Northern Territory/Western Australia Cycads

[Darren Michael]

Can anyone recommend particular spots in the Northern Territory (between Darwin and the WA border) or Western Australia (Broome area and the Southwest) to see cycads in the wild, accessible with a conventional vehicle? The spots I'm familiar with are Litchfield NP and Cape Arid NP.  Thanks!

Edited August 23, 2017 by Darren Michael

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

As far as I know there are zero native/wild cycads in that area.  Macrozamia Reidlei is found south of Perth and MacDonaldii is just about in the center of the continent.

All of the other Macrozamia, Bowenia, lepidozamia and Cycas species are found on the eastern portion of the continent.

[tropicbreeze]

Wow! That first response couldn't be further from the truth.

In the general Darwin area there's Cycas armstrongii, maconochiei subsp. maconochiei, maconochiei subsp. viridis. On the way down towards Katherine there's calcicola, canalis, conferta. Around the WA/NT border there's pruinosa.

From there there's nothing til you get down around Jurien Bay where the Macrozamias start. First is M. fraseri down towards Perth. Perth down to the south west is riedlei. And further east towards Esperence is dyeri.

There are also naturally occuring crosses between armstrongii x conferta, armstrongii x maconochiei, calcicola x conferta.

Of course, if you were driving down to the Centre from Darwin and then west you'd see Macrozamia macdonnellii near Alice Springs.

 

[Darren Michael]

Great to know, thanks!  (Actually I will be going to Kings Canyon and Palm Valley before this, so I'll see them there too!)  In the other areas, any particular reasonably accessible parks/trails you'd recommend to see any of these - large specimens in particular? I'll be driving from Darwin to Kununurra, and then from Perth to Esperance/Cape Arid.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Darren Michael

[tropicbreeze]

Darwin was built right in the middle of C. armstrongii habitat so a lot of it has been cleared but there's still lots everywhere and you see it all over the place just driving around. Except in the middle of the city and the suburbs of course. Estimates of the population puts the numbers into the 10's of millions and as you drive around here it's not difficult to believe that to be true. Although they are described as being from 3 - 6 metres tall there's some growing near my place up to 9 metres tall.

C. maconochiei ssp maconochiei you'll find on along the Cox Peninsula Road west of Darwin. Armstrongii are along the road nearer the Stuart Highway but closer to Wagait it's the maconochiei.

To see C. canalis probably best to go into Tjuwaliyn Hot Springs (AKA Douglas Hot Springs).  Most of the population is further westwards in fairly inaccessible country. There's some dirt road going into Tjuwaliyn but people take caravans  there.

C. conferta is close to the Kakadu Highway east of Pine Creek near Harriet Creek, on the south side of the road. It's amongst granite outcrops. I've seen much larger plants  than those but they're far more difficult to get to.

C. calcicola is in Litchfield National Park especially near Tolmer Falls but the best specimens, in my opinion, are a bit north of Katherine where the Stuart Highway crosses over the Great Northern Railway, on the east side of the road.

C. pruinosa is in Keep River National Park in the Northern Territory but it takes a bit of hiking to get to. It's also around Kununurra in WA, near Lake Argyle, and along the highway down past Warmun. It's a bit sparse along the highway so probably best looked for around Kununurra town.

For Macrozamia frazeri going into Lesueur National Park is worth the trip. There are big stands of it there with massive trunks. Not so much tall but big girth.

M. riedlei is common along the roadsides around Perth and going south to Margaret River. It doesn't form above ground trunks, or none of any significance as compared to frazeri.

I haven't been much around Esperance but that is the main centre around which you'll find M. dyeri. Tyrone lives down that way (sort of) so maybe if you PM him he might be able to give you some info.

Macrozamia macdonnellii is easy to find in Palm Valley and Watarrka (Kings Canyon). At Watarrka make sure you go into the "Garden of Eden", really great for cycads although they're all over the place as well. In Palm Valley they're mostly over the northern slopes/cliffs of the valley. If you drive west out of Alice Springs along the west Macdonnell ranges you'll see lots along the ridges and around the gorges.

[Darren Michael]

Thanks for all the detailed info!  One more question...in terms of botanical or general landscape interest, would you say the drive between Katherine and Kununurra is worthwhile? I'm weighing if it's worth paying the hefty 1-way car rental fee vs. doubling back to Darwin and flying.  (I'll be able to do day trips from Kununurra later on.)

[tropicbreeze]

Katherine to Kununurra takes you through the Victoria River District (VRD) which I've done a lot of bushwalking through. There's some really great country there but you need to get off the beaten track a bit, which also means having a fair bit of time. From the looks of your total trip it's already going to take a lot of time. So probably you'd be better off flying. I've done the flight between Darwin and Kununurra by Air North and I think Sky West does that too. The VRD is similar to the Kimberley District.

So, how long are you travelling for, and what time of year?

[Darren Michael]

Thanks - I'm actually leaving in two days and staying for 7 weeks (though I'll be spending all of September on Flinders Island for an artist residency). Then it'll be Alice Springs region-Darwin-Kununurra-Broome-Perth region.  From Darwin to Kununurra (whether I fly or drive) I'll have 4.5 days.

Edited August 29, 2017 by Darren Michael

[tropicbreeze]

Flinders Island gets a bit "wild 'n woolly" that time of year. Alice Springs will be starting to warm up. But Darwin/Kununurra you'll find plenty hot. If you're into a bit of storm chasing you should be in luck for some of that. Have a great time.