Botanical Curiosities 5 - Wollemi Pine Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
By
glenferns on 15-Sep-11. Waypoint GA3375
Cache Details
| Difficulty: | |
| Terrain: | |
| Type: | Virtual |
| Container: | Virtual |
| Coordinates: | S33° 51.937' E151° 13.062' (WGS 84) |
| 56H 335139E 6251314N (UTM) | |
| Elevation: | 13 m |
| Local Government Area: | Sydney |
/151.2177,-33.865617,14/400x200?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiY2F1Z2h0YXR3b3JrIiwiYSI6ImNqa2l4ZzNzMDE5bjgzdm1sZGpuODF1Mm0ifQ.q8YMzVyzDJJlJHHV8EMjwQ)
Description
One of the world's oldest, rarest plants, right here in our gardens
The Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis) is a conifer that grows up to 40m high. Until one was discovered in 1994 by a bushwalker in the Wollemi National Park, the plant was thought to have been extinct for millions of years.
How old is it? The oldest known fossil of this tree is 90 million years.
How rare is it? There are less than 100 mature trees in the wild.
To claim this cache, you are required to:
1. Take a photo of yourself or your GPS with the tree and
2. Send us an email with the answer to two questions:
- what is the statue that shares the garden bed with the tree and
- why is the species named "nobilis" (research required)
Logs
Some great specimens around here.
This was an interesting one.
Let's see if my wish comes true here.
Answers submitted.
TFTV
This was an interesting one.
Let's see if my wish comes true here.
Answers submitted.
TFTV
Rated: for Overall Experience
Down in Sydney City to see the Phantom of the Opera for our 10th anniversary, culminating in an afternoon stroll through the Botanic Gardens, and we (mostly Dad) couldn't resist the urge to grab some virtual caches on the way.
A lovely tree, although I don't know how much of that is due to the history of it. We looked at getting some of these for ourselves a few years ago but they were very expensive, even for a small specimen. Might be time to look into it again soon. I'm sure pur son would enjoy having a dinosaur tree.
Thanks for the virtual cache.
A lovely tree, although I don't know how much of that is due to the history of it. We looked at getting some of these for ourselves a few years ago but they were very expensive, even for a small specimen. Might be time to look into it again soon. I'm sure pur son would enjoy having a dinosaur tree.
Thanks for the virtual cache.
Nice to see on of these "in the flesh" while walking around the Botanic Gardens. Good to see they survived in the wild from the Gospers Mountain fire as well, I guess the next Google Earth update of images we will know where they are from the one green patch the firies managed to protect. Thanks glenferns.
No probs here, we bought a Wollemi Pine for my FIL some years ago, it died.... 
Rated: for Overall Experience
A nice walk with the Family and JakeAthol plus Betty in the botanical gardens. Ended up going over to the opera house and did all kinds of caches on the way. THanks for putting the cache out Glenferns.
This virtual was completed when passing by here to complete a multi cache. We would love to see some large pines.
I have not been close to one of these. Such a unique looking tree.
Rated: for Overall Experience
found with alnic & lachnic on a day caching in Sydney and around the harbour. I have come past here numerous times in the past all before I had anything to do with geocaching. This is one of my favourite areas as I remember when the tree was found & remember the video the Edge Cinema in Katoomba used show of the valley it was found, they entered the area by helicopter and everyone was blind folded except the pilot and navigator, the camera had to be set on close focus so you could only see the people in the chopper. The person who found the original tree used to be in the same bushwalking group that I was in 30 years ago but had moved further west not long after. So it always brings back memories of the past when I see any of these trees.
Rated: for Overall Experience
I have meant to see this for years, and finally done it due to this virtual - thanks.
Rated: for Overall Experience
wandering around the city and botanical gardens while waiting for my daughters concerts, thankyou
Rated: for Overall Experience
Stopped by here during our wander in the park. Interesting place, TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
#GA156 - 08:35; Decided to head out for a morning stroll through the Botanical Gardens while the geohoney prepared for the day ahead and eventually the journey home. By this stage I was on the way back to the hotel when I stopped off to gather the required information for this cache, having already collected the others in the series. I had most of the information to hand, but the final piece of the puzzle required a little online research. TFTC glenferns
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found 2 answers for the question but the second one was more specific to the tree. However I still hold my logic was sound the first time 
It certainly has grown since I first saw it! Very cool tree... even if it isn't actually a member of the pine family!
Cheers!
It certainly has grown since I first saw it! Very cool tree... even if it isn't actually a member of the pine family! Cheers!
Rated: for Overall Experience
FlyingPigSquadron has landed! with permission from glenferns. Thanks for creating this virtual. Found on a a warm Autumn's day whilst waiting for the cyclists on the Ride to Recovery for leukemia and myeloma to arrive at the Tarpein Way
On an overcast cold day, the perfect weather to wander through the gardens. No muggles, just peace and quiet. Love the Wollemi Pine. I have one in a pot at home.
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found during a stroll through the gardens with the kids today!
TFTC Wilbert67
TFTC Wilbert67
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found on a pleasant stroll through Sydney before heading off to Macquarie University for work for the following day.
A beautiful place here. Came past after the Triathalon for a few quick caches. Haven't actually been in here properly until now. Thanx for showing me this. Sent the email answers to the CO. Awesome 
Rated: for Overall Experience
Found on a warm lunchtime. Interesting tree. Very humid after the recent rain.
Email sent.
TFTC
Email sent.
TFTC
What a great little spot in the gardens to celebrate my 1000th GA find. An interesting spot with some great botanical specimens and sculptures.
Thanks for bringing me here glenferns.
Email sent with answers.
Thanks for bringing me here glenferns.
Email sent with answers.
Rated: for Overall Experience
GCA 450 - 4829. Visited a number of mainly Virtuals and Trigs during some spare time in Sydney over a two day period.
Very nice to see a real live Wollemi Pine ! Interesting reading up on it as well - Thanks to glenferns for bringing me here!!
TFTC !!
Very nice to see a real live Wollemi Pine ! Interesting reading up on it as well - Thanks to glenferns for bringing me here!!
TFTC !!
Rated: for Overall Experience
After doing Not so hidden Hyde, I suddenly notices all these lovely caches nearby. With nothing on at work on a sunny Friday afternoon, i went for a very enjoyable stroll around and found the Wollemi Pine first.
Wouldn't it be fabulous to be able to go and visit the stand in the wild? (although as i hate heights, I'm not so sure about the probably need to abseil in
)
Wouldn't it be fabulous to be able to go and visit the stand in the wild? (although as i hate heights, I'm not so sure about the probably need to abseil in
)Rated: for Overall Experience
Found on the way back to the car park from a morning meeting.
Another interesting cache in this fascinating series.
Logged with permission from the CO
SL TFTC
Another interesting cache in this fascinating series.
Logged with permission from the CO
SL TFTC
Rated: for Overall Experience
A great looking tree, and a worthy addition to this series of caches, thanks for a reason to come and see it wile we were in the city today.
Pic and email also done as req'd.
Pic and email also done as req'd.
While in the Botanical Gardens I could not go past this cache, I have often looked at this great tree over the years and watched it grow ever taller, still well short of it's mature size of around 40 metres.
Rated: for Overall Experience
