Tasmania - Cradle Mountain

16 - 18 January 2017

Every tree trunk is a miniature garden.

Cradle Mountain has been a favourite destination since our first visit 11 years ago. We always try to spend a few days there and this trip was no exception. Because we only booked a few weeks in advance we could only get two nights at our chosen accommodation. We drove from Devonport through Forth and on to Cradle Mountain (actually Cradle Valley but everyone knows it as Cradle Mountain). We checked into our cabin and spent a relaxing afternoon soaking up the atmosphere with a bush view.

Black Currawong (endemic). The following shots were all taken from the balcony of our cabin.

Scrubtit (endemic).

Echidnas are fairly common.

Tasmanian Scrubwren (endemic).

Tasmanian Scrubwren (endemic).

We decided this visit to go to Devils@Cradle, a Tasmanian Devil Sanctuary. This conservation facility houses devils, as well as their nearest living relatives, the Spotted and Eastern-tail Quolls. This is a research, breeding, education and tourist facility that I can highly recommend. For $18 per adult we could wander the grounds on our own or join a tour - we did both. Advertised as taking about 45 minutes, ours took much longer as our experienced and highly knowledgeable guide provided essential information about the plight and future of the Tasmanian Devil. All aspects of devil life and behaviour were covered, including the fascinating but worrying Devil Facial Tumor Disease. Please visit if you get the chance.

Spotted-tailed or Tiger Quoll.

Eastern Quoll

Tasmanian Devil, a close relative of the quoll.

One of the residents.

This Flame Robin was gathering food for nestlings as we walked around the enclosures.

Besides the devils and quolls, this is also a great birding destination. I saw Flame Robin, Yellow-throated Honeyeater, Scrubtit, Tasmanian Scrubwren and Crescent Honeyeater. Mick

In the afternoon we set off for the visitor centre where we obtained our bus tickets. Visitors require a National Parks Pass, which entitles you to free transport to and from Dove Lake by bus. The bus makes a number of stops along the way - at the Ranger Station, Snake Hill, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake. The walk around Dove Lake is well worth the effort but we chose to disembark at Ronny Creek and walk a short way towards Lake Lilla and then backtrack to the bus stop, then down to Snake Hill, all along the boardwalk. This is a beautiful walk which is on boardwalk with some steps up and down hills. The views are fantastic and there is the opportunity to see wombats and echindas.

The boardwalk winds through Button Grass and alpine ferns.

We returned to Devonport via Sheffield with its magnificent views of Mount Roland, which had the photographer stopping to take a few snaps.