World Heritage status was bestowed on Lamington in 1994 in recognition of its high biodiversity, and the fact it contains a living museum of the evolutionary steps taken in the development of Australia's modern day flora. It now includes 20,200 hectares of varying forest types, from temperate Antarctic Beech forest high on the border ranges through the sub-tropical rainforests, to the dry eucalypt forest of the northern escarpment.
Lamington National Park provides food and shelter for a huge array of sub-tropical birdlife (over 160 species), reptiles, frogs, mammals and invertebrates.
My sons Zephyr and Oisin joined us for this trip. We were greeted on the range up by some Whiptail Wallabies on the road - very cute. We camped there for 3 nights and experienced the full brunt of the human-adapted wildlife - currawongs, rosellas, king parrots, catbirds, brush turkeys, red-necked pademelons, satin bowerbirds, regent bowerbirds and many more all looking for an easy feed. On our daily walks we heard Albert's lyrebirds and saw many other bird species. The highlight for me was the trek to the ancient Antarctic beeches (Nothofagus moorei), that coppice as they grow and die. The roots of the oldest in Lamington were recorded at 5000 years old! I walked around a group of trunks from one tree - the circumference measured 30m. We climbed the Tree Top walk and laddered our way to the canopy. On our last morning we saw a rather full diamond python (carpet snake) that had just eaten something quite big. A magical place (photos to come)... next stop Conondale National Park.
Spanish word of the day: Leotardo - thick tights
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