Cradle mountain - rock climbing in dinosaur country!

Wilkes Lake and Dove lake from half-way up Cradle mtn.	we went up to the peak on the far right above Wilkes Lake	Wombat pool - couldn't see any?	the middle of Dove Lake	the end of Dove Lake - HoneyMoon island
The left side of Crater Lake	Da middle of de Lake	da roight soide	climbing up from Crater Lake	Dove Lake from Marion's peak (another 7 hours to go!)
Lets	go	rock	hopping	oops! it's getting harder!
I need a beer!	I need a parachute	... and a brain!	Yo! The summit at last!	time for a nap?
the natives wait for us tourists!	looking north to Oz!	part of the Overland track - 8 days of fun rock climbing!	kinda similar	On our way down - another 3 hours to go!
a waterfall at Cradle Mtn Lodge **big photo**	There's dinosaurs hiding in these Pandanis	knackered! (and hot but the water's freezing!)	wish we'd brought the Billy for a cuppa!	Catherine sitting on a rock (Peter doesn't have this one!)
The wombat eats, roots shoots and leaves. Inconsiderate blighter! **big photo**	Now this is a big Wombat	Pademellon country	a possum	the wheatleys go Japanese!
a possum playing possum

Tasmania is isoscelle-triangle shaped and has a big central plateau most of which is a National Park. Cradle mountain is at the southern end and Cradle. It's 1,500m high and surronded by several exceedingly picturesque lakes. It has only 30 clear days a year - we got one!!
The vegetation is unique, high mountain temperate rainforest. A Caveman or a Dinosaur would be right at home here.

We stayed at the Cradle Mtn Lodge, a collection of chalets. It's very, very nice indeed and you can see all sorts of wildlife if you just stroll around quietly. Also, the starts are very bright, the Milky Way is like a fog of stars.

The hikes around Cradle (and Tasmania in general) are beautiful but are not easy. It took 8 hours to summit the mountain with a lot of ups and downs but at least this trail is reasonably well marked. In most of Tassie the trails are difficult to follow but well worth the effort.