Cradle Mountain redux

Garry and I have spent time at Cradle Mountain on two separate occasions. Each time we’ve stayed in the beautifully appointed Spa Cabins at Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village. I’m delighted to report that despite the passing of a decade, these cabins remain in excellent condition. Matt and Shelley certainly enjoyed their bush-clad surroundings.

Our next two days were spent Wombat watching and hiking two of the national park’s most popular walks. The four of us walked the Dove Lake circuit one day, while Matt, Shelley and I walked the Cradle Valley Boardwalk back from Rony Creek on the second day. The boardwalk was a first for me.

Surprisingly, the wombats were out in force in the middle of the day during our entire stay. Apparently, the cooler weather brings these crepuscular animals out during daylight in the cooler seasons. Another first for Garry and me. 

We also clocked another first-time experience while visiting the Devils at Cradle Sanctuary. I booked us into an evening tour of the wildfire park on our second night at Cradle Mountain. Our tour began with a session where we got to touch a Tasmanian Devil before venturing outside to help feed a hungry pack of devils.

Our final days in Tasmania were spent retracing our steps back to Hobart via the Highland Lakes Highway for a final night. Our route through the highland lake district was another new experience for Garry and me. We also stopped at a truffle farm to sample some of its wares. I boldly bought a Summer truffle on offer. Garry and I spent the following week finding recipes to make the most of this delicate ingredient.

On our final morning in Tasmania, before heading for the airport, we made a quick dash up Mount Wellington to the Springs Lookout. The spectacular panoramic view of Hobart, the Derwent River, and the surrounding harbour proved a fitting way to bring our island holiday to an end.