Cradle Mountain (4) Tasmania.

Firstly it rained all night and cradle mountain had a light covering of snow. We wiz up to the Mountain for a quick picture, stopping on the return to do a quick 40min walk to Weindorfer's Lodge & rain forest walk.
Gustav Weindorfer born in Austria in 1874, he was an Australian amateur botanist, lodge keeper and promoter of Cradle Mountain National Park. His word's  "Cradle Mountain must be a National park for the people for all time"  You need to visit to appreciate the full history and story. Gustav was trying to leave Cradle Mountain on a motorbike in May 1932, struggling to start his motor bike, his heart gave in and he died.

A dusting of overnight snow.

Very pretty & more snow on it's way.

A bird?

The sun is shining.

Weindorfers Lodge.

Inside the lodge to learn about the history of Cradle Mountain.

The Bathhouse.

Weindorfers Forest Walk, strolling through the forest, we saw ancient King billy Pines, pandani and deciduous beech. The wild life is very active in this area.

A pretty stream.

Green moss carpets and trickling water all around.

Steve.

The bridge that leads to Weindorfers lodge.

Surprise, another Wombat!!

A Wallabie.

A Tasmanian Pademelon .

Different Tree.

The rain is coming in fast.

Pencil Pine Falls & Rainforest Walk.

This circuit meanders through mature pencil pine & myrtle rainforest and ends near Pencil Pine Falls.

Pencil Pine Falls.

The Enchanted Walk.

This walk takes you from the bridge with cascading fall's, passing by cascades, pools,  button grass plains & rainforest, which includes waratah, mountain pepper and leatherwood. A stunning little walk. 

Rushing Cascades after heavy rain.

Pretty.

Gentle flowing in parts.

Lush Fern forest carpet. 

Fast flowing today.

Green & very wet.

A Wombat having a pee on the veranda, where we had stopped for coffee!!

The day was full of sun, lot's of rain, sleet, hail & was very cold. However we loved every minute of Cradle Mountain!!

Cradle Mountain (3) Tasmania.

Up early and catch the bus to Dove Lake (934M), where our walk begins today. Dove Lake to Marion's look out - this route is more direct, yet very rough terrain & extremely steep! Next Marion's look out  via the Overland track  to Cradle Plateau (1300m high). A variety of alpine plants can be seen here - cushion plants, alpine daisies & pineapple grass. More importantly we are up above some snow, and had to trek through three snow fields, which would have been sooooooo exciting, had it not of been so cold and windy! We have a quick look at the kitchen hut. Now we are on our final leg to Cradle Mountain Summit-  - it's so cold and windy, time to cling on!!
I progressed slowly up the summit track and decided to turn back, as freezing, extreme wind gusts and I was worried my little legs wouldn't make it all the way back. I head back to the kitchen hut for my lunch and to wait for Steve.
Steve progresses up the final track to the summit, the cloud is very low and black. Steve was clinging & scrambling over huge dolerite boulders and the wind was horrendous, this and very little visibility. It really wasn't a pleasant environment to be in.
Lunch back at the kitchen hut, onto Marion's look out, back to Ronny creek via Crater lake  (1034m).
some very pretty waterfalls and plenty of Wombats to be seen!
Todays distances total Steve 18.5km. Me 17km. A lot of steep climbs. They are expecting more snow this week!!!

Me making the climb.

Excellent topography.

Nice Vista.

Me lagging behind as always.

Splendid scenery.

Gorgeous.

Me at Marion's look out - starting to get windy now.

The snow through the bushes, actually below us now.(Dove Lake in the distance)

Me & snow, getting cold now.

Getting closer, Cradle Mountain.

Steve.

Crossing the snow field.

Me in the snow.

Nice.

Low cloud - not good.

The kitchen hut, just below the Summit.

Lunch stop. (anything to get out of the wind).

Views near the summit.

Very poor visibility.

Amazing.

Happy to be on the way back down, but am soooo cold.

Crater Lake Boat house.

Steve on the way down, heading to Ronny creek.

Lots of pretty water falls.

Cascading water from the Mountains.

Nice fresh water.

Lush green fern, everywhere.

Wombat's everywhere.