Day 277- Cairns Area, Australia

GRANITE GORGE AND GIANT FIG TREES (05/10/09)

Fairly close to Cairns but inland is a small area known as Granite Gorge. Being closer to the desert combined with a drought for the whole area meant that there was very little water in the streams and pools.

Endangered Rock Wallabies live on and around the rocks and the shrewd owners of the land have been selling wallaby food for many years. As a result the wild wallabies have lost their fear of humans and eagerly hop over when they hear the rustle of a small paper bag.

These curious and charismatic animals are very endearing.

Adam joined in too although he left most of the feeding to the over excited Liz.

The Wallabies have seemingly insatiable appetites and their paws have a tight grip to ensure that they get every last scrap.

This one decided to investigate Liz's sunhat and water bottle.

This baby was very shy.

It seems that shyness is easily got over- these older Wallabies were fighting over access to Liz.

Liz, more than happy to be squabbled over by such adorable creatures.

It's not called Granite Gorge for nothing- there really is a lot of granite.

A bit further south, in the heart of the Atherton Tablelands region, grow some of the largest fig trees in existence. The Strangler Fig does not initially grow it's own trunk but climbs the trunk of another tree, finally killing it by starving it of light, water and nutrients. By the time the host tree is dead the fig is probably large enough to support itself. In the case of what has been named the Curtain Fig one host tree has collapsed into another creating this unusual shape.

The incredibly complex mass of roots the fig has gradually sent to the ground over many years.

Another immense Strangler Fig- The Cathedral Fig.

An indication of the immensity of these trees. Here we are inside the Cathedral Fig with not even the lowest branches showing.

Back in Cairns a fiercely burning full Moon silhouetted the palm trees against the night sky.