Cathedral Fig Tree

About

The Cathedral Fig Tree is a towering strangler fig in the rainforest near Mount Hypipamee National Park on the Atherton Tableland, estimated to be over 500 years old and with a canopy spread of 50 metres. The fig's massive buttressed trunk and extensive root system resemble the pillars of a cathedral, lending the tree its evocative name. The surrounding rainforest is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and is a stronghold for musky rat-kangaroos, the world's smallest kangaroo.

History & Significance

The Cathedral Fig Tree is a strangler fig estimated to be over 500 years old, located in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area on the Atherton Tableland. Named for its massive buttressed trunk and root system that resemble cathedral pillars, it represents an important example of tropical rainforest ecology. The tree grows within a World Heritage-listed ecosystem that is a critical refuge for endemic species including the musky rat-kangaroo, the world's smallest kangaroo.

Getting There

Visitor Tips

• •Arrive early morning to see musky rat-kangaroos foraging in the leaf litter around the tree base — they are diurnal (active by day) and are one of Australia's most unique marsupials. Combine with Mount Hypipamee National Park just a few kilometres south.

Cultural Significance

The Cathedral Fig Tree is a strangler fig estimated to be over 500 years old, located in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area on the Atherton Tableland. Named for its massive buttressed trunk and root system that resemble cathedral pillars, it represents an important example of tropical rainforest ecology. The tree grows within a World Heritage-listed ecosystem that is a critical refuge for endemic species including the musky rat-kangaroo, the world's smallest kangaroo.