Big Tree Camp
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Let us now travel west from the central plateau of Errinundera. We shall continue past Mount Ellery and head toward the distant Snowy River. Here the plateau breaks up into a series of ridges and valleys with sparkling streams that gradually tumble southwestward through pristine forests toward the great river.
Rodger River is one such tributary of the Snowy. It is probably the most untouched forest in the entire nation. It has its headwaters at Monkeytop, a curving ridge that affords a panoramic view of the bowl-like valley. On the highest point of the ridge is the tree-town of Monkeytop. At a lower point around the ridge is Big Tree Camp. Miles away downstream is Waratah Flat. The three towns are the only settlements in this vast wilderness.
The town is unsurprisingly named for its sacred tree, ITEN. This is the most sacred tree in all Errinundera. Although Errinundrians are mostly atheists, it is a tradition to visit the tree once in a lifetime. Some people claim that if your eyesight is good, the light is coming from the right dircection, and the air is clear, then the graceful arc of McKillops Bridge can be seen sparkling in the far distance.
The people of Big Tree Camp may be remote from other Errinundrians but they share, in full measure, their generosity, compassion and political righteousness.
Just outside Big Tree Camp is the spectacular Big Tree Camp Ampitheatre. It is not actually a stadium as such. From the outskirts of Big Tree Camp the Rodger River valley falls away quite steeply. A gigantic stone amiptheatre has been constructed on one particularly steep section. At its base there is a flat area just large enough for a football pitch. 20,000 people can sit in an arc around the pitch while the players’ facilities are mined into the hillside under the ampitheatre. Like the Milosis Coliseum in McKillops Bridge and the Downfall Stadium in Errinundera, splendid views form a backdrop to the football action. But, whereas the other 2 stadia are only open at the ends, the Ampitheatre is half a circle. Quite simply, the outlook is vast.
Floating: that is the oft-used word to describe the heady experience of a visit here.
