without shoulders, sometimes unsealed, usually winding, often undulating, always jaw-droppingly majestic and beautiful. It’s hard to believe trees are such a small part of the huge country. We discuss regularly the merits of our preference…forests or coasts…but a mix of both worlds suits us just fine. To get an idea of the size of this area, imagine 2 of England fitting into the southwest part of WA that we had been traveling.