Our
next stop was the Cradle Mountain / Lake St Clair National Park.
We stayed one night only at the
Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village, where we had a very comfortable
and well-appointed 2-br chalet. Next time we'll be sure to stay at least
3 or 4 days at Cradle Mountain: there is so much to see and do.
A highlight of our holiday was when we saw three wombats snuffling
around at twilight: they are just such endearing creatures!
It
is so unfair that they have to be called either "hairy-nosed"
or "common". How would you be?
All the walks are beautiful, ranging from the 1/2 hour jobs to 5 or 6
hour round trips for the more energetic.
Where the walk goes through the
rain forest, boardwalks have been built to protect the fynbos ... the
Taswegians do not want heavy-footed tourists demolishing the delicate
ecology of their pristine wilderness.
From Cradle Mountain there are also suggested day-trip drives,
where you make four of five stops at beauty spots and places of
interest: the lavender farm, wineries, a lovely country pub for lunch,
etc.
In the afternoon Dickie did the 2-hr hike round Dove Lake at the foot
of Cradle Mountain: after an energetic morning's walking in very cold
and damp weather, Caroline and I begged off that one in favour of
vegging out in our cosy, warm sitting room with tea and Tasmanian
leatherwood honey toast (very unusual: a hint of licorice in the aroma).
