Heading up the track we found a perfect example of both the Karaka tree and the effects of prevailing coastal winds, we had to share it with you. Recommend you bring your smart phone to read the detail.
Parking: Off Bethells Road just past one lane bridge
Timing: Day time only - car park closes
Cache: small in camo
Plant information:
Genus: Corynocarpus
Species: laevigatus
Family: Corynocarpaceae
Common name: Karaka
Leafy canopy native tree growing New Zealand, New Hebrides and New Caledonia coastal forests. It grows up to 20 metres in sheltered areas, leaves are characteristically dark green, smooth edged and shiny – 7-1 8cm long. Flowers: 4-5 mm diameter, greenish cream, off white or pale yellow. Fruit: 4 cm elliptical coloured orange when ripe, containing a poisonous kernel, they are prolific and often result in large numbers of seedling trees in immediate proximity.
A unique feature of this grove of Karaka's is also the effect of the prevailing on shore wind, which like much of the vegetation on this hill has shaped it in a triangular wedge following the contours(look back once before you descend to the beach and you will see it clearly)
Under the grove is also another common feature of the karaka tree, a sea of germinated seedlings, which in their juvenile state just love growing in filtered sunlight waiting for a hole to open in the canopy..