The alpine region - Cradle Mountain

We thoroughly enjoyed our Strahan stay but our plans meant that before we knew it we were heading to Cradle Mountain via Zeehan. Zeehan (named after Abel Tasman's ship) was a large zinc mining town which has seen better days since the 1890s.... but it did have a really outstanding mining museum......quite unique I would think and a must see for anyone visiting this part of Tassie.

The iconic Cradle Mountain "Boathouse" on Dove Lake.

We were hoping to be able to use the winter gear we had carted all the way from home and were not disappointed at Cradle Mountain. Arrived in the early afternoon at our cabins which are surprisingly  cosy and comfortable and after checking in, headed out to explore the area. Alpine, glacially formed and beautiful.... we found that it is quite remote but well visited by tourists, I suppose because of its iconic status and the abundant flora and fauna.

             
                  This "little" fellow was just up the path from our chalet. They are all over the place.

After purchasing our park pass, and checking out the ranger station and shop we headed down the road to Dove Lake.

The scenes people travel from all over the world way to see.

I was surprised at how little there is here....a few park buildings, a shop and  three or four accommodation establishments (one being a Peppers) but no real village or defined settlement. It was 7.5 kms of very narrow, windy, "one way only" sections which took us through a variety of grassed and wooded areas down to the lake. It sits in a glacial valley formed 10,000 years ago and discovered by european explorers in the 1820s. It was still raining, so after a quick reconnoitre and having established our bearings we headed off to our cabins.....after a few stops along the way to check out the wandering wombats feeding on the abundant button grass around the creeks and on the hillsides.

We found the Wilderness Lodges very comfortable (even at 3 degrees outside) and they were plonked right in the surrounding vegetation of moss and lichen covered alpine trees and bushes which made us feel right in the wilderness. Mind you we didn't suffer too much especially at the restaurant where we had probably some of the best meals of the trip.

The vegetation just off the verandah of our lodge.

Even though it was very low cloud, raining, cold (7 degrees top temp) and windy, we had come to Cradle Mountain to explore and experience .......so off we went again early the next morning this time all geared up for the elements. Surprise! Hardly any cars in the car park and I think we each secretly thought "are we the only ones silly enough to venture out?" Well, we weren't....there were a few other hardy souls and besides, the forecast was for the weather to clear at 11.00am (it really didn't) so, undaunted we "girded our loins" and headed out along the Dove Lake circuit track to take in the sights, sounds and kinaesthetic experiences of this alpine region (read wind, rain, cold).

On the track....atmospheric.  A sign says - No Diving!!!!!

The circuit is 6kms of gravel track, boardwalk and stairs fantastically maintained by the park authorities and a must do in any visit to Cradle Mountain. It winds around the shore-line, up and over huge boulders, through beautiful temperate rainforests and eerily quiet and dank moss forests with water oozing through the ground.

     
                         This section was called "The Ballroom"......I don't know why.

The waterfalls seemed to be coming out of the clouds and were crashing down from the cliffs hundreds of metres above. The track helped us to get "up close and personal" with Cradle Mountain and this alpine ecosystem but after about three hours we found ourselves back in civilisation.... the carpark....and toilets!

In the end we didn't need to worry that we had carried all that winter gear for nothing.....it was well and truly needed for a comfortable experience...and it was an experience. I think some people could feel their leg muscles the next morning!

Having explored it in inclement and "atmospheric" conditions, Cradle Mountain has been a special part of our Tassie Trails.