Curtain Fig Tree

About

The Curtain Fig Tree is a magnificent strangler fig near Yungaburra on the Atherton Tableland, remarkable for the dense curtain of aerial roots that hang 15 metres from its host tree to the ground. The fig began as a seed deposited in the fork of a now-dead host tree which fell at an angle, causing the fig's roots to form a dramatic vertical curtain rather than the usual radial pattern. A short boardwalk circles the base of the tree, which has become one of the Atherton Tableland's most visited natural sights.

History & Significance

The Curtain Fig Tree is a strangler fig that began life when a seed germinated in the fork of a host tree. As the host tree fell at an angle, the fig's aerial roots developed vertically rather than spreading radially, creating the distinctive 15-metre curtain of roots that has made it regionally significant. The tree is part of the Atherton Tableland's World Heritage-listed rainforest ecosystem.

Getting There

Visitor Tips

• •Combine with a visit to Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham (both within 15 km) for a full Atherton Tableland day trip. Visit at dawn or dusk as wildlife including tree kangaroos and platypus are sometimes seen in the surrounding forest.

Cultural Significance

The Curtain Fig Tree is a strangler fig that began life when a seed germinated in the fork of a host tree. As the host tree fell at an angle, the fig's aerial roots developed vertically rather than spreading radially, creating the distinctive 15-metre curtain of roots that has made it regionally significant. The tree is part of the Atherton Tableland's World Heritage-listed rainforest ecosystem.