DAY ONE- Dove Lake Circuit (2-3 hrs return):
Ethan and I are incredibly talented at running behind schedule. Characteristically, we left Devonport closer to 10am, instead of the 8:30-9am departure we had planned. Running late worked out well, however, since we got to the park an hour after it opened. The park’s opening had been delayed by the snowy/ rainy weather that had plagued the area for the last week.
After paying for a holiday pass at the information centre, we layered up, and departed on the shuttle bus around 12:30pm. The walk to the actual trail was straightforward. You simply walk through the parking lot down to the lake and take a left. It was a cloudy day, but we were graced with no rain, and brief moments of sunshine. The path was covered in snow, but was always easy to follow. The snow added a level of interest to the vegetation that surrounded us. There was a variety of trees and shrubbery that really complimented the lake that was painted a navy blue that day.
We originally planned on stopping for lunch partway through our trek, but the weather, while milder than expected, was still uncooperative, so we opted to eat once we were waiting for the shuttle. However, if you go in warmer weather, there are a few benches where you can stop to eat. There are also several short to medium length walks you can add onto the circuit if you’re wanting to meander longer. All up, our little excursion took about two and a half hours since I was constantly telling Ethan to stop and pose for pictures. The snow-covered paths also required a bit of a slower pace.
The last shuttle of the day was scheduled to depart Dove Lake at 3:50pm. However, due to the high number of tourists still waiting for a lift, we ended up waiting close to an hour to get onto a shuttle. We returned back to the visitor centre a little later than expected. Luckily for us, our accommodation was only 20 minutes away.
We ended up staying at Cradle Forest Inn. We had a nice room that included a kitchenette, on top of what you would expect in a normal hotel room. The main building housed a restaurant which offered a decent selection of food. Ethan ordered a meatlover’s pizza and I ordered some nachos. Needless to say we were absolutely stuffed by the end, which resulted in food comas for both of us. Our five minute power nap (who even takes five minute power naps successfully?) lasted a full four hours. When we finally woke up, we snuck in an episode of Game of Thrones before calling it quits around 3am.
DAY TWO – Marion’s Lookout via Ronny Creek (3 hrs return):
The next day, we woke up at 7:45am, packed up, and headed to Cradle Mountain around 10am. After quite a bit of debate on which walk to do, we decided to hike to Marion’s Lookout via Ronny Creek. Despite the gloomy weather, the journey up was still quite enjoyable. The trail we took offered a variety of scenic views (waterfalls, rainforest-like vegetation, snowy sections, etc). The snow was deep at some parts, but luckily we had the footprints of others to follow, and learn from: you could tell where others had sunk in too far into the snow, and where people had successfully navigated a certain stretch of snow-covered path.
The atmosphere closer to the lookout was a different story. It was super windy and foggy near the top- there wasn’t much of a view at the lookout, but being able to brag about making the hike up in such dismal weather made the trek worth it.
Our descent was an adventure all its own. Instead of returning to Ronny Creek on the same trail, we decided to take an alternate trail down to Dove Lake since we figured it would be faster. Unfortunately for us, the path hadn’t been touched since the heavy snowfall that had taken place that whole past week, so Ethan had to use the markers, the partially revealed chain railings, and the navigation skills he acquired in the army, to find the track and struggle down through the snow. Our downward journey involved a lot of falling into the snow. I tried to learn from Ethan’s falls and avoid the weak spots in the snow, but I often found myself in thigh high snow soon after Ethan managed to pull himself out of the same area. Choosing to take this alternate route seemed quite risky. Not to mention, Ethan and I both ended up with tiny glacial lakes in our hiking boots. However, it was a very unique, rewarding experience. If Ethan were to pull a similar stunt in the future, I would follow him as faithfully as I did this time. Although I definitely wouldn’t recommend embarking on an unmarked trail unless you or someone you’re hiking with knows how to navigate. Otherwise, you could end up in trouble very, very quickly.
After sliding on the path leading back to the bus stop near Dove Lake, we caught the next shuttle. We changed into clothes that weren’t dampened by snow and sweat. We also changed into footwear that didn’t contain miniature Dove Lakes in them. Famished, we ordered some food from the Cradle Mountain Café. They offered a fine selection of meals, snacks, and beverages. Although, as to be expected, the food was a bit pricier than normal. In a way, the quality of the food did justify the price. The burger, ham and cheese toastie, and chai tea latte filled us right up. Food is the perfect reward after any type of excursion.
Exhausted, but also content, from two days of trekking through snow, we jumped into Ethan’s Ford Laser and were home just in time for dinner.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
- More details on Cradle Mountain- Lake St. Clair National Park can be found on the government website.
- If you're looking to book accommodation, I highly suggest taking a look on Booking.com. They have a plethora of reasonably priced hotels, motels, etc. for you to choose from for almost any destination. If you follow this link, I receive a small commission when you sign up and make a booking. Thank you kindly if you use my link!
Wishing you the safest and smoothest of travels,
Jana