Recently we made a trip 3 hours south west of Atherton to the Undara Volcanic National Park. The wet season hasn't arrived yet so we are making the most of camping while we can. Undara is 2500ft above sea level on the Great Dividing Range. What is fascinating about this place is the underground lava tubes formed by an eruption of the Undara volcano a very long time ago. The tubes run from Undara 160km north west to the sea. Lava tubes exist in other places in Australia and in other countries including NZ, but Undara is the longest lava flow from a single volcano.
As sections of the lava tube have collapsed from erosion and earthquakes, dry rain forest (technically referred to as semi-evergreen vine thicket) has grown up in the cavities which are much cooler and moister than the land above.
It is inland here so it is hot, about 35 degrees. You can't see the caves without a guided tour and we were glad we chose the 1pm as walking down into the caves was like turning on the air-conditioning! The Undara region is regarded as the traditional country of the Ewamian Aboriginal people. It is likely that they passed through during the dry season and used these caves as temporary accommodation (probably because of the aircon) as there is evidence of Aboriginal occupation. In the wet season, the collapsed sections of the tube act like huge drain holes for the savannah, filling with water.
In contrast to the dry eucalypt woodland above, the caves feature moss-covered rocks, fig tree trunks, ferns and tangled rainforest vines. Some of the cavities and depressions are also home to unique plant and animal life including insects and bats, due to their isolation and the habitat.The tube walls are formed from huge chunks of basalt interlocked like a three dimensional jigsaw puzzle.
Above ground, huge granite outcrops punctuate the endless sea of green. Having grown up with so little wildlife in NZ, the abundance here still excites us, including the feisty wallaroos.
The next day we climbed up to the rim of the Kilkani crater to get a 360 degree view of the volcanic plateau. From here the darker strips of foliage indicating the tubes are obvious in the ocean of gum trees. Somehow it is very peaceful, albeit hot.At night, Phil went on his usual frog search and found 5 different species, so we may have to go back after it starts to rain. Can't wait!
