Cool in Cradle Mountain

We recently spent three nights at Cradle Mountain to celebrate a birthday. For days we had watched the weather forecast, hoping upon hope that we would see snow. And we weren't disappointed, waking on the said birthday to a sea of white outside our hotel room, and a pademelon under our veranda.

That day we decided to take a drive south and came out to the car to discover it covered in thick snow, and we had to scrape it off the doors just to get in. All of which added to the occasion. We finally left the carpark and drove first to Tullah and then on to Rosebery. Back at Cradle Mountain we went into the new Cradle Mountain National Park Visitor Centre which is an architectural marvel and a great improvement on the former visitor centre.

The snow had melted for the most part by the next morning so we drove down to the Peppers Resort and saw a pademelon, two wallabies and five wombats along the way. The weather wasn't the best - there was a light rain - but undeterred we embarked upon the Enchanted Walk, a short twenty minute boardwalk along the river, through a thick canopy of trees, bright green moss covered ground and stunning waterfalls. And we saw two more wombats.

On our way back we saw another four wombats including one that crossed the road whilst I snapped close-up photos. And why did the wombat cross the road? 

What a treat, and what a wonderful few days!

Whistle-stop Tour Tasmania!

I recently spent five wonderful days with friends Michelle, Serge and Claire from Lyon in France, showing them some of our fascinating state.

Day 1

We left Launceston and headed south to Hobart. Our first stop was Ross and the Tasmanian Wool Centre where we viewed different types of fleeces and saw many beautiful woollen products. Then it was on to Oatlands to see Lake Dulverton and the Callington Mill followed by lunch at The Oatlands Pancake Shop.

Serge is a fan of all things 'train' so from there we drove to Glenorchy and spent a couple of hours at the Tasmanian Transport Museum which has a fabulous display of old trains and engines, fire engines and buses. A visit to Mount Wellington is a must and we had perfect weather for incredible views of Hobart from the top. Dinner that night was at the quirky Drunken Admiral Restaurant on Hobart's waterfront following a drink at the Grape Wine and Food Bar at Salamanca Place.

Lunching at The Oatlands Pancake Shop with Claire and Serge

At the Tasmanian Transport Museum with Claire 

The view from Mount Wellington

Claire, Serge and Michelle on Mount Wellington

Hobart waterfront

With Michelle at The Drunken Admiral

Day 2

Our first stop was the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary at Brighton where we saw a huge range of Tasmanian animals including Wombats, Kangaroos (which Serge and Claire hand-fed) and Wallabies, Echidna, Tasmanian Devils, Quolls and Koalas. We also saw lots of birds including the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos, Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos, Corellas, Galahs and Kookaburras - and a Blue Tongued Lizard.

From there we drove to Richmond to see the famous Richmond Bridge, Australia's oldest and some crafts including beautiful Tasmanian timbers. We lunched at Czegs' Cafe and then drove to Frogmore Creek Winery to check out the vineyard. Finally we walked along the sand at Seven Mile Beach and collected some beautiful shells.

That night we had pre-dinner drinks at the Atrium Bar at the Grand Chancellor Hotel and then dined at Mures Lower Deck.

At the Richmond Bridge with Michelle and Serge

On Seven Mile Beach

Day 3

We left early this morning and drove to Tarraleah in the Tasmanian wilderness where we took in the amazing views of the Hydro. On to The Wall in the Wilderness at Derwent Bridge followed by a very 'Aussie' lunch of meat pie, cake and tea at The Hungry Wombat Cafe.

From there we drove up to Miena and stopped for a photo opportunity at The Great Lake, then to Deloraine for lunch at the Deloraine Deli. Our final destination was Cradle Mountain that afternoon with dinner at the Cradle Mountain Hotel.

At Tarraleah

At the Great Lake

Serge's turn to drive

Views from one of many lookouts on the road

Day 4

When in Cradle Mountain, one has to hike the Dove Lake Circuit and this we did after visiting the Wilderness Gallery adjacent to the Cradle Mountain Hotel and seeing wallabies in the wild. The hike took us about three hours and although the weather was inclement at times we took lots of photographs including several of a fantastic rainbow that arced right over the lake.

On our way back to the visitors' centre we stopped at Ronny Creek and walked a few hundred metres along the Overland Track to see wombats in the wild. Lunch was at the Cradle Mountain Cafe at the visitors' centre and after a restful afternoon we dined at the Tavern at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Claire and Michelle in the Ballroom Forest

Dove Lake Circuit

On the start of the Overland Track

Rainbow over Dove Lake

Playing 'Pool' with Serge before dinner

With Michelle at Peppers Cradle Mountain Resort

Day 5

We drove to Sheffield and saw this year's Mural Fest entries as well as previous winners. We then drove through to Launceston stopping at Elizabeth Town Cafe for morning tea. At Launceston we headed straight to the Cataract Gorge where we walked amongst the peacocks and took in the beauty of the gorge.

From there we visited the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk where we saw the Railway Workshop and more Tasmanian animals (the taxidermy variety). Then it was on to City Park to see our resident macaques before lunching at Cube at Seaport, and then finally home.

What a wonderful five days!