Big Butt - All that remains of a logged Eucalyptus regnans, Mountain Ash estimated to be around 300 years old.
Tasmania has some of the world’s tallest and oldest forests, where trees can stand up to 100 metres tall and grow for thousands of years. Many of these trees inhabit the island's cool-temperate rainforests, the largest tracts in Australia. And these ancient giants are often in easy reach, growing along walking trails or accessible riverbanks.
Forest giants.
The royals of the Tasmanian forest, even in name, are the Eucalyptus regnans, with their Latin title meaning “to reign”. Also known as mountain ash or swamp gums, they are Australia’s tallest trees, towering over the forest around them. Rising in The Grove Of Giants (where you can find some of my other caches) the tallest known tree in Tasmania is a mountain ash named Centurion. In 2018 it was measured by Yoav Daniel Bar-Ness, of Giant Tree Expeditions, at 100.5m in height.“These forests are as fabulous as anywhere in the world,” says Bar-Ness, who leads tours to view the giant trees. “We have World Heritage forests that are uniquely important in the world. I call them islands in the sky.”It’s not just the height of the trees that impresses; it’s also their girth. Mountain ash appear as strong as they are tall – the widest tree in Australia is found in the Blue Tier in north-east Tasmania.“When approaching one of these giants and having this sense of amazement or wonder, it’s the thickness of them and the signs that they’ve survived so much – that’s what I find impresses people the most,” says Bar-Ness.
Mountain ash are not alone is reaching towering heights in Tasmania. At Evercreech near Mathinna, a stand of white gums is the tallest of the species in Australia, reaching about 90m in height. The tall trees of takayna / Tarkine form the largest cool-temperate rainforest in Australia. Even the blue gum, Tasmania’s floral emblem, reaches new heights in parts of the state.
“There are some fantastic blue gums – some of the last of the giant old Eucalyptus globulus – on the Lake Skinner track, going up into the Snowy Range,” says Bar-Ness.
The cache is only a short walk from the road. Parking can be difficult due to narrow roads and muddy soft edges so take care. The track is muddy, slippery, has fallen brances and can be hard to see in one spot but if you follow the handrail and then follow above the road you will find the way easily enough.
I hope you enjoy your visit to this little bit of history and contemplate what these forests once looked like when all the trees were this big.
... The cache is near the higest end of the butt (corner furthest from the road where a single tree stands at the corner). It is about 1 metre along, half way up, behind a fern, camoflaged by a rock and some fern fronds. Please rehide as found to keep difficulty rating ...