Nature & Wildlife
The trees Instagram can’t get enough of
Trees are a pretty big deal on Instagram – including Ipswich’s own lone fig at Marburg.

There’s the famous example in Wanaka, New Zealand – popping out of the lake, all reflections and calming ripples. It’s attracted tens of thousands of lenses over the years and notched up almost 15,000 #wanakatree hashtags alone on Instagram – including the spectacular example, above, from travel photographer @emreerden.photography.

On Brisbane’s bayside, another tree is branching out on Instagram. A search of the destination ‘Brighton, Queensland, Australia’ reveals spectacular sunset shots, including this one, above, from the account of @kylerauphotography. And then there are the ghostly images that emerge in our feeds from Wyaralong Dam near Boonah, such as this one from @kim.borg_ozwidephotography.

But trees don’t have to be in water to garner Insta-love. Here in the Ipswich region, one splendid specimen is earning a steady following of its own – the lone fig perched on a ridge overlooking the vineyard at Woodlands of Marburg. The stunning capture below is from Murray Fox Photography (@muzfoxphoto on Instagram).

Set on the skyline, it’s a favourite for sunrise and sunset shots – like this one from @karlee_fenton_photography, and it features in many a wedding photo.

Woodlands of Marburg, with its stately heritage mansion and vast grounds, has new managers in mid-2018 who will continue to run the venue for weddings and events and as a boutique heritage accommodation option for visitors to the region.

The venue is just an hour from Brisbane but Pterodactyl Helicopters can whisk visitors directly there from Brisbane or Ipswich CBD. Captain Mike’s view allows spectacular shots of the jacarandas in bloom around the mansion.

And speaking of jacarandas, those around Timothy Molony Park opposite St Mary’s Church in the heart of Ipswich are pretty Insta-worthy in September/October.

Wandering around the heritage city of Ipswich reveals many an old tree such as this one behind the Anglican Church in North Ipswich, above.

And when Dovetails restaurant was developed in the 88 Limestone precinct, a beautiful old poinciana tree was saved and became a special point of difference with the deck wrapping around it so diners can enjoy breakfast, lunch or an evening meal in its glorious presence. Of course, with trees come birds and that’s a whole other chapter of Instagram – for the best spots in Ipswich to catch a shot of a superb fairy wren or a brahminy kite, check out these posts from local photographers Michael Gibbs and Shane Allwood.