Born2Wonder: Australia Day 5: Cradle Mountain

Today we explored the amazing Cradle Mountain.

After a delicious breakfast, we spent some time watching a Bennetts wallaby in the garden area outside our window. We saw these last night, but it was exciting to see them in the day light and so close.

We headed into the park and took a walk along the Pencil Pine river. This “Enchanted Walk” took us through amazing trees covered in mosses and lichens, past rapids and tree falls. On the way back in the other side of the river, we saw a family of wallabies, and lots of button grass (the source of the tannins that turn the river tea colored). We ended up at a lovely waterfall.

Mossy tree

Rapids

Baby wallaby

Pencil pine waterfall

We took another short walk from the parking lot that was recommended by Don, the driver. It was another lovely forest walk, but included a very impressive waterfall! Yay.

Mossy meadow along our walk

After a brief stop in the visitors center, we headed for Dove Lake, which is the lake at the foot of the Cradle Mountain itself. The visitor center was very modern and had a lot of information about the geology of the mountain - some of the oldest rock on the surface of the earth. The wind was blowing so hard there were waves on the lake as we walked out to a big granite boulder at the edge of the lake, and we felt justified in dreading the cold and the wind. Fortunately, it was a beautiful sunny day, so the cold was bearable. The views of the lake and the mountains were beautiful, and we were glad we braved the wind and cold. We took lots of photos.

“The most photographed boathouse in Australia” on Dove Lake across from the boulder lookout.

Our final stop in the park was the beautiful Waldheim chalet. Walking up to the old house we saw several wallabies, and two pandemelons. Inside the house itself we could see poo from the animals as well, so we felt a bit like we were chasing them from their home. The house had been built by an Austrian couple who were so awed by the beauty of the forest that they spent their lives lobbying for the area to become a national park. They built the large house so guests could come out and enjoy the fantastic views and walks in the forest, and then join them in advocating for protection of the natural environment. Ultimately, the advocacy worked because Cradle Mountain is a National park and part of the Tasmanian Wilderness UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our driver Don

Waldheim chalet

Pandemelon mother and Joey

We especially liked the walk behind the house that had spectacular moss and lichen covered trees, babbling brooks, cool nooks and crannies and a few more cute animals. It felt like a pristine Rivendell.

In fact, between the lake, the mountains and the amazing rainforest walks amid so many mosses and lichens, we took waaaaaay too many pictures!😄

Emblem for Tasmanian National Parks, featuring the Tassie Devil

Leaving the park, via a curving mountain road, we drove through miles of rolling farmland, with many cattle and sheep. We stopped in Sheffield, the City of Murals, for lunch and a stroll. At lunch our group had gotten friendly enough so that we all shared our desserts - yum! Sheffield has a mural contest every year, so there was a lot to see walking around the small town. We also enjoyed chatting with a local artist.

We stopped one more time for “the best ice cream in Australia” (this time, according to our driver). Our tour leader had a pepperberry and leatherwood honey ice cream which he called “a bush tucker” flavor. It was delish.

We checked in to our hotel in Launceston (pronounced “lawn - cess - ton”, but generally just called Lonny), and spent an hour organizing and relaxing. Then we went for a walk at the City Park very Victorian , complete with manicured lawns, big trees and gazebos. The city it self is characterized by many beautiful Victorian buildings, and quite a lot of Art Deco.