[the_camera_poser]

What an awesome walk!!! If I was going to experience one thing in Tassie, and I wasn't in the mood for a big workout, I'd do this one!

We walked this on the 13th of July- we got rained on, snowed on, sleeted on and sunned on- it was awesome! We were adequately dressed, so we didn't have problems, and this is one I'd definitely make sure ot bring wet weather gear on, regardless of the forecast!

The trail itself is excellent- nice even grade for the whole length, totally impossible to get lost on, and boardwalked over the muddy bits. There's plenty of little side trips, one to Glacier Rock is outstanding. Do note, the times I've done this trail it has been busy, irregardless of the weather or time of year. This is not the place to get peace and quiet.

I'd say average walking time would be 2 hours, with reasonable stops. We did it in 4 1/2, due to a few photo stops. My 4 year old walked the whole way with us.

Make sure you bring sun tan lotion and salt to repel your friendly neighbourhood leech.

Also, stop and have a look at Weindorfer's Forest, by Waldheim- it's a magnificent short (15 min) walk in the beech forest.

[Mystic]

You make it sound so very appealing, esepcially the bit about friendly leeches

Thanks for a great description and some excellent shots. Very nice captures.

[Shane V]

We have yet to do this one and from your description it is one we will do. Thanks for your post and shots

[Shane V]

Finally got around to playing with most of my shots for this walk. Mystic and I got around to doing it on Friday. It was a great walk, one I would love to do again, but I think the next time it will be done anti clockwise, the hill at the boat shed end is steepish, but not overly so, and I think would be more comfortable doing on fresh legs. Most of the walk is reasonably flat and boarded, and it looks they are upgrading sections of it with new boards. Anyway, enjoy the shots from our wander.


Looking across Dove Lake to the boat shed




A couple of different views from the track


The cloud starting to lift to reveal the little horn of Cradle Mountain


Along the walk you will see many different species of plants including Pandani, Fagus, Eucalypts and others


Fagus



Add to that a lot of mushrooms,fungi and little critters







One part has the name Ballroom Forest, (Formal attire required ) A beautiful rainforest environment.



When leaving the forest you are greeted with views of the mountain and Dove lake, and a waterfall tumbling over the side of the mountain.








A pond along side the track


The Boat Shed and of course...


Cradle Mountain

[dave]

I gotta agree folks it's a must do, we did it in feb (my avatar shot is of dove lake) weather very kind, not many people (only seen 4 others on the walk with us) didn't see the waterfall but loved the rock overhang and the reflections in the lake, simply stunning!

[Shane V]

When I was taking the pix of the caterpillar I caused a traffic jam , was cool. You know what really gets me...people do these walks, and I reckon the only reason they do is to say that they've done them. What do they see? I bet most of the people behind me didn't see the caterpillar. This walk took us between 3.5 and 4 hours, but I think it would have taken longer if there weren't so many people on the track at the time.

It is a beautiful place, with so much to see. Glad you like the shots Dave. Have you got some to share from your walk?

[dave]

yes I have a cd full here somewhere Shane but it's a matter of digging it out, our house is up for sale so we have packed a fair bit away and we are also getting ready to shoot off to uluru on the 7th of next month, well coober pedy on the 7th then the rock on the 8th, mate i know what you mean about traffic jam the folks we met seemed to just want to get the walk over and done with, they were passing us on the boardwalk and walking over the top of us at the little foreshore, I don't think they seen too much, what had me worried was the buses that scoot backwards and forwards and dont give a damn about who or what is on the road or where you are, well that and falling off the boardwalk just by the boathouse because a couple of people wanted their lunch there and refused to move, but I love the shots, fantastic as usual!!

[Mystic]

Yep great shots Shane. Have to agree with the sentiments about the traffic and the nature of the people doing the walk. I can understand that some power walk for fitness, but seriously, in a beautiful place like this isn't it far better to take your time and observe the world you are passing through? Like Shane said, we did it in about 4 hours, but had there have been less people it probably would have taken much longer as we kept going past a number of spots that would have been nice to check out, if they had not been crawling with people.

Was kind of funny with one Canadian couple we met along this walk though. They too would be stopping often to photograph small details and we kept overtaking each other for the vast majority of the walk.

I do disagree with the original poster saying it was "a nice even grade for the entire walk" as there are some quite steep sections, especially if you walk clockwise, and there are also many steps to negotiate. A great walk though for sure, and one I would love to do again.

Pandani (ok, not strictly on the Dove Lake Circuit..Ronny Creek)


Pandani again, but this time on the circuit


Fagus leaves


Stream in the Ballroom Forest

[dave]

Anna I too found a couple of "steep and awkward" spots coming around the walk but thought maybe it was just me, power walking as you say can be done anywhere but I really think a fantastic spot like this should be just for the pure pleasure of simply being there, maybe power walk on the way to it and the way back but leave the tracks for the enjoyment of the place, when we were on Kangaroo island last we did nearly all walks and could not get over the drongoes doing the "platypus walk" at full speed, signs everywhere to say "if you are quiet enough you may just spot a platypus" and here are these folks roaring along and yakking to each other as if they are in rundle mall, tis a shame, they just dont get it, ................................I love your "pandani", you blokes leave my photography for dead!

[Mystic]

Thanks Dave. Apart from the power walkers the thing I am starting to see more often is people walking through rainforests filled with bird song...with their ears plugged by an ipod on full blast. One of the greatest pleasures I personally get from these types of walk is the diversity of beautiful sounds, and will often just stop and listen for a while.

One shot I forgot to add above shows just how clear the water in Dove Lake is. If it wasn't for the reflections of the trees on the surface I doubt anyone would believe this is a shot of water.