A visit to Dip Falls in northwest Tasmania isn’t complete without venturing a further kilometre up the road to experience The Big Tree. At the end of a short walk down a well defined track

surrounded by eucalypt forest and towering manferns

was most certainly a big tree.

The Browntop stringybark, formally known as Eucalyptus obliqua, is not especially tall at 62 metres, considering the species can reach heights of 90 metres. However, the circumference at the base is an impressive and unusually large 16 metres.

There used to be a boardwalk around the base for a close up inspection, I don’t know when or why it was removed.

The tree is estimated to be around 400 years old and it now has large holes and hollow cavities in it’s trunk.

Once it becomes unsafe it will, sadly, be cut down and laid to rest among fallen friends.