The Queensland Kauri pine belongs to the Kauri tree Agathis genus, which also includes the New Zealand and New Guinea species. These large evergreens are native to these regions. Although some familiar names in Queensland refer to the tree as a ‘pine,’ it is not a pine tree, having leaves rather than needles.
Known for its tall, straight trunk and distinctive softwood. It can reach heights of up to 60 meters, produce large cones, and live for over a thousand years.
Kauri trees are part of the Araucariaceae family, a lineage that dates back over 200 million years to the Mesozoic Era. This ancient family of conifers was once widespread across the supercontinent Gondwana.
Today, these trees are found in pockets in Queensland’s northeast and southeastern parts, the eastern parts of Papua New Guinea, and the northern end of New Zealand’s North Island.
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