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[cathypault]

Day 11 Tasmanian holiday

We left the Hermskirk Hotel Motel, The Thirsty Camel at Zeehan at 8.40am ? 20120km.The weather is showery. We have decided not to go to Trial Harbour and to Corinna , instead we are heading for Cradle Mountain as it is the best time in the next few days weather wise. We stopped at Melton Flats 9.00 ? 20134km and had a look at Renison Bell which is an old Hotel Site. The walking track is closed. We turned off to go to Montezuma Falls 9.15, 20150, started to drive up but realised it was a 3 hour walk and in the rain. We have decided to give this one a miss, all is good, that goes in the next time file. We went through Rosebury at 20155km and it is 9.20am. As it was raining we didn?t stop. At Tullah 20169, 9.35 turned off to Mackintosh Dam. It is very cloudy but the rain has eased. Only a smallish dam but very pretty with the low clouds. Turned off to Cradle Mountain ? 20208km ? 10.20.

Drove straight up to Dove Lake the showers have cleared but are still around. Cradle Mountain was half in cloud but we could see it, that?s what we came to see. Unsure of the weather we took a short walk to Glacier Rock then back to the car park, wondering whether to do the full circuit. What the heck, only here once if we are going to walk and get wet lets go to the top. Let?s at least make it to the Wombat Pool. It?s too beautiful not to go further and we haven?t got wet yet. The next thing we are asking the walkers coming towards us about Marion?s Lookout and the next thing we are there sitting in the chair. We would never have forgiven ourselves if we hadn?t done it. What a panorama, very cold wind but exhilarating. The views up here are second to none. Cradle Mountain is still only showing the left side and keeping the right under cloud. We climbed back down and decided to go back via Crater Lake and Crater Falls to Ronny?s Creek car park and catch the shuttle bus back to the car. An excellent decision again, Crater Lake and the falls were wonderful, the autumn colours were spectacular. Lucky for digital cameras, otherwise you would need a back pack just for the films. Just before we got back to the car park a Wombat and baby right beside the track feeding away. Maybe not so special to the southerners but a special treat to a Banana Bender. We still haven?t seen one of those Platypus. The Shuttle bus driver was ambivalent about us seeing a Wombat, ?see em all the time? but guess what, he had just seen a Platypus. Yeah right. He was amazed that we were half way through our trip and hadn?t seen one yet. Anyway he went to great lengths to write down for us where we were certain to see one at Latrobe. He seemed very genuine and most helpful. We booked into the Cosy Cabins and stocked up on enough provisions and frozen pizzas etc to feed an army. You can?t believe how good a chocolate bar can taste when you haven?t eaten all day. We certainly had a healthy appetite after all the walking, not to mention the thirst that only ale could quench. We settled in for the night. Once we worked out the gas heater we were warming up nicely. The spa was going to be the reward for all that walking, but alas Huon Pine brown water doesn?t quite do it! Just have to use your imagination and pretend you?re bathing in Boags and all is good.

Cradle Mountain was a real treat it is going to be very hard to beat.

Off to the north West tomorrow

[Mystic]

Sounds like a great day. The armchair at Marion's is very welcome after the trek up there, but that view is astounding as you say.

Montezuma is definitely worth seeing next time you return. A good idea to do it in warmer weather though as the track can be particularly cold due to lack of sunlight ever getting through the canopy, but a very nice walk with a great set of falls at the end.

[Shane V]

It sounds like you had a very busy day indeed. Great read and can't wait for the next part of your adventure.