Curtain Fig Tree Yungaburra, highland region

Curtain Fig Tree Yungaburra, highland region

A quick guide to the popular Curtain Fig Tree, Yungaburra, in the Far North Queensland Tablelands region. Explore this incredible natural wonder with a quick pit stop near Crater Lakes.

The incredible 500-year-old Curtain Fig Tree in Yungaburra is one of the most underrated pit stops on any trip to the plateaus. Located just a few kilometers from Yungaburra, the very small Curtain Fig National Park is truly a hidden gem, unknown to most visitors but a proud icon for Tablelands locals.
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Where is the curtain fig tree?

You can find this unique fig tree in Curtain Fig National Park, just 2km west of Yungaburra on the Gillies Highway. Look for signs for a turnoff to Fig Tree Road, where you will find roadside parking near the boardwalk.

What to Expect When Visiting the Curtain Fig Tree

From the parking lot there is a short 180m loop and elevated boardwalk that leads to the incredible Curtain Fig Tree. The boardwalk goes around the tree, meaning you have a good viewing point from almost any angle.

Although this national park is very small, it seems as if you are transported to a prehistoric Jurassic landscape almost as soon as you enter. The sounds of tropical birds echo in a vast amphitheater of jungle vines and twisted roots. This truly is a magical place that is worth visiting on a trip to the Tablelands.

This particular fig tree was called the curtain fig due to the 15 meter high aerial roots that descend from the canopy to the rainforest floor. The tree is almost 50 meters high and has a circumference of 39 meters.
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How old is the curtain fig?

Although it is difficult to say, most sources indicate that the Curtain Fig Tree is around 500 years old.
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How did it come about?

There is a very informative board right under the tree that explains the process better than I can. But basically, the Yungaburra Curtain Fig Tree was formed by germinating in the bark of an existing tree and growing roots in the ground. Once rooted, the strangler fig grows rapidly, killing the host tree in the process.
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More Queensland travel guides and blogs

Hopefully this quick guide to visiting the famous Yungaburra Curtain Fig Tree in the incredible Tablelands was helpful. For more travel inspiration and travel guides, choose from the list below.

Alternatively, you can start with this guide to the best things to do in Cairns or this guide to visiting the best waterfalls in Cairns and surrounding areas.

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