The green vine climbing up the tree looks just like a very hungry caterpillar wriggling its way to the top. I imagine him munching leaf after leaf as he stretches higher and higher through the forest. Maybe when he finally reaches the tallest branch, he will turn into a beautiful butterfly and fly above the trees.

Across the road from my house is my special tree house. It feels like a secret magical place that only I know about. I climb up the little step like I’m entering another world, and I hold onto the rope as I go up and down like an adventurer. the rope swing lets me fly through the air and I pretend I'm in a fantasy story. It's my favourite place to play and imagine.

I noticed these leaves because of their shape and colour in the light. They weren’t wet but they sparkled like they were. It’s nice to walk around and look for details like this and pay more attention to nature. It's good to notice things that you might usually walk past.

I like this tree because its roots hang down like a secret hiding place. When the sun shines through them it feels like a tiny forest. It gives birds and insects places to live and makes hot days feel nice and breezy.

I took this photo because I liked how the light came through the leaves. Gumtrees give shade, clean air and homes for wildlife. They also look really nice, especially the big ones.

I like this tree because it feels big and magical when you look up at it. The branches and leaves make lots of shade and keep the air cool. I think birds and bugs would like living here too.

This tree looks like a little forest. I like the twisty roots hanging down from the branches. Big trees like this help nature by giving animals homes and making it feel peaceful.

I like this tree because it is a nice quiet place to sit and read. My brother was reading his favourite book under it. We stop and play under this tree every time we walk past. It’s really nice because it gives lots of shade and makes people want to spend time outside.

We often see golden wattles on short bush walks in our area. The bright yellow flowers stand out against the green bush, even from far away, and they add colour to the landscape. They help bees and insects and provide shelter for wildlife.

I loved hiking with mom to Cascade Falls on Mother’s Day and seeing so many cool trees!

I loved hiking with mom to Cascade Falls on Mother’s Day and seeing so many cool trees!

On a quiet morning walk by Lake Illawarra, this tree felt like a mirror of my own journey, grounded, reaching, alive. Choosing Shellharbour almost by chance became the place I now call home, where I raise my young family (husband and our two boys) and slowly building our lives with love. Like my hometown Anuradhapura, I feel a deep sense of belonging here, my second birth, my chosen world.

In Killalea Regional Park, I spy a loving giant waiting for an adventure. Still standing tall it continues to seek solitude in the sun. It has spent its life time dancing through the ages. The Friendly Giant is still young at heart - A survivor who has found the best place to frolic and connect. It has now made a small close friend who has attached. As I walk past I find myself engulfed in the natural flora that surrounds me, complimented by the sound of the rolling waves in the distance.

“Come Hither” whispers an unseen voice—come closer, this place is safe. You're path has shifted, no need to stand alone. A boulder reaches out, offering support, allowing this small but determined tree to anchor itself in an unexpected direction. A second chance, it leans toward the vibrant green life beyond, holding on tightly as it finds strength in its new course. Captured along the serene Clover Hill Track at Macquarie Pass, this reflects the beauty that makes it special, drawing me back.

The banksia in flower along the lake foreshore.

We took our e-bike for its first ride around Shellharbour and stopped at few parks along the way with our 4yr old and notice this interesting looking tree. Can’t all be the same and grow the same way.

I often head to the jetty at Boonerah Point on the edge of Lake Illawarra to watch the sunset and the sky explode in colour. Such a peaceful and tranquil place with amazing views of our local area. The trees that line the shore don’t just provide a home for the birds as they sing nature’s lullaby for the setting sun, they add another level of beauty to the scene and the lake’s incredible biodiversity.

As the day comes to an end, the trees sing and tell of the day's events. Their soft gaze dissipates the hustle and bustle of my life. I look towards the horizon and the vision of trees is a powerful reminder of the beautiful ecosystem that is Shell Cove. Walking my dog in this glorious dog park amongst the trees calms and restores my soul.

Its veins stretched endlessly through the canopy, carrying stories older than the forest floor below. In the stillness, the old gum tree stood like a quiet witness to every season that had passed beneath its branches.

This pic was taken one morning during a walk through my local park. I always stop and admire this tree and the bird calls you can hear.

I love the silhouette this tree across from our house near the lake gives in the early morning sunrise. The reflection of the sunrise on the water and the sky, and you see all the branches, and the leaves, and the wonderful weird shapes it gives. It is really beautiful.

This photo was taken when walking up the cascade track with my 2 year old. She was upset and getting tired and lay down on the tree for 20 mins whilst I waited. Then got up and said “the trees given me energy, I can walk now!".

Watching the trees shed their outer layers in the local park is one of those quiet, seasonal spectacles that turns a simple walk with grandchildren into a lasting memory. At this specific stage of the cycle, the tree appears almost transformed. By casting off its old, weathered exterior, it reveals a pristine trunk that looks strikingly smooth and renewed against the backdrop of the park. When the sun hits that exposed surface, the effect is often luminous.

This tree means something to me because its deep roots, weathered bark, and towering branches reflect strength through time — surviving storms, heat, and change while still standing tall. The mushrooms at its base make it feel connected, like even the smallest things belong in its story. Looking up it reminds you to slow down, breathe, and feel grounded, as if the tree quietly holds memories, resilience and peace all at once.

These old gum trees stand quietly in John Shepherd Park, surrounded by streets, fences and nearby homes. By night, beneath the southern sky and the Milky Way, they feel ancient again. I wanted to show that wild places still survive within our suburbs, remnants of an older landscape holding their ground beside our everyday lives. There's something deeply Australian about gum trees under stars; pale trunks, silence, space and the enduring memory of bushland.

These majestic Moreton Bay Fig trees stand like quiet guardians at John Shepherd Reserve, their massive roots gripping the earth beneath modern suburban life. Silent witnesses to generations past, they offer shade, calm and connection while supporting our wellbeing. These enduring local landmarks also provide increasingly scarce habitat for native fauna, watching over one of the area's precious urban green spaces.

At John Shepherd Reserve, this old gum tree stretches its pale branches toward the sky, watching quietly over the world below. Beneath its peeling bark, tiny insects build their homes, skinks rustle through the leaves at its feet, and birds settle safely among the brances each night. Though houses and streets now surround it, the old tree still holds a little piece of country, a living shelter where nature, memory and life continue to grow together.

This stunning fig tree in Shellharbour stands out, not only due to its grand size, but the twists and curves that start and the roots and travel to the tips of the leaves. This is why Figs are one of my favourite trees. As I was taking photos of this particular fig what spoke to me was the way the canopy formed a pattern much like veins. To me this symbolises how trees give us life an connect us with all living things. This fig provides shade and beauty to locals and wildlife.

Last year I had some dark months. I found this tree on my walk and felt drawn to give it a hug. It felt strong and patient and gentle. For the next few months I came everyday until the darkness lifted. This tree has caught my tears, it has shared and carried my grief and sadness. It is soft yet sturdy. There's no beauty that draws you to it. I don't know why this tree but this is my tree.

It is nice to be outdoors. On this particular Autumn day I was at Bass Point. It was a beautiful afternoon. As I was waiting for the sun to set, I noticed that there was a small tree with enough foliage to cut back the full glare of the sun and thus create an interesting photo.

This photo was taken at Calderwood Gold course on an afternoon in May. Was walking by myself and was struck by the beautiful colours.

I enjoy the sound created by a light breeze through the swamp oaks.

We have a giant tree in our front yard. In autumn and winter time, the sunrises over the lake and is remarkably beautiful looking at the colours of the sky over the lake through the branches and leaves that are falling or close to falling off the tree.