Tasmania's Cradle Moutain
Strahan to Cradle Mountain
Couldn't find anywhere near Cradle Mountain to stay, so opted for Strahan (a 2 hr drive to Cradle Mountain). It was a Sunday when I headed there and had planned on getting gas along the way ... but there was not a open gas station to be found -- I was soooo happy (relieved) to find a gas station at Candle Mountain! If I visit Cradle Mountain again, I will stay within Cradle Mountain Park or search for someplace closer to the east of it...
Cradle Mountain Hike
Probably doesn't seem like a lot of hiking, but with a backpack full of camera gear, it sure felt like it! Looped clockwise around Dove Lake and then began the long ascent to Wombat Peak where I took a sidetrip up to Marions Lookout before heading back down along Crater Lake and out.
Early morning mist and gumtrees
Rain was just starting to let up at the start of my hike around the lake ...
Manuka and Gum (Eucalyptus) Tree
A look across Dove Lake at one of the few accessible points of the shoreline ...
Gum tree
About 1/3~1/2 the track around Dove Lake is a boardwalk ...
Looking across the lake at a wooded island in the foreground and Plateau Creek as it cascades down the mountainside.
Some of the more typical foliage of Cradle Mountain
A young beech treee sapling getting started ...
A grove a beech trees along the track.
Looking up from the lake towards Little Horn to the south
Foliage along the west shore of Dove Lake
Boardwalk along a portion of the west shore of Dove Lake
Gum tree with Plateu Creek falls in the background
More "foliage" of the Cradle Mountain area -- so different from my Pacific Northwest concept of "forest"
Lake Lilla
More foliage with Lake Lilla off to the right ...
Lake Lilla
Lake Lilla
Lake Lilla with Dove Lake in the backgound
A looooong stair climb up from Lake Lilla as I headed towards Wombat Pool ...
Wombat Peak looking towards Lake Lilla and Dove Lake
Approaching Wombat Peak ... pretty winded by this point and trying to talk myself into the final push to make it to Marions Lookout
Crater Lake
Looking the other direction from Wombat Peak ... As I stall and try to talk myself into the quick but steep climb to Marions Lookout
Marion's Lookout
It was a long uphill track to Marions Lookout from Dove Lake and I almost talked myself out of the final side track to reach the lookout, but knew I would kick myself if I hadn't...
Either a grey or black currawong, sharing the view with me at Marions Lookout.
Grey/Black Currawong
Such a strong/prominent beak on these guys!
Crater Lake
Headed down from Marions Lookout, the trail passes the north end of the lake where Crater Creek originates.
Crater Falls
The track follows Crater Creek and along the way was this beautiful little ravine ... and you know me, I can't resist a waterfall ...
Short Beaked Echidna
Some of the fauna of Cradle Mountain National Park -- May look like a relative of the porcupine, but no "quills" to fling and quite unconcerned by our presence. More interested in what bugs he can dig up...
Short Beaked Echidna
12 tourists and one nonchalant echidna...
Black Currawongs
Known locally as black jays, they're endemic to Tasmania and are most closely related to magpies. Their size and swagger remind me of PNW ravens.
Lizards
Of course, a myriad of little lizards
Wombat
My closest wombat spotting was still just a spot in the distance, but glad to have seen him nonetheless. They are the size of a medium size dog but look more like a big cuddly hamster.