The Cuckoo Car Park - Mount Dandenong Tourist Road
Eucalypts
When asked what defines Australia, along with kangaroos, koalas and sandy beaches, the eucalypts are the iconic Australian tree. With over 900 species dominating the Australian landscape, they are a defining feature of Australia.
Throughout the Dandenong Ranges eucalypts are the dominant tree, towering above the tree ferns.
Majestic mountain ash trees, many over 100 years old with the ability to live for over 400 years, tower 100+ metres into the sky and some with a girth of over 16 metres. Many other species of eucalypts are spread throughout the Ranges.
Unique bark
The real beauty of many species of eucalypt is in the magnificent trunks of white, pastel, grey, mottled, striped, streaked, and scribbled bark. The bark itself, with the huge variety of textures and hues, has been used to make beautiful pictures and objects for centuries.
Preventing eucalypts from shedding their bark will introduce disease and kill the trees
Beauty destroyed
Once again ivy seed, dropped by resting birds, has germinated at the base of many of these trees and is quickly climbing up the trunks. The majority of this activity has occurred in the last few years.
