Tues, 9th Dec, 2014 O’Neills Creek Picnic Reserve, Gowrie Park (Cradle Mountain sightseeing)

Overcast morning (16 degrees). Packed lunch etc in the truck and headed off to explore Cradle Mountain area. Back down across Forth River again – very narrow valleys between high mountains make great spots for the dams for the Hydro Electricity.  There are two more power stations around here, Cethana (turn off up the other side before the bridge) and Willmot (further up the range).

Lots of dead possums on the road. Poor truckies have to use this narrow road too – hard slow pull for them. No pull off areas or overtaking lanes and just wide enough to have the wheel on the road!!

Passed some emus and a nice letterbox then the Post Office tree so will have to stop on the way back for a photo. Through Daisy Dell area where there is a sign Daisy Dell Oval – more things to find out about. Across Weaning Paddock Creek – love the names. Across Middlesex Plains (obviously the people were from England!!)

Turned at Learys Corner and stopped at the information board. Lots of dead trees – looks so desolate. Over the Iris River which looks like a little creek. Stopped at the National Parks Centre. Great article on why the trees are dead – that answered that question.

Details of short, half day and full day walks. We will start with short!! They only allow so many cars up to Dove Lake carpark so as it is early we will try, otherwise you catch a shuttle bus. Nice drive up overlooking Cradle Valley.

Narrow roads though. First glimpse of Cradle Mountain.

Drove along the valley to Dove Lake Carpark, there is a boardwalk that takes you the 9km up to the lake too (960m altitude).  Wow, Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain does look majestic.

Decided to have a cuppa first but oops forgot to put the gas canisters back in the truck after packing them away for the trip across to Tassie. So water and biscuit and off we went. Listened to a chap discuss with his walkers which way to go. Some doing the Dove Lake Circuit which we were going to do. Others are going to Mount Marion – there is a shorter but steeper walk or a longer one around the back and up. Might think about that. Lots of other walks from here too so will get one done then think about what else we want to do.

Photo of Glacier Rock and Mount Marion from carpark.

Easy walking through the low shrub area – Mr Wallaby wasn’t worried about us trudging past.

Climbed onto Glacier Rock – heard it called Chicken Rock and on another map Suicide Rock. Great view.  Light breeze but very comfortable for walking. The sun is peaking out and is quite hot when you are in it. They are right about how easy it is to burn in Tasmanian sunshine.

Mt Marion

 Looking back to the carpark

 The path we just followed

 Cradle Mountain

The put a gate of the walk to Glacier Rock as there is nothing to stop you from falling off the rock.

Making good use of the bum bag Steve got for Christmas.

Followed the boardwalk and paths down to the little beaches. Water not a cold as Millaa Falls!! But I don’t think I will have a swim!!

Pretty good reflection – just a light breeze disturbing surface.

Easy walking on the boardwalk and its level beside the lake.

Looking up to Mount Marion which is a hard walk up to but magnificent views I am told.

Lots of interesting trees and flowers. Took lots of photos but will select only a few for the Blog!!!

 Cutting grass – yes it is sharp.

Looking back to the truck from nearly the other side of the lake.

Great view looking straight up to Cradle Mountain. Another chap said that it was originally called Saddle Mountain.  I agree it looks more like a saddle and the other one we were walking around the base of looks more like a cradle.

Honeymoon Islands – did they swim out!!

We could hear a waterfall so zoomed in below the dip on the right of Cradle Mountain.

Zoomed in closer on the two sides of Cradle Mountain.

Pretty flowers and interesting plants. 

 Our Christmas tree!!

Cradle again and across to the other side where we walked under.

The other side under Mount Marion has some old boardwalks through higher trees.

Another look back to Cradle Moutain.

This side isn’t flat so up the stairs we go.

Through the Ballroom Forest, considered the walk to Lake Wilks but it looked like too many stairs.

 King Billy Pine – looks like the one Dad had has our Christmas tree – felt like it too, very spiky, but it says these are only found in Tasmania.

Stopping at a beach area and looking back to Cradle Mountain I asked someone where Lake Wilks was and they said over the ridge (I thought it was the dip just over the ridge).

Glad we didn’t go. The mobile rang – it was our accountant with a couple of questions!!! Looking up at another waterfall.

Mr Currawong scoring a few nibbles.

Climbed up the hill, a rocky surface track here. Rest area provided so stopped for a few more photos.

Lots of loose big rocks beside and on the path here. This side is definitely harder work than the other – maybe they need a bit more info on their walk signs. Poor girl with a school group is really struggling.

Getting closer – over the ridge with the point that goes out into the lake. Looking back to the carpark. Truck is still there – looking forward to a cuppa now that Steve got a gas canister off another camper.

Pink mountain-berry, I had a little Christmas decoration that was exactly like this.

Down the ridge on the rocky walk.

Nice view over the lake.

 Back on a boardwalk.

Into more open flat area – more great photos.

 Another beach area – view back to Glacier Rock.

Passed the boat house. It would have been lovely back in the day to stay here and boat etc before the National Parks took over.

Tasmania Snow Gum.

Stopped at the turn off to Lake Lilla, looks nice.

Good map showing the elevation of the lakes.

There was a very hungry Echidna having a feed. He wasn’t worried about us at all, just carried on having a feast. Took a video of him.

Looking back over the Boat Hut, Dove Lake and to Cradle Mountain – lovely.

Kept going back to the truck for lunch.

Steve had asked a man if he had a butane canister we could buy, which he did but didn’t want any money for it so we enjoyed a lovely cuppa with lunch sitting at the Sign In Hut looking at Cradle Mountain. The clouds have started to move in more and are a lot darker.

Talked to some people who just came down from Hanson’s Peak (on the ridge I said looked more like a cradle).They said the views are good but it is a rocky climb with chain to hang onto – decided we are not that adventurous. They have done the Overland Hike a few times and are disgusted with some of the people that come up from the other side with the grog etc and leave a mess. It is sad these idiots are ruining things for everyone and they mustn’t really being doing it for the enjoyment, just to tick it off as “done”. He said the Overland Hike costs $200 as well as the NP pass. 

We decided the walk back to Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool would do us, then a few shorter walks as we headed back out of the Park.

Button grass.

Only a little way down the track we overlooked the Lake.

Then we went down the hill edge to the Lake, which means we will be climbing back up!! 

The lake water goes into Lilla River which works its way down the Valley. The water from Dove Lake goes down Dove River on the other side of the ridge to meet Lilla River at the wide part of the valley near Ronny Creek car park. Trying to follow where the rivers go is interesting. Then the water goes into the Iris River which flows into Lake Gairdner (where we were going to camp) – another dam there. That flows into the Willmot River and meets the sea at Turners Beach.

The river disappears into the lowlands.

We could do the Overland Track from here – only 5 days!! The sign said 15mins to Wombat Pool so off we went. 

15 minutes uphill!!! More stairs – we are not complaining but maybe a bit more info on the signs!! There was a family ahead of us so we had to keep up with the kids!!

Top photos looking over Lake Lilla to Dove Lake and part of Cradle Mountain. Notice the difference in the water height.

Lucky I had to stop a lot to take photos as we climbed up!!

Over the hill and down again to a lovely little pool but that wasn’t Wombat Pool so on we went.

Finally overlooking Wombat Pool.

Looking over Wombat Pool to another track leading up the ridge to get to Marion’s Lookout.

Down the boardwalk to the seating area – someone said we might see a platypus. Must be wombats here as there is lots of poo everywhere.

Looking down the valley where the river will go.

Zoomed in on hikers on the ridge.

Great view over the pool which is now “poo” to Cradle Mountain left peak.

Back down the steps to Lake Lilla.

This sign on the exit side of the Dove Lake Circuit as they make you go clockwise around the lake. Would be better at the start!!

Back to the truck for a cuppa, getting a bit cooler now as the clouds close in, so on with the jumper.

Last shot of the Mountain and closer into the rocky outcrop.

Top end of Cradle Valley with the boardwalk going down beside Dove River.

Stopped at Waldheim the home built by Gustav Weindorfer who discovered Cradle Mountain. He believed this area should be made a National Park when he was sitting on the summit of the Mountain and declared “this must be a National Park for the people for all time.” Very interesting.  His chalet that he started building in 1912 from the King Billy Pine in the area has been rebuilt.

He started in March 1912, over the years he kept adding more rooms. His wife Kate was an enthusiastic botanist, unfortunately she died in1916. A recording told you of his story and there were interesting information boards to read. Gustav died in 1932 then Lionel Connell took over running the Chalet. He was appointed the first officially appointed ranger of the Cradle Mountain area. He and his wife made it a homely place and added more rooms.

Wombats like it too now that he isn’t putting them in his stew!!

Unfortunately after the war and over time the building fell into neglect and with the snow crushing it, it was condemned and demolished in 1976 and this replica was built.

The bath house. The water was freezing!! Would make a good shack up at Maytown.

Walked around the forest – so enchanted. Could imagine living up here in the snow. Sounds romantic but would have been a hard life but they loved it.

Out of the walk to the Picnic Hut built by Connell. Looks over Cradle Valley. Going to the right you can follow the boardwalk around the back to Crater Lake and the longer but not as steep ascent to Marions Lookout.

Good information about the creation of Cradle Mountain.

Obviously they used to have lovely fires but now it is electric heaters!!

Beside another building was this cairn with direction dial on top, dedicated to Mr Connell.

Gustav is buried here and following Austrian tradition everyone meets there on New Years Day to celebrate his life.

Further down we stopped at another NP Centre and followed the boardwalk to Pencil Pine Falls on Pencil Pine Creek.

A love lock. The only one and it is heart shaped. Cute.

A few tree info plaques along the way. This one is Myrtle Beech.

 Steve straightening up a Pencil Pine.

 Lots of fallen trees here. Does make it look messy though as they just leave it all where it falls.

Another cute echidna enjoying a snack.

Across the road is a little fall then we followed another path called Enchanted Walk upstream of the Pencil Pine Falls. Sign said we might spot a wombat!!

Lovely Pencil Pines.

This bridge has a 4 person load limit!!

Lovely creek.

Saw a Scarlett Robin – so cute.

Passed lots of wombat holes.

As we came into a clearing there he was - a wombat. He was happily munching on the grass so we just stood and watched him for a bit – lots or photos and a video. Looks so much healthier than the one at Wilsons Promontory.

Has some nasty looking claws so didn’t try to pat him.

The misty drizzle has started so we skipped the walk to Knyvet Falls.

Headed for home past the dead trees.

Another wombat beside the road. Can’t find one then they pop up everywhere. Scared another one back into the bush as we headed back along the main road.

Stopped for photo of the Post Office tree. This area (Middlesex and Daisy Dell) was huge logging area.

Mr Emu came over for a chat.

This farm sells lots of different things – not sure if that is $60 for an emu alive – or emu meat!!

Passed the turn off to Lemonthyme Lodge where there is another couple of waterfalls but a lot longer walk to them so decided we had enough waterfalls to see.

Did the hard left hand turn on the narrow dirt road down to Lake Gairdner. Wasn’t that bad – Steve would have come down – the lady just made it sound dangerous but she didn’t like visitors at all!! The lake is low too. A couple of campers here but you are miles from the lake.

Iris River (we crossed it at Cradle Mountain) feeds into the lake.

Zoomed in on Willmot dam wall at the other end.

Cute letterbox.

Back up to Moina and we followed another dirt road to Willmot Dam which we could see from the Lake Gairdner camp site. Couldn’t get to the dam, just the boat ramp.

Back onto the steep descent down to Forth River. Steve amazed at 100 speed sign for the descent. Turned into road to Lake Cethuna Lookout. This is the dam wall we look at as we cross the Forth River.

  The water seems to flow round the left of the dam and down into the river.

Looking up the hillside is a huge pipeline going straight up. The water from Willmot Dam (Lake Gairdner) flows down the pipeline and into the power station below then into Lake Cethuna. Quite a complex system.

Wouldn’t want the job of checking the pipes – check out the stairs!!

Stopped at the big sheds of the Hydro Tasmania site which has a huge 9 panel mural depicting the Hydro system.

Great information too to explain where all the water goes etc.

Back to camp, remembered to take a photo of our campsite for the blog.

It is dark for 6pm as the sky is quite heavy. Some overseas campers (in a very little car with a tent on the roof) and another Qld couple had a fire going. We were going to join them after dinner but the rain put a stop to that.

Quiet night recovering from a big day walking.