Tasmania (Day 3) : From Cradle Mountain to Sheffield to Deloraine

Two nights stay in the dorm was over and our stuff were all packed back in our backpacks again. Last day of the trip came, a signal that our trip is almost over in few hours. Three days was not enough to see the whole island of Tasmania but I am already thankful I had a chance to see some part of it. I wished my holiday will be longer, but I was not in Australia for touring but for work so I cannot really extend my holiday plan. I am lucky enough for having a chance to see the island even for just few days. Though it was the last day tour of the group, I was looking forward on that day like it was first day. Main reason of my excitement was because of Cradle Mountain, as mountain always amaze me whether I see it from a distance or up-close. I was delighted when I learned that the group will do a bit of trekking and bush walking in one of the famous national park in the island and in Australia.

Cradle Mountain

P1090476_s

From Tullah (the place we stayed the two nights in Tasmania), we drove towards Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and we stayed in the road for at least an hour. On our way, I watched the surroundings attentively in my window and before we reached the parking area, there was a part of the road that we passed where I saw a seemingly endless wilderness.  I felt I can’t get enough of what I am seeing at that time and I felt an overwhelming contentment in my heart for just being there at that moment. I cannot comprehend that I am actually seeing nature, vast space and remoteness of the place. My wandering thoughts stopped after the van parked near Dove Lake. We got off the vehicle from the parking and as we wait for the group to reassemble, we stopped near Dove Lake, a lake with amazing beautiful background of Cradle Mountain. After enjoying the lake up close, we started the trek and bush walk.

P1090477_s

P1090478_s

P1090481_s

Dove Lake with Cradle Mountain

1241_s

P1090480_s

P1090479_s

 

With Dove Lake Boatshed

We trekked Marions Lookout which is a great spot to see Cradle Mountain closer from the top. It is the same spot to see Dove Lake and Crater Lake which offers scenic views from the lookout and have 360 degree view of national park’s wilderness. The group had a great time not only for taking photos in the lookout but having fun in posing and jumping with beautiful scenery that surrounds everyone.

P1090492_s

P1090489_s

P1090491_s

 

Dove Lake

P1090493_s

P1090494_s

Cradle Mountain

P1090514_s2

P1090518_S

 

Crater Lake

P1090519_s

 

P1090521_s

P1090526_s

 

 

P1090552_s

P1090554_s

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Claire National Park

When we had enough in enjoying the scenery of the national parks wilderness from the lookout, we trekked down and continued bush walking.  What great about the walk was we had a chance to see the beauty and remoteness of the place. The group followed the walking tracks in placed in the park and along the walks we spotted a wombat. Our walks continue as we reached the considered historical accommodation in Cradle Mountain which is Waldheim Chalet.

P1090557_s

P1090559_s

 

Waldheim Chalet

Waldheim Chalet is a restored or replica of the rustic homes of couple whom discovered the Cradle Mountain – Gustav and Kate Weindorfer. The said accommodation is the nearest one in the national park.

Sheffield – Town of Murals

P1090571_s

After hiking in Cradle Mountain, we drove to Sheffield – a town of Murals where we took our lunch. After lunch, we walked around a bit and we found that its title of being Town of Murals is proven to be true and it stand on its title which made Sheffield an interesting place to visit.

Below are some of the murals that I was able to capture during the visit.

  • Stillness and Warmth

P1090574_s

P1090577_s

First mural painted for town’s mural project which completed last 1986. The painting portrays Gustav Weindorfer who made effort to make Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair  a National Park.

  • Masonic Lodge Symbols

P1090576_s

This mural (left) by John Lendis features some of the symbols found in a Freemason’s Lodge painted last 1992.

  • The Hardest Years

P1090575_s

Mural that depicts the typical rural life through a farmer and painted last year 2000 by Paul Wood and Mary Clancy.

  • No Boundaries (Left) and Still Free (Right)

P1090585_s

“No Boundaries” by Alicia Swiderski which inspired by children’s play.

Still Free” by Keith & Loretta Sommer and Winner of the Peoples’ Choice Award at Mural Fest 2013

  • Food Bowl

P1090581_s

Demonstration mural at Mural Fest 2012 by Julian Bale & Others.

  • “Hide and Seek”, “Poetic Stanza”, “Bonnie and Clyde”, & “Searching the Heart”

P1090584_s

From Mural Fest 2013 (left to right):

“Hide and Seek” which painted by Loren Wiffin with the concept of the imagination wild and free.

Poetic Stanza” created by Shannon Crees with thematic concerns of exotic surrealism and the boundless potential for beauty in utopian landscapes.

“Bonnie and Clyde” by John Eathorne and Leanne Tamas with the idea of Tasmanian convict woman breaks free, her cat awaits, both just a whisker away from the wild, both about to do a certain amount of unescourted roaming, while in their eyes, magic resides.

Searching the Heart” by Heather Sprott with concept of Nature itself is “freedom unrestrained”

  • Forth Falls

P1090580_s

The mural depicts the second and most spectacular of a series of seven falls which once cascaded down Forth Falls Creek and flowed into the Forth River. Painted by John Lendis in year 1990.

  • Tigers and Devils

P1090578_s

Painted by John Lendis last year 2000.

  • Christian Heritage

P1090582_s

P1090583_s

The historical roots of each Christian denomination in Kentish along with approximately 140 people are depicted in this mural. Created by Cheyne Purdue last 1988.

Here are other of snapshots around Sheffield.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Deloraine / Red Hills – 41 Degrees Salmon 

Our last stop before we ended the last day tour was a salmon farm called 41 Degrees Salmon where we had a chance to taste some of its salmon. After tasting experience, the group had some fun with the farm’s dog named George.

P1090597_s

P1090599_s

Then, we headed to Launceston, where I stayed for the night before flying back to Melbourne the next morning, while some of the group ended their trip back to Hobart. Before I wrapped up my day, I had dinner in one of the diners in the city and had a bit of night walk just around my accommodation, it was a quiet night indeed in Launceston.

 

Discovery : Waldheim Chalet

Discovery (Post#20) : Waldheim Chalet

After trekking and bush walking from Marions Lookout in Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park area, we reached Waldheim Cabins, a lodging at Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage site. Within the Cabins, we found a restored or replica of the rustic house of Gustav and Kate Weindorfer called Waldheim (“forest home”) Chalet which showcasing the life of the two while discovering Cradle Mountain which now extended up to Lake St Claire and become national park. These photos are part of Tasmania Adventure Photo Collection June 2013.

P1090557_s

P1090559_s

P1090560_s

P1090562_s

P1090564_s

Tasmania (Day 1) : From Mount Field to Lake St Clair to Donaghys Hill

I flew to Hobart from Melbourne at Sunday evening, June 16, 2013. I booked 3-Days tour from 17 to 19 and will return to Melbourne at 20th of the same month. I was booked for overnight stay at Edinburgh Gallery Bed & Breakfast for the next day’s start of adventure.

Monday, I woke-up early and had a quick breakfast in my accommodation which was a self-service at that time. Then, I checked-out by just dropping my room key into the drop box. I left the hotel early in the morning to go to the Pickled Frog hostel where the tour will pick-up the rest that will join the tour.

I was glad that my accommodation that I stayed in the city was not far from the pick-up point and just 5 minutes walk. When I arrived at the front of the hostel, there were  few people earlier than myself and already waiting. We waited in few more minutes until the vehicle for the tour arrived. The tour guide named Greg Price starts asking us for the tours and checks the names in his list, then we hopped on to the van.

Though it was drizzling cold Monday morning in Hobart, I was hoping to have a nice weather as I wanted to enjoy the few days adventure that I planned in Tasmania. From Hobart we drove to the north and as we were getting far from the city the weather was clearing which was a good sign.

Our first stop was Mount Field National Park. The tour that I signed up were more into nature adventure, therefore walking and trekking were not a surprising activity to do.

P1090276_s

We walked into the forest and Greg started discussing tidbits about national park and the giant or tallest trees. Then along the way we found a Tasmanian Pademelon. Though we were not so close to it, I had a chance to observed the cute nocturnal animal even from a distance, I even got a bonus since I was able to capture a snapshot of it (though photos are not so clear). It was one of the animals that I found in the notification board that we passed when we started the walk in the woods.

P1090279_s

Tasmanian Pademelon

After watching Tasmanian Pademelon for a couple of minutes, walks continued and we stopped a bit when we reach the Tallest Trees or Giant Trees (Eucalyptus Regnans) remains in the ground. What we saw were parts of the trees remains for years, one part still standing on the ground and one was fallen to the ground. Both remnants shows the hollow portion of the trees.

P1090282_s

P1090281_s

Tallest Trees (Eucalyptus Regnans) at the ground

When we were done with Tallest Trees, we walk towards Russell Falls. At that time of our visit, there at least portion of the water flows in the falls. It was one of the scenic falls that I discovered in my travel because it has layers, like stairs of falls that makes the water flows amazingly beautiful.

P1090284_s

Russell Falls

Along the walks, we found swamp, Tallest Tress and scarlet robin bird. Below were snapshots that I had:

P1090291_s

Swamp

P1090292_s

Swamp Gum (Eucalyptus Regnans)

P1090293_s

Scarlet Robin

P1090294_s

P1090296_s

Tasmanian Pademelon wood carved

Before we head for our lunch, we had a quick visit at Tarraleah Penstocks Lookout. The lookout is overlooking of Tarraleah Power Station including the huge pipes (penstocks) down to it. Looking at the photos of Hydro Tasmania, it reminded me the largest environmental movement occurred in Australia. As I see it, the company still somewhat able to push the project in another way.

P1090298_s

P1090297_s

Tarraleah Penstock Lookout

Next thing happened, we went for the lunch, a restaurant near Lake St Clair. After lunch we went to the lake side. And there, I witnessed how the lake was so calm at that time, a very serene scenery.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

P1090301_s

At Lake St Clair Lodge Restaurant

P1090327_s

P1090322_s

P1090313_s

Lake St Clair

After enjoying the lake, our last stop was a trek to Donaghys Hill Lookout. After a while of walking and trekking we reached the lookout. We climbed the stairs to reached its viewing platform and the next thing happened was enjoying a 360 degrees view of wonderful wilderness. I was thrilled of what I had seen at the lookout, a scenery worth to see.

P1090331_s

P1090335_s

P1090336_s

P1090341_s

P1090344_s

P1090369_s

P1090348_s

P1090353_s

Scenery at Donaghys Hill Lookout

P1090366_s

P1090356_s

P1090355_s

Franklin River

P1090372_s

After the first and jam-pack itinerary tour, we drove to Tullah where our dormitory accommodation is located.

Before we reached our designated accommodation, the group did some groceries in a small town called Queenstown. A historic town rose during the mining glory days in the island.

The first night that we stayed in our accommodation, we just chilled out to the pool bar restaurant nearby and had fun, since I don’t drink, juice and water were already enough for me during the dinner. Since I don’t play the pool games, I just watched my group playing it until the group decided it to call it a day. That’s how we ended the first day adventure in Tasmania.

3-Days Itinerary To Explore Tassie

Even though the season in Australia at that time was winter, the season cannot stop me from going somewhere. Because of the thoughts that I will be leaving Australia in August in that same year of 2013 and thinking that I will never be returning again during my first project, I really planned to see as much as I can while I am still in Australia. One of the plans that I made and put it into reality is to go to Tasmania or commonly called Tas or Tassie, the largest island following the mainland of Australia.

When I was planning to visit the island, I knew for myself, that if I wanted to see lot of places in Tasmania in just few days, the options available are either rent and drive a car then go to many places or join a multiple day tours available in the island. Driving is not an option to me since I don’t drive. My option left is to join a group tour. Because of that I searched if there are multiple days tour available for the island and after sometime of searching, I found a tour that fits my plan and I booked a 3-Days tour. Then, it followed by booking flights and accommodation.

The 3-Days tour that I booked was called Wild West Coast Tour of Jump Tours with the following itinerary:

Day 1: Mount Field, Russell Falls & Lake St Clair

P1090292_s

Tall Trees (Eucalyptus Regnans) at Mount Field National Park

P1090284_s

Russell Falls

P1090324_s

Lake St Clair

Day 2: Montezuma Falls, Strahan & Henty Dunes

P1090411_s

Montezuma Falls

P1090428_s

Strahan

P1090472_s

Henty Dunes

Day 3: Cradle Mountain & Sheffield

P1090478_s

Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake

P1090575_s

Sheffield

The tour that I booked starts from Hobart and ends at Launceston, two major cities in the island. So stay tune for the next post of my Tasmania adventure.

Juncture With Folk(s) : At Cradle Mountain

Juncture With Folk(s) (Post#4) : At Cradle Mountain

I can say that Cradle Mountain is my favorite for all itineraries that we have for the 3 days exploring around Tasmania. The photo is my souvenir shots with my group tour in Tassie. The photo is part of Tasmania Adventure Photo Collection June 2013.

P1090495_s

Precious Moment In The Mountain : Cradle Mountain

P1090516

Precious Moment In The Mountain (Post#12) : Cradle Mountain

When I visited Tasmania Island in Australia, I included a tour for Cradle Mountain. The said mountain is located in the Cradle Mountain-Lake Saint Claire National Park and it is one the main tourist site in the island. During the tour we did one of the available walks in the said park. I love the photo above because of the scenic view of Crater Lake from within the Cradle Mountain. Photo captured last June 2013.