Day 13 - Cradle Mountain

After breakfast we drove towards Cradle Mountain.  The hotel owners gave us tips on what to see on the way.

We first made a stop near Mole Creek to do a short walk to see Tulampanga Alum Cliffs.  It was an easy walk through the forest  to a viewing platform overlooking a deep gorge with the Mersey River running through.  Each side was very steep, with sheer cliff faces. 

Alum Cliffs

Alum Cliffs

Forest walk

Forest Walk


On our way back Paul heard a rustling nearby and soon after a Forester Kangeroo jumped out into the open and bounced away.  He stayed within our sight for a while but it was difficult to get photos.  Tasmania has 2 species of Kangaroo.  The Forester, Bennets Wallaby and the Tasmanian Pademelon. What we saw is most likely to be the Forester.

Forester Kangaroo

Parrot

Using Merlin, we heard, but didnt see, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Pardalote and a Forest Raven.  It also picked up a Fan Tailed Cuckoo which I did see it but no photo. 

We carried on with our drive, stopping for coffee on the way and also at some viewpoints.

View over Cradle Mountain range

Viewpoint

Our hire car

Not sure why this was outside the cafe where we had morning coffee.

Scrubland


The weather worsened as we climbed to higher ground and approached the mountain.  We first went to the visitor centre where we found that there was a shuttle bus up to some higher scenic points but we were warned that it would be very wet underfoot with little shelter and little chance of seeing much.  We opted to go the the Devils@Cradle wildlife sanctury where they look after 3 endangered animals,  Wombat, Tasmanian Devil and the Eastern Quoll.  We were told we were unlikely to see a wombat as they were sleeping.  We did see a lot of Tasmanian Devils and they were really funny to watch.  We caught up with a guide who was leading an earlier feeding tour so also saw a few adult Quolls and also some young ones. These creatures have a wild colony near Hobart and will eat penguins and also cats and have rid the area of nuisance feral cats.

Tasmanian Devils

Tasmanian Devil eating meat

Tasmanian Devils

Tasmanian Devils

Adult Quoll

Adult Quoll

Tasmanian Devils

Adult Quoll

Young Quoll

Young Quoll

Young Quoll


The rain as we left the wildlife sanctuary was relentless so we decided to make our way back.  As we got off the mountain the rain eased and it was a bit brighter.  We stopped to get petrol in Wilmot and went to a viewpoint then to Lake Barrington before coming back through the Mersey Forest.  We saw a Forester Kangaroo hopping across the road while we were driving.  We also saw several echidnas.

Viewpoint at Wilmot

Lake Barrington

Lake Barrington Pier

Familiar sign in these parts

Crossing the Mersey, but no ferry in sight.

Mersey River

Buzzard like bird


We arrived back at the hotel, where there had been no rain all day, and while getting ready to go out we heard a train and sure enough a freight train was passing through.  We asked and although passenger trains stopped in 1974, freight trains run on narrow gauge tracks during the week.

Train tracks in Deloraine



Train going through on other 
side of roundabout


The hotel have a free guided tour each evening to look for Duck Billed Platypus which live in the river.  Not all tours are successful.  However we struck lucky within 15 minutes when we saw one swimming down the river.  He was about for quite a long time.  We continued to walk along the river and the guide told us lots of interesting things about the local wildlife.

Duck billed platypus

Duck Billed Platypus video

Duck Billed Platypus



Sculpture along Riverside


Sunset over Meander River

Stone carving of platypus on riverbank

Aboriginal stone healing circle on riverside.


We had a pizza at a local pub and an early night.

 





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