PALMS IN NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA AND FIJI

[Phoenix Bob]

Will be beginning a six week tour of New Zeland, Australia, and Fiji next month. Though our itinerary is fairly structured, would greatly appreciate any suggestions regarding those parks, botanical gardens, etc. that you might label "don, miss" and are easily accessIble to the public, especially on the North Island ofd N.Z., Sydney and Cairns. Am especially interested in tropical varieties as opposed to desert/cold hardy as we have plenty here in Phoenix.

Thanks,

PHOENIX BOB

[ariscott]

Only Sydney & Cairns?? Oh well... I guess you only have 6 weeks. Don't forget Flecker botanical garden in Cairns.

Regards, Ari

[tropicbreeze]

Trip up to Kuranda while there.

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

Trip up to Kuranda while there.

But whats up the apart from one type of Alex palm....

Bob drop me a private message, I'll donate some time and give you a Tour of

Flecker Botanic Gardens, If I know when your going to be in Cairns I'll

even see if I can give you a Private tour of the lock up there as well..

How's that sound..

Cheers Mikey

[fiji jim]

Hey Bob,

If you have time to get to Vanua Levu when in Fiji, come visit us as we have the best palm garden in the islands.

Otherwise on the maiinland (Viti Levu) you could visit Garden of the Sleeping Giant near Nadi. Or if in Suva check out Thurston Gardens.

Jim

[Walter John]

I see this a lot, people come to Australia, land in Sydney then go to Cairns and no place else. It's usually a time constraint matter of course (and the cursed dollar) and these two spots are great destinations, don't get me wrong.

Sydney has a brilliant harbour but being below the sub-tropics, not a great rare palm place at all. There's lots of palms around, like CIDPs etc. There are private gardens though, even further south, that have been built in pockets that capture the better climatic conditions through careful planning etc.

Cairns on the other hand is a city of palms, just walk around the streets, walk along the esplanande, palms everywhere, tropical species, coconuts, lipsticks etc etc. You must visit the Flecker gardens though. One of the truly great palm places full of rare beauties. Many species are interspersed so well into a jungle of plants that you can miss a lot, you really need an ID guide, someone with hands on knowledge.

Please visit Fiji Jim, would love to see a spread of his place.

[tropicbreeze]

Trip up to Kuranda while there.

But whats up the apart from one type of Alex palm....

There's the Licualas, Calamus, and aren't there some Linospadix as well? And then there's the gardens. You should try going up there some time and having a good look.

[Phoenix Bob]

I see this a lot, people come to Australia, land in Sydney then go to Cairns and no place else. It's usually a time constraint matter of course (and the cursed dollar) and these two spots are great destinations, don't get me wrong.

Sydney has a brilliant harbour but being below the sub-tropics, not a great rare palm place at all. There's lots of palms around, like CIDPs etc. There are private gardens though, even further south, that have been built in pockets that capture the better climatic conditions through careful planning etc.

Cairns on the other hand is a city of palms, just walk around the streets, walk along the esplanande, palms everywhere, tropical species, coconuts, lipsticks etc etc. You must visit the Flecker gardens though. One of the truly great palm places full of rare beauties. Many species are interspersed so well into a jungle of plants that you can miss a lot, you really need an ID guide, someone with hands on knowledge.

Please visit Fiji Jim, would love to see a spread of his place.

[Walter John]

Three or four years ago I went to Kuranda and took a look down this track.

and here's what I found, don't go in there alone...

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

Hey Bob,

If you have time to get to Vanua Levu when in Fiji, come visit us as we have the best palm garden in the islands.

Otherwise on the maiinland (Viti Levu) you could visit Garden of the Sleeping Giant near Nadi. Or if in Suva check out Thurston Gardens.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Is'nt Thurston where the late great Dick (Richard) Phillips, planted Pelagodoxa

many years ago,for the first time after he redicovered this beautiful

"sp" within the Islands of Fiji,...

P.S. Tropic breeze, There's no Linospadix in Kuranda, there is Cycas media, Plus the odd Bowenia spectilibis how ever..

Edited February 20, 2011 by calyptrocalyx&licuala freck

[richnorm]

Hi Bob,

NZ can't compete with Fiji or Australia in terms of tropical palms but we do have many frost free areas. If you get to Kerikeri be sure to look up PALMCO and South Pacific Palms. PALMCO has a fantastic display garden. In Auckland the best places to visit are Landsendt in Oratia and the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Send me a pm if you would like a guide in Auckland. If you are keen to see the various forms of Nikau check out the PACSONZ website for ideas on where to go. have a great trip!

cheers

Richard

[Mike in Nelson]

Hi Bob,

NZ can't compete with Fiji or Australia in terms of tropical palms but we do have many frost free areas. If you get to Kerikeri be sure to look up PALMCO and South Pacific Palms. PALMCO has a fantastic display garden. In Auckland the best places to visit are Landsendt in Oratia and the Auckland Botanic Gardens. Send me a pm if you would like a guide in Auckland. If you are keen to see the various forms of Nikau check out the PACSONZ website for ideas on where to go. have a great trip!

cheers

Richard

Just to add that there are many wild Nikau forests in the North Island and northern South Island if you are coming down this way.

[gol]

I am assuming you are not including offshore islands. If you want to see the world's best natural concentrations of Kentia palms then you would be wise to think about visiting Lord Howe Island (31.5 latitude). I have recently spent a month there inspecting the flora of the place. There are sub-tropical palms on Mount Gower that are unique and only grow there. I found a coconut washed up on Neds Beach and gave it to one of the islanders. Back in the 1990's several coconuts were planted outside at the Palm Nursery. They sprouted and survived a few years but lack of care claimed their deaths. Lord Howe's tropical/sub tropical/mild combination climate is a delight for any botanical enthusiast. If you visit Norfolk (29 latitide) you will be surprised at splendid examples of coconut palms, particularly the ones at 'The Pottery Place'. Could be the world's most southerly island that can grow them? Yes, Nikau palms in New Zealand are fabulous and can be found growing en-masse in selected areas. If you are going to the South Island then go to the end of the road north of Karamea - they are an amazing sight there! Tropical palms in New Zealand are almost impossible to grow. If you are going to Northland then it may be worth a visit to Omapere on the Hokianga Harbour. There is a clump of Golden Cane palms growing at the Copthorne Hotel. These palms are very difficult to grow here outdoors as winter is wet and cold. Auckland would be the southern extreme.

[Steve Mac]

In Sydney.... The Sydney Botanic gardens of course. Free and easily accessable in the heart of Sydney, It must have about 100 varieties of palm I'm guessing. I just wish that they were all labeled.

Edited February 22, 2011 by gtsteve