Enter the Vine Forest at the Illawarra Grevillea Park Botanic Garden and you will find a magnificent blackbutt tree believed to be more than 150 years old.
Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) gets its name from the rough bark at the tree base which is usually charred black from past bush fires. It is highly valued for its timber. Fortunately for us, this magic tree escaped the heavy logging that once took place in the forest.
The park has always maintained a walk that the public can access every day of the year. In recent years, access has been restricted due to the rain and floods washing away parts of the track around Slacky Creek. Consequently the volunteers at the park set about repairing the damage and decided to build a new track that leads directly to this monster of a tree.
From the rear of the park, it is only a five-minute walk to the tree.
Of course, there is also much more to see in the vine forest. It has an abundance of climbers, palms, ferns and trees, including Red Cedar. The tracks will take you along Blackbutt Walk to the magnificent Magic Blackbutt, through a forest of cabbage tree palms, along the Cedar Walk to the Crooked Cedar, and to the upper track giving views to Slacky Creek.
A great time to enjoy the vine forest is during our autumn open days on Saturday and Sunday, May 4, 5, 11 and 12; 10am-4pm. The Grevillea Park is at the rear of the Bulli Showground.
