People climbed trees to catch animals and reach native beehives for honey. Wax from the beehives was used to seal water containers, and as a resin when making weapons and for decoration. Throughout much of Australia, a small hatchet with a stone head was used to cut toe holds into trees to assist in climbing. In these photos, taken in rainforests, strong jungle vines are used like ropes to assist climbing trees in search of both animals and native bee hives’ wax and honey.

A man about to walk up a Eucalyptus tree. Cedar Creek.

Climbing with the use of a vine, he makes his way up the tree.

Now he is resting on the trunk of the tree. To do this, he winds the vine around his right knee to hold himself up, and secures the end of the vine with his big toe.

Using a vine like a rope, this man climbs an enormous Eucalypt tree to reach animals and bush honey. Cairns.