Cradle Mountain

As I had been lucky with time and weather on my day of arrival in Launceston, I had accomplished more than expected and had today free.  The Singaporean women I met yesterday raved about Cradle Mountain and had paid AUD200+ for the car rental because that was the going rate.

But seeing that I managed to get a good rate of AUD73 from Europcar around the corner from the hotel, while looking online last night, it seemed like a waste to not go and at least do something.

I turned up at the Europcar office at their opening time of 0800 and was on the road at 0815 in a Mitsubishi ASX.  After 45 mins on the motorway, the roads became country roads and later rather windy as I ascended to the tableland.  Driving became easier once again when on the tableland.

About 2h and 140 km after I had commenced, I was at the visitor centre at Cradle Mountain & Lake St Clair National Park.

I paid my park fee of AUD25 and just missed the shuttle bus that takes visitors to the various points to begin their hikes.  I grabbed a pie and waited for the next one which came along about 15 mins later.

Getting dropped off at Dove Point stop around 1100 I commenced my walk around Dove Lake.  It was an easy walk on unsealed track and boardwalk (wood with chicken wire or sometimes metal grate).

It was cloudy when I first saw Cradle Mountain and it didn’t look the best.  The weather cleared up quite nicely during the second half of the walk which lasted just under 2h.  The most scenic part of the walk was about halfway where it was very lush and green at Ballroom Forest.

Text continues after this gallery.

While I didn’t have the stunning weather that the Singaporeans had, having not a drop of rain is already a blessing.

Finishing up my walk around 1300, I had about an hour to spare.  I decided to visit the Tasmanian Devil centre which was inconveniently located between two stops.  That would require a walk to get to it and a walk after.  Getting to the centre, I was put off by the AUD25 fee.

There wasn’t enough time to do another walk, especially when one considers the possible waiting time for the shuttle.

I started my drive back to Launceston around 1400.  It rained heavily as I approached the city.  With a stop at Sheffield for a scallop pie and coffee, and then filling up the car, I reached Europcar at 1630 which was 30 mins before their closing.  They have no after-hours return.

The friendly Nepali staff told me that it had rained all day in Launceston, so I had made the right choice making an outing!

The Mitsi ASX didn’t seem that economical.  It drank 24 litres for the 280 km journey and cost me AUD43.  With the car rental and park entry fee, the total added up to what a tour would have cost.

The excursion wasn’t as great as described by the Singaporeans.  They’re city folks and I had just been to Switzerland recently.  Plus, they had awesome weather.  The lesson is to never take recommendations at face value.  Nevertheless, it was still a good day.  No regrets but no wombats either.