Otway Fly

Today, we got up early to get into the stagecoach and make our way along the Great Ocean Road. Why did we need to get on the road at seven am? Because we were traveling to the Otway Fly, a National Park that is home to many unique trees. We got to plant a Mountain Ash tree and a Myrtle Beech tree (in the pouring rain). We then trekked through the rain forest, and got to see the adult versions of the little saplings we had planted. The Mountain Ash grows up to one hundred fifty meters, although none this tall are currently in existence. If one were, it would be taller than the tallest California Redwood (currently 120 meters), making it the tallest tree in the world. The Myrtle Beech tree is a species that has been around 60 million years, and was a food for herbivore dinosaurs. We walked along the treetops on the Skywalk, a pathway that stretches around some of the Park, allowing visitors to gain a different perspective on these huge trees. I interviewed Peter, our guide. I was surprised to learn that the effects of climate change are not felt evenly around Australia. Peter told me that because Victoria is very wet, they are not feeling the effects as much as, say, the Outback.
I really loved being at the Otway Fly. It was really great to see all those trees. The air was very clear from the pure oxygen produced by the trees. It was an entirely different world, and I am glad to know it is being preserved.