A beautiful morning dawned in Cradle Mountain National Park as we packed up and headed out for a hike around Dove Lake, one of several lakes in the Park.. Once again, time did not permit an extensive hike, but the beauty of the scenery made up for lack of time. As you can see in the picture, there was not a cloud in the sky which made the reflection of Cradle Mountain in the clear lake the most perfect mirror I've ever seen. Reminded me of the Lake Country in Argentina. The streams were home to brown trout and were so pure we took a drink from them.
The photo of Dove Lake and Cradle Mtn. is of me taking a sip from the lake.
Following the hike we had a site inspection of the various cabins at the famous Cradle Mountain Lodge which is a property I often recommend for my clients. Accompanying us on our walk through the property was a cute little pademelon. Not at all shy, he resembled a miniature kangaroo and had a pouch. I was able to get within 3 ft. to take his picture.
The drive north to Burnie on theBass Strait was a very scenic drive with rolling green hillsides and many “happy cows.” I'll have to add this region to my list of Happy Cow sites which includes New Zealand, The Netherlands and Normandy. Lunch was a delicious meal of fresh fish and chips at the Fish Frenzy on the waterfront in Burnie.
Another 1 1/2hr drive through lush green hills and more Happy Cows brought us to the Tall Timbers Resort in northern Tasmania. Not even taking the time to check into our rooms, we were loaded into a 14-seater 4WD for a “wild” ride to the largest cool temperate rainforest in the southern hemisphere. Rob, our guide with Tall Timbers Adventures, was incredibly knowledgeable and described this very unique region to us in great detail. I know I am losing credibility with my readers, but this was absolutely the most beautiful rainforest I have ever seen. I used up my camera battery trying to capture its beauty in a picture. The light from this bright sunny day filtered through the trees and ferns to transform the entire vista into a magical scene. Besides ancient trees and lush ferns, there were cascading waterfalls and rapidly-flowing creeks. As the sun started to set, we reluctantly made our way back to our 4WD for a ride that was similar to ones you pay for in amusement parks. If it weren't for seat belts we would have bounced out of the vehicle.
Another delicious meal at resort followed with the freshest and sweetest oysters I had ever eaten. They had definitely been swimming in the Straits this morning!
Tomorrow is our last day in Australia as we make our way eastward toward Launceston for our return flight on Sunday. To soften the disappointment of leaving Tasmania, we will stop for a wine tasting and lunch at one of Tasmania's best-known vineyards.
Linda
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