Travel Theme : Height

The mighty Karri tree

The southern area of Western Australia is a wonderland of sights and scenes. The ancient Karri and Tingle tree forests are a must see. Being up close to these huge trees is an awe-inspiring experience. The forest canopy feels impossibly high – like the ceiling of a cathedral. -The Karri is the 3rd tallest tree in the world towering to a height of 90 metres and swaying in the canopy at the top of these giants you can walk along the tree top walk

Not for the faint hearted

Snaking high through the canopy

High in the canopy

OOPS don’t look down…

Did that take your breath away? Are you ready for an even more heart stopping climb?

The tree top walk is a safe and sanitized adventure, really you have no chance of falling. The construction is sturdy, solid steel with railings to hang onto. The fear is all in your mind.

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Now let me show you the Diamond tree…

52 metre high Karri tree used as a fire lookout. Yes that is Jack on his way up.

This massive Karri tree has operated as a fire lookout for over 65 years.

Constructed in 1940, the tree remains in active service as not only a fire lookout but also a tourist attraction. If you aren’t scared of heights, trees or really big things you can attempt to climb it. But be warned it isn’t for the faint hearted, in fact it is down right frightening, all you have are metal spikes (which have been hammered into the side of the tree) to climb up

Only spikes to climb up and hang onto, this is truly scary.

Do this climb if you dare

It looks a long way up, I wonder if I can make it? Can you see my white knuckles?

At the half way point you see this sign. That was it for me I chickened out

I chickened out at the half way point and went back down, slowly. Jack went right to the top.

We won’t be long Matilda. She looks like a dinky toy.

The tower is the only tree top tower in the world. When the Diamond tree was opened to the public in the 1970’s it attracted over 2,000 people per year . If you wonder, like me, how safe the climbing pegs are, I have been informed they were replaced in 1991 (uh huh!).

The tree top lookouts were built during the late 1930’s as a way of identifying the location of fires which often flared up among the tall timbers. Today light aircraft take on the role of fire spotting and the Department of Conservation and land Management (CALM) are actively involved in preventive measures in reducing the intensity of wildfires.

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This is my contribution to Ailsa’s “Travel Theme“.