I suspect that visitors to this site may find what I am about to describe abhorrent.

I admit it, I had a jet boat ride on the Huon River and I liked it.

Since I’ve lived here I’ve driven past the Huon Jet pier on many occasions and seen many other people going for a ride. It was on my “we should do this one day” list. I elevated the priority by purchasing my wife Susan some tickets for her birthday this year.

I had to go with her right?

I’ve not been on the river much. I am not particularly “boatie” or a swimmer (especially not when there is even a hint of the water being cold). I’d not even ventured under the Huonville Bridge and further inland on the river. I’d driven along the river and seen various points of it from bush walks and other towns. I was looking forward to a new perspective on it.

We arrived for our appointed ride a little early so we decided to have a snack at the Huon Jet’s cafe on the pier. That may not have been a good idea. The coffee and homemade scones were good but clearly I hadn’t thought this through. In fact, I only realised my mistake while writing this article now.

The ride takes about 35 minutes. We put on our lifejackets and joined the rest of the folk doing our run on the boat. The boat fires up and immediately the rumble of the 5.7 litre Chevy V8 makes its presence felt. “Holy crap, this might be quick!”

As the boat leaves the pier and heads under the bridge we get a briefing “We’ll do some spins.” The driver explains. “I’ll let you know…hang on with both hands.”

As we clear the bridge the boat accelerates to about 80 kilometres per hour. It feels fast. We are up on a plane and skimming over the water using less than 10cm of it depth-wise.

The river is wide, tea coloured, glassy and very calm today. Not much can be seen below the surface and as we approach the first set of rapids, without any deceleration, this seems like a distinct problem.

The boat turns on a dime and we clear the rapids easily. The river gets noticeably narrower and more hazards appear. Trees, logs, rocks, rapids…bloody hell this guy can steer the thing. Every now and then we get the “spin” signal and we hang on, “woo hoo!” Great fun.

After about 14kms we reach the point where we turn around to head home. Titbits of information are offered throughout the trip. The obstacles don’t look any easier to navigate on the way back but we miss them all and have a blast. Susan grins the whole way like a Cheshire Cat.

As we pull into the pier I’m thinking “Hmm, I kind of fancy having a jet boat…”. I didn’t tell Susan.

THE VERDICT: great fun, much better than I had imagined. Definitely worth doing for visitors and locals alike.

NOTE: No scones or kayakers were harmed in the writing of this article.

For more information check out Huon Jets website (if you are brave enough!)

David Moore lives and works in the Huon Valley. He runs a computer business, I Hate My PC and writes computer/tech stuff for a couple of online magazines but his real passion is comedy. Keep an eye out for him doing “stand up” somewhere near you soon!

Image: kadj via Flickr

Weather is so important when we are planning a holiday, special event or day trip. Will it rain, snow or will we be blessed with spectacular sunshine?

The weather around Cradle Mountain and across the whole of Tasmania can be , let’s say, unpredictable.

Snow in summer, bluebird days in winter, rain then sunshine and snow all in one day! That is what makes Tasmania such a great place to visit. You never know what will happen next.

Thankfully the Bureau of Meteorology has created a weather forecast especially for the Cradle Mountain area and the Overland Track. Yes, the Cradle Valley has it’s own seven day weather forecast. To check out the forecast, visit the BOM Cradle Valley page, it’s a winner!

Now you know what the weather forecast is,   what clothes should you pack for a visit to Cradle Mountain?  Well, we have an article just for you – What to wear at Cradle Mountain Tasmania. It will help you decide and keep the weight of your suitcase down!

Image: Our Hiking Blog – Sunset New Years Eve out the back of Cradle Mountain

In light of a number of recent incidents involving the unpredictable roads in our area, I’d like to draw your attention to a simple, but ridiculously effective trick to put you in good stead on your journey  around Tasmania and Cradle by car: drive carefully.

There are two ways in to Cradle Mountain by car. You can find step by step directions for either of these on the Directions page of this website. It is extremely important to be aware that both of these routes are windy, unpredictable, and potentially very dangerous for those who don’t know the roads and/or aren’t familiar with Tasmanian roads in general.

Our fantastic Parks and Wildlife crew, along with McDermott’s Coaches, introduced a very important initiative two summers ago – a free shuttle bus service in and out of the National Park, running all day, every day, all year round. The road to Dove Lake is sealed, but it is understandably narrow and can prove difficult to navigate safely, particularly for the many visitors who travel in hire cars. This service also provides the opportunity to minimise the environmental impact vehicles can have on our delicate ecosystem.  The service runs from approximately 8am to 7pm from the Visitor Information Centre and Café. The huge car park is free for you to leave your vehicle in for as long as is necessary, all you need to access your free bus ticket is a valid National Parks Pass for CMNP.

The road home to Cradle from my native North West Coast has become something of a wildlife minefield, due to it being baby season at the moment. I counted 4 devils within 1 kilometre on Wednesday evening, all alive, but all crossing the road without looking! I lost count of the wallabies and saw two mother-with-baby pairs of possums. Not only is it important that we preserve our wildlife by making every effort not to hit them, but if we do hit them, they often pay us back. Hot tip: wombats and radiators don’t get along.

Once, I asked a guest if they had enjoyed seeing our native wildlife. ‘Yes’, they replied, ‘however, most of it was dead on the side of the road.’ Any Tasmanian will attest to the fact that road-kill is not isolated to the more rural areas of the state, and is not a rare occurrence. Anecdotally it is suggested that the more road-kill in an area, the healthier the local animal population. I don’t know about that, but I do know that it doesn’t provide visitors to the state with a warm welcome, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, it is something that is difficult to avoid, but the slower you drive, the better you’ll be for the animals and potentially your radiator.

Last week one of our receptionists turned rescuer when two guests who were booked to stay in our hotel ran their hire car directly into a tree. Apparently, the sun was in the driver’s eyes. The car was totalled, and they walked away unscathed, much to our surprise. Not the ideal start to their holiday.

Tasmania is awe-inspiring, and Cradle Mountain is a must see. Make it a highlight, not the low point of your trip. All you have to do is (you guessed it): drive carefully.

Koby Blizzard works on Cradle Mountain and enjoys observing the world around her. She loves all things Cradle and Tasmania and enjoys sharing her thoughts and tips about travelling around Tasmania here.

Image: Leo Laporta via Flickr

Last fortnight I gave you the first five of my Top 10 Things to Do on Cradle Mountain. Below you will find the remaining five, in no particular order. I’m confident I have captured the complete Cradle Mountain Experience with my selections, but if I have got it wrong, or you’ve enjoyed any of these activities yourself and I’ve got it right, please feel free to let me know in the comments below.

6. Evening Spotlight Tour

Nothing says Cradle Mountain like rugging up at twilight, grabbing your camera and heading out on the prowl for our nocturnal neighbours. You can do this by foot, or in your own vehicle, but if you want the real spotlighting experience then there is never a shortage of seats on McDermott’s Coaches evening tours. You can even combine a spotlight tour with your Devils@Cradle Feeding Tour! With generous rates this is a great non-strenuous activity suitable for your whole family and you will learn all about our local fauna on the way. Please note: it is very unlikely that you will see a devil or a quoll in the wild, regardless of whether you are spotlighting with the experts or not, so keep that in mind when booking your tour.

7. The Wilderness Gallery/Thylacine Exhibition

In November The Wilderness Gallery received its fifth consecutive honour for Specialised Tourism Services at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards. Last year, it was inducted into the Tasmanian Tourism Hall of Fame. It is the largest privately owned photography gallery in the southern hemisphere, and in November last year opened the semi-permanent installation the ‘Tasmanian Tiger Exhibition’, featuring a one-of-a-kind Thylacine skin rug. With a large gift shop, free Tasmanian honey tasting and entry only $7, this is one of Cradle’s most accessible and cost effective activities. The Wilderness Gallery is located at Cradle Mountain Chateau.

8. Waldheim Chalet/Waldheim Cabins

Waldheim Chalet is a replica of the original accommodation Gustav Weindorfer built when he first started spending time in the Cradle Mountain area, and it provides a fantastically historic view of the park, which is not as readily available in other locations. With a short rainforest walk virtually adjacent to the Chalet/Interpretation Centre and cabins, it is a spot I highly recommend visiting on your way in or out of Dove Lake.

When I was a child and we stayed at Cradle Mountain, the Waldheim Cabins were always the accommodation of choice. I remember sitting and waiting for the possums to climb the steps to our cabin, fighting over who got the top bunk bed, and waking up at the crack of dawn to the chorus of birds all around us. These cabins provide a self-contained wilderness experience like no other, and can be booked year round through National Parks & Wildlife.

9. Visit Cradle Mountain Lodge

There is no shortage of accommodation options on Cradle Mountain, but no matter where you stay while you are here a visit to the most iconic building in the area – the Cradle Mountain Lodge – is a must. Take a photo in front of the original Pencil Pine Lodge, or if you feel like spoiling your legs after that long trek around Dove Lake, splash out and have a massage at their Waldheim Alpine Spa!

10. Plunge down a canyon

Ok, so perhaps plunge is a little dramatic, but Cradle Mountain Canyons offer the most adrenalin-inducing activity in this place – their just one year old, impressively popular Canyoning Tours. There are 2 tour options (half or full day, depending on your fitness level), and if you have a reasonable fitness level, are willing to try something new, to push yourself, or conquer that fear of heights, then this is the experience for you. Tours run during the summer months, from November to April/May.

Koby Blizzard is a born and bred Tasmanian who works and lives in the Cradle Mountain area. She loves all things Cradle and Tasmania and is just embarking on a writing career. This latest piece is about her exploits while working at Cradle Mountain.

Image – Walmink via Flickr

Between Christmas and New Year is a great time to visit Hobart. Aside from general holiday season festivities, there’s the annual Taste Festival on Princess Wharf, an eating and drinking extravaganza featuring Tasmanian produce. And the summer weather brings people outside to relax and enjoy.

One of the post-Christmas highlights is seeing the yachts competing in the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race cross the finish line and come into the historic Constitution Dock.

On Boxing Day (26 December), a large contingent of yachts departs Sydney Harbour for one of the toughest offshore races in the world. The waters off the far south coast of New South Wales and east of Bass Strait are notoriously difficult and some yachts are forced to retire. Race participants and observers keep a close eye on the weather forecast. Those that complete the race arrive in Hobart about two days later. The race record stands at 1 day, 18 hours and 40 minutes.

The 628 nautical miles (1,170 km) Sydney to Hobart race attracts yachts from all over the world. First run in 1945, it has become an iconic fixture in Australia’s summer sporting calendar, attracting a large amount of public interest via television coverage.

Hobart’s constitution dock area comes alive when the yachts arrive. There are bars and music around the dock and the pubs around the Hobart foreshore area are packed and lively. You can track the progress of the yachts and see spectacular photos taken en-route in the race tent, where friends and families of the sailors wait for them to arrive. Out on the marina, you can get up close and personal with these amazing high-tech yachts.

The Derwent River leading into Hobart is another very unpredictable element in the race. Sometimes conditions have been so calm that yachts have made frustratingly slow progress over the last couple of miles, or remained stationary for some time, allowing those behind them to catch up.

Last year a friend of ours was on one of the yachts competing and we tracked his progress towards Hobart on the event web site. During dinner at the historic seaman’s pub The Shipwright’s Arms in Battery Point, we again checked his progress on a smartphone. We rushed down to Castray Esplanade near Salamanca in time to see him cross the finish line and then walked around to the dock to congratulate him and look at the yacht. There’s an incredible buzz of activity around each arrival.

It’s best to book your accommodation in Hobart for this period well in advance or be prepared to stay outside the centre of town. Not only are the Sydney to Hobart crews and family staying, many Tasmanians from outside Hobart book a few nights in town so they can enjoy a few drinks on New Years Eve or at the Taste Festival without having to drive home.

Susan Moore lives in the Huon Valley in southern tasmania. She shares a glimpse of daily life in Tasmania, as written by a “blow in” from the mainland, on her fascinating site Houn View. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive her regular articles.

Image: Lee Turner via Flickr

Where is Cradle Mountain?

Cradle Mountain National Park is in the central highlands of  Tasmania, Australia.  It is an iconic mountain that dominates the northern end of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area. Cradle is a popular tourism destination, enjoyed by many visitors from around the world.  Renowned for excellent day walks, magical old growth rain forests and rugged landscapes, it is a must see Australian destination.

Cradle Mountain is also about getting up close to native Australian wildlife.  It is very easy to see wombats, pademelon wallabies, echidnas and if you are lucky, a platypus!  Bird watching is also a very popular activity.

To travel to  Cradle Mountain you need to drive inland from Launceston, Devonport, Burnie or Strahan.   For driving or travel directions and maps see our page How to get to Cradle Mountain.

Cradle Mountain itself is located on the northern edge of the World Heritage Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park.  It is in the wilderness and a long distance from many services that most of us are used to.

Cradle Mountain is about 2-2.5 hours drive from Launceston, 4.5- 5 hours from Hobart or 1.5 – 2 hours drive from Devonport.

When driving in Tasmania distances in time, rather than kilometers, are what most people talk about. This is because the roads are windy and driving conditions slow. Visit this page for driving directions to Cradle Mountain from Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Strahan and Burnie.

So, where is Cradle Mountain? In Tasmania, Australia!

Cape Raoul - the hill you have to cross

This bushwalk takes you to the Tasman Peninsula. A 5 hour round trip, it is level for a lot of the time though there is one hill that you must ascend about 10 minutes into the walk. You might want to partake in a rest at some stage but, 45 minutes along you come to one of the many spectacular views on this trek.

Unfortunately, after this you head inland away from the scenery and over the top of the hill before returning to the cliff tops about 20 minutes later. From then on you skirt them regularly, making for eye-catching views.

After that you eventually reach the end of the cape and here it splits into two prongs. On the left you can see a seal colony, easily recognizable by the excretive matter on the rocks, and you’ll see lots of dolerite cliffs, spectacular pencils of rock jutting vertically out of the sea. I was transfixed by them and tarried several times on the edge just to take in the wonder of it all.

Make sure you take something to drink and I would also advise food of some sort. For walks over three hours (this one is 5) I always pack a sandwich and some fruit.

Park entry fees also apply and, at the time of writing, fees in Tasmania were $22 each or you can get a holiday pass (recommended) for $56 and that covers you for anywhere.

Of all the people who venture to the Tasman Peninsula hardly any ever make their way here. This is evidenced by the paucity of car parking spaces (room for about four) at the end of the road.

To reach there you take the B37 route from nearby Port Arthur. Drive 8kms west then veer left at the sign to Highcroft and Stormlea or, if you come through Nubeena, it’s roughly 3 kms down the road before you turn off.

Facilities are non existent here, just a walker registration book to fill in. These books are in case you are overdue and someone has to come to your aid. Please make sure you fill it out before you leave and upon your return.

Ian Smith loves to write about and photograph his experiences. This is part of a series where he explores Tasmania. He has hundreds of images and reviews over at Virtual Tourist. The beautiful images in this article are all his work.

Waterfall lovers will find plenty within a one day trip from Hobart. They are always best visited after rain, but the downside is that the track to reach them will be muddier. Pack your boots, camera, water and snacks and hit the trails to these three lovely short walks as part of a 1 day tour based in Hobart.

In order of difficulty:

Snug Falls

The small village of Snug lies on the Channel Highway about half an hour from Hobart. The right turn to the Snug Tiers Recreation Area and Snug Falls is signposted and close to the centre of town. The road to the falls parking area is mostly gravel and narrow, but bays are provided to allow passing.

This walk is on a well-maintained path, takes only 45 minutes return and anyone with reasonable mobility could do it. You won’t need any special gear for this one. Stroll down the hill through dry forest and wildflowers, the air filled with bird noises. The falls themselves are tall and pretty. Beware the slippery rocks below. Park benches are thoughtfully provided along the path as you climb back up the hill.

Pelverata Falls

The track to Pelverata Falls starts at the end of Crosswell Road in Pelverata. Take the Sandfly turnoff on the Huon Highway as you drive south from Hobart, and follow the signs to Pelverata.

The sign says it takes three hours return, and that the track is steep and rough. However, I found it took less than that and wasn’t a difficult walk aside from one section of ‘rock scree’, a hillside covered in loose rocks. The first, very easy section of track runs behind some private farms, then turns right into some dry open forest, followed by a cool pocket of rainforest. At the end of the track is a viewing platform looking up at 81 metre high falls and the spectacular rocky cliffs opposite.

Billy Browns Falls

Billy Brown’s Falls has been at the centre of a fight by local conservation groups to stop planned logging of the West Wellington area, so get there while you still can.

As you cross the bridge south of Huonville, turn right to Judbury then follow Judds Creek Road for about 11.5km. The drive from Hobart takes an hour. The Huon Trail guidebook says the walk is signposted, but either we missed the signs or they have been removed. A hand-scrawled sign marked the start of the track.

It’s only a short walk, 1.5 hours return, up a hill that’s steep in places, then down to the falls and the same in reverse. There are some very tall trees and lovely rainforest to walk through. Some sections of the track were muddy. At the end, you’ll be rewarded with water roaring over rocks into clear pools below.

All of these walks are listed in the Huon Trail guidebook available from tourist information centres, or download it from the  Huontrail website

Susan Moore lives in Tasmania’s Huon Valley. She shares a glimpse of daily life in Tasmania, as written by a “blow in” from the mainland, on her fascinating site Houn View. Don’t forget to subscribe to receive her regular articles.

Image: wit*chazel via Flickr

Whale Sculpture - Cockle Creek Tasmania

More from Ian on his travels around Tasmania, this time he visits Cockle Creek and heads off into the beginning of the South Coast Track.  It is a great thing to do in the south west of Tasmania, especially if you want to visit a National Park.

I rang Gerry, someone I’d never mets but knew over the internet, and arranged to do a day trip as far south as you can go, further than any road in Australia. It’s a quirky drive to Cockle Creek, past settlements with the odd cafe and even odder attractions, like the Ida Bay Railway for instance. Gerry proved to be effervescent and well travelled around Tassie, one of his part time jobs assisting him there. He’s also put out a number of DVD’s on Tassie, something he was going to film for today.

Both being into photography we stopped not infrequently at ever smaller places like Moss Glen with its two houses and Catamaran Creek where there were only caravans and tents. Another thing Gerry had his eye out for was Mount La Perouse and he spotted its snow capped presence beyond a new bought of forestry clear felling that had blighted the foreground but made photography possible.

Cockle Creek is one extremity of the great South Coast walk, one of two classic multi-day treks in Tasmania, the other being the Overland Track.

After we checked out the whale sculpture we set off and signed the walkers’ book, something they ask you to do on a lot of trails. I then remembered I’d left my wallet on the front of the dash but couldn’t be bothered returning for it.

We pushed on through the bush on an uneven track for just under an hour, the unquestionable highlight being when we had to loop around a fallen tree and I came upon a tiger snake who then eyeballed me as I carefully got a few shots and then retreated.

Gerry’s highlight was getting a good shot of a parrot, the like of which I’d not seen before. He was learning to keep an eye out for other things on the trail.

South Coast Track

Then we reached the boardwalk, it goes for another half an hour through mostly dry type swamp, more your mud really, something Tasmania excels in at these latitudes, before we reached the melaleucas, native laurel and a small tannin stained stream that trickles through the undergrowth just before the sand dunes.

The roar of the wind blown surf now filtered through the trees as our anticipation rose until we broke through and there was the Great Southern Ocean in all its glory, windswept by a stiff onshore breeze that blew the tops off the swells. The cliffs where we came out were bare of all but the most hardy of plants and the occasional one of them was only a few millimetres in height.

South East Cape Panorama

We found it difficult to maintain our footing at times as we walked around, gusts pushing us this way and that. Somehow it added to atmosphere as we sat and ate and fixed our gaze on the South East Cape of Tasmania whose battered ramparts reach for a couple of kilometres out into the sea.

By the time we started the return journey we were feeling our exertions and our legs told us they would be very happy when they reached the car but that was two hours away so we both got into a rhythm and strode purposefully along the path until we gratefully saw the UNLOCKED car. Fortunately my wallet was still there!

It had been wonderful to see this southern area, on a fine day it is truly special. Sadly, that’s not something that happens a lot down here!

Ian Smith is a very busy traveler who loves to write about and photograph his experiences. He has hundreds of images and reviews over at Virtual Tourist. The beautiful images in this article are all his work.

Koby Blizzard our resident Tassiephile and Cradle Mountain lover shares her 5 top must do activities near Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Australia.  Koby works at Cradle Mountain in a large hotel and is passionate about visitors making the most of their Tasmanian holiday.

Over to Koby:

I would never advise anyone to visit Cradle Mountain for less than 2 nights. If I could speak to every visitor before they arrived, I would give one crucial piece of advice:

“Give yourself time. Don’t sell yourself short. Make the most of it”.

Unfortunately for all involved, most holidays do not allow for weeks spent in one place, so I have crafted my personal list of the Top 10 Must-Do’s on Cradle Mountain. This is the first instalment, come back soon to find out the rest! And please, if I have overlooked anything, leave a comment and let me know.

1. Dove Lake Circuit

Dove Lake Circuit is the most trodden path in Cradle Mountain National Park. There is a very good reason for this: it is the most accessible, the most well-known, and offers the reason you came to the area in the first place – that magnificent view! From Glacier Rock to the Ballroom Forest, it is fresh, crisp, clean Tasmanian scenery at its best! Take a picnic lunch (and your rubbish with you), your wits (necessary for dodging currawongs), a water bottle, and comfy shoes. Oh, and plenty of photos.

For detailed information and a map, download the free Cradle Mountain Travel guide

 2. Jump in a Helicopter

One word to describe this trip: awesome. My mouth found the floor very early on, and stayed down there the entire trip. Sweeping panoramas of Barn Bluff and the summit of Cradle Mountain, coupled with the spectacular aerial views of Dove and Crater Lakes, literally took my breath away. Comes complete with expert commentary: a solid 10/10. Cradle Mountain Helicopters is located at the Cradle Mountain Café and Information Centre, and fly whenever the weather will allow during the summer season.

 3. Visit Sheffield

Approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Cradle is Sheffield, a quaint, rural town littered with locally owned businesses selling locally produced goods, and myriad inviting cafes. Even if it’s on your way out of the area, stop in and take a postcard worthy photo of yourself in front of that other iconic mountain, Mt. Roland. If you are lucky enough to be travelling with children, or just enjoy running around mazes and eating pancakes, then make the 10 minute detour to Tasmazia and get yourself lost for a couple of hours.

 4. Devils@Cradle

Is there anything that says Tassie more than the terribly inappropriately named ‘Tasmanian Devil’? I think not. This sanctuary is home to both Devils and Quolls and is the best chance you will get to come up close and personal with the cutest marsupials around. You can even pat a baby Devil! Learn all about the fantastic work the team at Devils@Cradle do for our endangered neighbours and support a worthy cause at the same time – good for you and the environment!

 5. Have a Kentish Ale

When in Rome…! Or in our case, Kentish. Head to the Cradle Mountain Chateau where they have Seven Sheds Brewery’s signature beer on tap and acquaint yourself with the taste of the Central Coast. If you take the aforementioned trip to Sheffield, you can even stop in and say hi to the team at the family owned and run Seven Sheds Brewery and pick up some souvenirs to take home with you.

Koby Blizzard is a born and bred Tasmanian who works and lives in the Cradle Mountain area. She loves all things Cradle and Tasmania and is just embarking on a writing career. This latest piece is about her exploits while working at Cradle Mountain.

Image: sasho via Flickr