The Blue Trail is best accessed from Colburn Avenue, Gate 3 and the carpark. It concentrates around the mangrove broadwalk. The best route to travel is from Station 1 through to 7. You can then decide to walk back to your car along the entry track or walk the other trails and tracks.
Along the
first part of the trail are tall bloodwoods (Corymbia trachyphloia),
Bribie Island pines (Callitris columellaris) and red ash
/ soap trees (Alphitonia excelsa). The leaves of the soap
tree contain soap-like saponins which were used by the aboriginies
to stun fish when fishing in fresh water. Among the ground cover
plants is the ivy leaved violet (Viola hederacea) used
as a herb by aborigines to promote long life.
Downhill is a swamp of paper-bark trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia).
The roots as well as the trunks are covered in papery bark which
trap a layer of air, allowing the roots to "breathe"
underwater.
At the top of the causeway there is a change of vegetation from
dry sclerophyll forest, with tall gums and brushbox (Lophostemon
conferta), to the low lying area with a few gums but also
casuarinas - she oaks (Allocasuarina littoralis), swamp
she oaks (Casuarina glauca) and paper barks (Melaleuca
quinquenervia).
Introduced
plants are now weeds in native areas of bushland such as Eprapah.
Native trees are being planted where lantana (Lantana camara),
groundsel bush (Baccharis halimifolia) and Easter cassia
/ arsenic bush (Senna floribunda) have been removed.
In the open woodland zone monkey rope vines climb up many of
the trees to reach sunlight. Arboreal termites build nests in
trees but return to ground to feed. Look for the trunk in which
both native and introduced honey bees have made nests.
Mangroves consist of two zones, landward and tidal. On the tidal zone of the creek bank is a large area of marine couch grass with casuarinas and mangroves. The landward zone is often covered with fresh water but at high tide is inundated by salt water. An unusual fern species, the mangrove fern (Acrostichum speciosum), which can withstand salt water, is a feature along the boardwalk. Trees likely to be found growing in this region include swamp she oaks, mangroves and the invading groundsel bush.
The most
striking characteristic of mangroves is the spike-like pneumatophores
sticking out of the mud. At low tide oxygen is trapped into spongy
tissue within these roots, enabling the roots to "breathe"
when the tide comes in.
Mangroves are able to withstand the salty conditions that occcur
as the tide comes in twice daily. They have adapted to the salty
conditions by using a combination of the following mechanisms:
special roots prevent salt from entering: storage of salt in old
leaves which is lost when leaves drop off, and by secretion of
salt from the leaf surface.
Four mangroves species may be seen from the boardwalk at Eprapah
and include: Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina var. australasica):
Orange mangrove (Bruguiera gymnorhiza), River mangrove
(Aegiceras corniculatum) and Milky mangrove (Excoecaria
agallocha). Illustrations of some of these mangroves cam be
found in "The Floras and Fauna of Eprapah Creek".
The Grey mangrove is the most widespread mangrove species in
Australia, with pointed leaves which are grey underneath. It also
supports a rare ant-eating butterfly - Illidge's ant blue. The
Orange mangrove has large leaves and knobbly bent pneumatophores.
River mangroves have clusters of scented white flowers when in
season, and rounded leaves. Milky mangroves have grey bark with
corky longitudinal marks and poisonous white sap (avoid eye contact).
This is
the transitional zone where the fresh meets the salt water. Refer
to station 3 for infomation about mangroves.
This area was cleared of lantana and the other weeds and the stubble
was burnt. Since the burning, seedlings of the Eprapah wattle
(Acacia perangusta), have appeared.
Notice the large dead tree, providing a habitat for many forms
of wildlife. Termites (whose nest is also used by kookaburras),
introduced honeybees, beetles and other insects are just a few
species that utilise the decaying bark and wood for food and shelter.
This freashwater
well was dug by Rover Scouts in the early 1930's. A hut was built
(the foundations can been seen on the other side of the track)
but was totally destroyed by bushfire in 1967.
The fireplace was also built in the 1930's and has long been
disused. The bricks were hand made and were also used to construct
the caretaker's cottage. This location was selected to take advantage
of the lovely lagoons which, with the passage of time and the
inevitable changing direction of the watercourse, are now rarely
visible.
Notice
the way the monkey rope / silky pod vines (Parsonsia straminea)
climb up the trees, clockwise from the ground looking up. These
vines with their own root system are not parasites, merely utilising
surrounding trees in their search for light, rather than tapping
into the trees' nutrient supply.
Look for the different types of butterflies that are attracted
to the various types of plants. For example, monkey rope is host
for the common crow butterfly, while the barbwire vine (Smilax
australis) plays host for Miskins jewel and Cephenes blue.
The origional
suspension bridge, built in the 1930's by Rover Scouts, (refer
to History ) provided access
between the camping ground and the western side of the property
when the creek was flooded. Note the cool atmosphere and the shaded,
green vegetation of the wetlands and the sandpaper fig (Ficus
coronata), whose fruits are edible when very ripe, and whose
leaves were used by Aborigines to smooth their weapons. The purple
flowering, pointed-leaved hoveas (Hovea acutifolia) are
spectacular in this area in springtime, also the blue quandongs
(Elaeocarpus grandis), which grow into magnificent tall
trees with buttressed roots, brilliant blue fruits and displays
of bright red leaves.
Here the trail branches: Uphill to the Bunkhouse / Campground
or to the exit at Gate No.3; along the shaded Fern Glade (an alternative
route to the same exit) or along the Koala Glade to the western
side of the property.
Acknowledgements
Last updated 02 April, 2000
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