Cradle Mountain

Our last morning at Strahan was a wet one and the weather looked to be set in and miserable, so we decided to delay visiting Corinna and taking the dirt road to Arthur River and headed to Cradle Mountain instead.

The weather was just as lousy there and neither of us were very keen on huddling up in a tiny van in cold, wet and miserable weather. So we decided to book a cabin instead.

It is a nice and comfortable place (yes, it has a heater and an ensuite!) and we have been happy to pay the price. We haven't been so happy with the weather, but we didn't let it stop us walking and on our first day we walked around Dove Lake and got soaked in the freezing rain.

The picture below shows our view of Cradle Mountain itself - yes, it is in the clouds somewhere.

This is us on top of Glacier Rock with Cradle Mountain somewhere in the background.

As we got close to the mountain we were able to look up and get a glimpse of the mountain itself.

Yeah, it isn't too impressive looking in the mist.

The next day we took on a different walk that saw us getting into Waldheim's - the original tourist spot in the park.

This pic shows one of the views.

This is a replica of the original tourist accommodation at Waldheim's. Primitive, but atmospheric.

On the third day we found the place bathed in sunshine - Yay!

The park averages 5 sunny days a year so we were lucky to be here for one, and we decided to do the walk past Crater Lake and on up to Marion's Lookout.

The climb up was pretty steep, but where the climb was almost vertical (no, I am not kidding) they had put chains in to allow you to pull yourself up.

Anyway - pics below . . . .

This is Crater Lake and that side of the lake has the gentler slopes.

On the way up - pictures of lakes.

Karen taking a rest.

When we got to the top we found it almost crowded, but we found a spot to eat our sandwiches and take a look around.

I tried to get a picture of the mountain in all its glory, but all I could manage was one of the mountain with some Spanish photographer constantly in the way.

Still, it is impressive and, as you can see, it was indeed a blue, blue sky.

We wondered why Dove Lake was so named, but from this lookout it is obvious - the lake is shaped like a bird.

The Spanish photographer's wife did us the favour of taking our picture.

Climbing back down - I reached a point where I could find a spot to stand so I tok a photo of Karen coming down.

Love those chains!

Tomorrow we head off to the coast again and check out Corinna.