Curtain Fig Tree

“The Curtain Fig stops you mid-step. The scale of it, the strangeness of it, the life still happening inside it — you were not prepared for this, and that is exactly the point.”

The Curtain Fig Tree: A Living Sculpture That Defies Easy Description

Just outside Yungaburra, at the end of a short walk through the rainforest, stands the Curtain Fig Tree — one of the most remarkable natural features in the entire Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and one that genuinely requires being seen to be understood. No photograph does it full justice.

The Curtain Fig is a strangler fig — specifically, a fig that began as an epiphyte high in another tree and sent its roots downward. But what makes the Curtain Fig unique is that its host tree — which it has long since consumed — tilted dramatically as it died, and the fig’s aerial roots cascaded down from the lean of the host to the ground, creating an extraordinary curtain of roots that falls 15 metres from the angled trunk to the forest floor. That curtain of roots, densely interlaced and draped like a living waterfall, is what makes the Curtain Fig unlike any other tree in Australia.

The tree is estimated to be around 500 years old and is one of the most-photographed natural features in Far North Queensland. Viewing is best in the early morning or late afternoon when the light falls through the canopy at an angle that illuminates the root curtain against the darker forest behind it. At any time of day, however, the sheer scale and strangeness of the tree makes it worth the short walk from the car park.

Peterson CreekA creekside walk at Yungaburra, known for platypus spotting.Cathedral Fig TreeA giant strangler fig reached by a short rainforest walk.Granite GorgeGranite boulders, rock pools and wildlife near Mareeba.Lake Barrine Tea HouseMorning tea and lunch on the shore of Lake Barrine.

The Curtain Fig is accessible via a lit, sealed walking path and is suitable for all mobility levels. A visit takes around 15 to 20 minutes and pairs well with a visit to the Cathedral Fig Tree, 20 minutes further north along the Atherton-Yungaburra road.

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Curtain Fig Tree FAQs

Where is the Curtain Fig Tree?

The Curtain Fig Tree is just outside Yungaburra on the southern Atherton Tablelands, reached by a short boardwalk through the rainforest, about an hour from Cairns.

What makes the Curtain Fig Tree special?

The Curtain Fig is a giant strangler fig whose host tree tilted as it died, causing the fig aerial roots to cascade down in a dramatic curtain that falls around 15 metres to the forest floor, making it one of the most striking trees in the Wet Tropics.

How old is the Curtain Fig Tree?

The Curtain Fig Tree is estimated to be more than 500 years old and is one of the largest and oldest trees of its kind in Far North Queensland.

Is the Curtain Fig Tree free to visit?

Yes. The Curtain Fig Tree is free to visit, with a car park and an easy wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that loops around the tree.

How long does it take to see the Curtain Fig Tree?

The boardwalk loop takes only about 10 to 15 minutes, making it an easy stop to combine with nearby Yungaburra, Lake Eacham and the Cathedral Fig Tree.