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

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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.

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Dove Lake with Cradle Mountain

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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.

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Dove Lake

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Cradle Mountain

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Crater Lake

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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

  • The Hardest Years

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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)

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“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

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

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

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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

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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

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Painted by John Lendis last year 2000.

  • Christian Heritage

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

Panoramic View : Mount Roland

Panoramic View  (Post#28) : Mount Roland

When we were on our way to visit Sheffield town, I got a chance to see the stunning scenery of Mount Roland inside the vehicle. The mountain is a conservation area in the north-west coast of Tasmania and Sheffield is the nearest town at the vicinity of the mountain. The photo is part of Tasmania Adventure Photo Collection June 2013.

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Tasmania (Day 2) : From Montezuma Falls to Strahan to Henty Dunes

I cannot forget my travel in Tasmania because it was one of my travel that I felt how its freezing cold the winter season is in Australia. I experienced winter in Melbourne, but I seldom stayed outside for too long and since I stayed in apartment-hotel, I can control the temperature in my room. It was different when I was in Tasmania. The island is located at the southernmost which geographically nearer in Antarctica or south pole than in Melbourne. We stayed in the dormitory house where the heater is available at the living room/kitchen, therefore we can feel in our bed rooms the cold breeze coming from the outside that  sneaks to the walls and open space of the house. At first I thought that I will never be able to pull it through but in the end I survived the winter in the island.

We woke-up early in the morning. Everyone immediately prepared for the second day adventure. While I was wondering what to see and what we will do for that day, I can still feel the excitement within myself as I know we are going to places to explore and discover something. From the accommodation in Tullah, we drove towards Montezuma Falls not really far from where we stayed during the first night. Along the road, I saw a beautiful lake and I was glad that Greg our guide, did stopped near Murchison Bridge so we had a chance to see up-close and appreciate Lake Rosebery which just around the corner. Since it was early in the morning, the mist in the lake and the surrounding areas  was visible, a uniquely captivating scenery.

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Lake Rosebery

After enjoying the lake and taking some photos, we went back to the van to continue our second day adventure. The first part of the itinerary was Montezuma Falls, the highest Falls in Tasmania. From the parking, we walked in the rain-forest, taking the old tramway track and even had a chance to cross a very narrow suspension bridge not far from the falls which gave us a shaky feeling while enjoying the great view of the falls. Along the hike, we saw some mining holes as the area is a historical place of mining industry in the island during its glory days.

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Inside the rain-forest

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Narrow suspension bridge

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Some photos inside the rain-forest around the falls

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Montezuma Falls

Our lunch stop happened in  a small town called Strahan. The place has been historic because it became access port both for Sarah Island (where penal punishment for convicts were sent) and for mining settlement areas in the island. We spent time to roam the area in a bit. While wandering, the group found pathways to one of the accommodations in the town that offers a great overlooking view of Long Bay. While I was looking on information about the town, I just discovered that the town is called as one of the Loneliest Places On Earth and the Most Isolated Outpost in Australia with beautiful harbour at end of the world.

Some photos captured while on our way to Strahan

Some photos at Strahan while inside the van

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Town of Strahan

At Strahan Wharf Centre

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Overlooking at Long Bay

The group’s last stop before going back to the same accommodation we had during first night in the tour was Henty Sand Dunes which not really far from Strahan. It is a vast sand dunes to be found in the island and not far from the coast. The group had a playful funny activities in the dunes and the inner childishness of the group outburst. In the same sand dunes, the group did the tour company’s jump signature.

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Henty Sand Dunes

For our last night together in the group, I cannot forget the experience I had with them. The group had a party after dinner, because I don’t drink and not a party person, I went inside the dormitory bed room while most of them stayed in the living room. I heard the group just talking at first, then they played some music and started dancing, I heard the laughter and jokes outside. Inside the room I was in, I felt quite shy and timid. I stayed in the room for at least half an hour and while I was contemplating if I will join the group outside, one of them went inside and talked to me in a bit, then I decided to join them since it was the last night of the group together. Even though I really don’t know how to dance, I just move with the music and had fun and laugh with group. We had been like that in hours until we get tired and we decided to end it with happy mood.

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

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Tall Trees (Eucalyptus Regnans) at Mount Field National Park

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Russell Falls

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Lake St Clair

Day 2: Montezuma Falls, Strahan & Henty Dunes

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Montezuma Falls

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Strahan

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Henty Dunes

Day 3: Cradle Mountain & Sheffield

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Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake

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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.