General Description
Mt Zero/Taravale Sanctuary
The Mt Zero-Taravale Sanctuary covers a large area of spectacular wilderness adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in north Queensland. In fact, it extends for more than 30 km from the edge of the rainforest to the much drier habitats at the foot of the Coane Range.
Within the property, there is a range of topography, a steep rainfall gradient and major changes in geology. This generates significant variation in the ecosystems and landforms on the property. In fact, Mt Zero-Taravale captures within its borders significant areas of all the major landform and habitat features of that part of the eastern Einasleigh Uplands bioregion which borders the Wet Tropics.
In terms of topography, the property ranges from a high point of 1,050 m in the northeast corner to an elevation of around 350 m in the southwest of the property. The Mt Zero section of the property includes over 60 ‘peaks’. Deep gorges traverse the holding.
Physically, Mt Zero-Taravale Sanctuary is two very different worlds. Its eastern extremity is a broad alluvial valley, cradled between the converging arms of the Coane and Seaview Ranges. This valley lies in stark contrast to the rugged mountains of the Mt Zero section which wall the valley to the west. The valley is clothed in grassy eucalyptus woodlands of various kinds, often dominated by the ghost-white trunks of poplar gums, while tall forests of Forest Red Gum and Paperbark Melaleucas fringe the streams. Rainforests, from some of which emerge stately Hoop Pines, clothe the depths of the gorges which penetrate the valley rim.
Beyond the escarpment, to the west, is a world of disorganised ranges and hills of granite, where the stark skeleton of the country is often revealed in bare rock pavements and massive granite boulders. This is a land where low open woodlands and shrubland are seasonally invaded by the colours of flowering shrubs and herbs. Unique open woodlands of hoop pine clothe extensive rocky pavements, and line the gorges where wet season torrents crash westwards from the Coane Range to the Running River via continuous cataracts and the occasional waterfall. Alone of the major streams, Hellhole Creek winds its mostly placid waters southwards.
Associated with the topographical variation within the property is a steep rainfall gradient. The Northeastern section of the property receives around 1,300 mm of rain per annum. However, rainfall declines sharply and the southern section of Mt Zero-Taravale receives as little as 900 mm.