In natural forests, large swathes of Autumn colour in leaf foliage is not a common sight in Australia, being isolated to plantings of trees and shrubs imported from the northern hemisphere. There is an exception, being a refugee from the time when Australia was much further south and a part of the ancient super continent of Gondwanaland. This plant is a deciduous beech or fagus (Nothofagus Gunnii). It's turning occurs after the first periods of cold weather in April and lasts for perhaps two weeks or until the first strong winds or heavy rain, making it's viewing a matter of chance. It grows in a few places in Tasmania between 1,000m and 1,200m elevation. One of these locations is around Cradle Mountain in the Cradle Mountain Lake Sinclair National Park. Cradle Mountain has been a "Cradle of Antiquity" for this ancient and rare plant, as it is for a number of other unique species.