We say goodbye to the ocean, the coasts, the cliffs and the beaches. What awaits us in this fifth stage of our roadtrip through Tasmania is one of the most famous national parks on the island: Cradle Mountain National Park. ¿Why is it so important? This vast area of territory in the heart of Tasmania, World Heritage, houses river forests, alpine lakes, high mountains and long valleys, rivers and waterfalls.
So it is the perfect place for nature and hiking lovers. There are short trekking options of a few km, some somewhat longer and the world-famous Overland Track. We tell you more about this national park, what are the unmissable visits and what to see and do.
These are the main data of the route:
- Point: Burnie
- Final point: Russell Falls
- Total km: 407 km
A hard day awaited us ahead. We set course early Tasmanian Highlands Center and when we barely leave the coast the rain begins. Everything is wet and we see a couple of recent accidents, so we take it easy. The roads in Tasmania in general are in good condition (those that are paved ... you know), but you always have to increase the precautions with the water.
To get to Cradle Mountain Visitor Center The rain has not stopped and it does not seem that it will do so in the next few hours. We have the first doubts. Our intention is to do the trekking around Dove Lake, 6 km ... but with rain, we certainly don't enjoy it. We wait a little longer and the dripping of people and water is constant. But what the hell, it's just water! So in the end we decided to do it, let alone!
With the payment of the entrance to the national park or if you have a season pass, you have the possibility to use the bus which connects several of the points of this park. You can also go with your own car, but there is a limit of 50 cars at a time, beyond the Ranger station, so on fairly busy days you may have to wait there for a long time until they give you the green light.
As we told you, the Cradle Mountain National Park Ideal to stretch your legs a little and do some exercise. So many people come here to tour some of their famous walks. There are for all tastes, from short trips around the information point (perfect for families), other medium ones of several kilometers ideal for people who do not have too much time, like us, but who allow you a first contact with the place. Until the Overland track, which starts here and ends at a point 65 km away and after 6 days of walking! Here you have more info.
Entrance to Cradle Mountain National Park
- The ticket costs $ 16.50 per person (includes the bus).
- It is included in the 8 week pass ($ 60 per vehicle for up to 8 people).
- It is the only park that is excluded in the $ 24 daily pass
- More information about passes.
We got off the bus at the last stop to make the Dove Lake circuit walk and it was raining more and more, but we couldn't wait for long, so we covered ourselves well and started walking. After 10 minutes we reach the first viewpoint (Glacier Rock) and the water continues to fall without truce. But thereafter it seems that our pleas took effect and, although timidly, the sun was seen from time to time. At least the rain stopped, and we were able to complete the tour very happy!
We made the 6 km around the lake in 1 hour and 45 minutes, keep in mind that the bus takes about 15 minutes to arrive from the parking lot, and they leave every 15 minutes.
→ More information about Cradle Mountain National Park
In the afternoon we follow the path and pass by Queenstown,a town with occasional motels and a great mining history. When you leave it you will have to ascend a winding road not suitable for those who suffer from vertigo. Above all is the Horsetail fallIf the road did not scare you, try to make the path that reaches its viewpoint, down the side of the rock.
From here the road crosses the interior of the country through forests, lakes, fields and farms. At this point in the trip you will have already noticed that in Tasmania there are not precisely highways and the main road that crosses the country is the closest thing to the one that joins two lost villages of Castile. But the landscapes are so extraordinary that you don't even care.
We stop at the Nelson Falls (20 minute round trip trail) and from here we start giving you a shoe to arrive by day to the campsite where we will spend the night. The sun begins to fall on the lakes and the day comes to an end. We stay in the town of Ellendale, near the Russell Fall, but about 7 km before there is a campsite with a bathroom where, in principle, they can only camp self-contacted, although we saw campers like ours without a bathroom. The place was prettier.
* Main photo: Shutterstock
