TASMANIA : DAY 1 : OVERLAND TRACK : Waldheim to Barn Bluff Hut (12 km, 7 hours)

DAY 1 : fine and cool.

Elevation for Day 1 

 We were collected from our hotel in Launceston by a Cradle Hut company bus at 6.45 am. Not the most auspicious morning to begin our journey on reflection as it was the first day of Daylight Saving. Mark turned his watch and mobile forward in anticipation but his mobile also recalibrated to compensate for the time zone. Thus, we were woken at 4.30am - plenty of time to prepare!

 

 

 We were driven to Quamby Estate about half an hour south of Launceston, to Cradle Mountain Huts base. We met our guides, Rob, Tom and Andy and the other walkers. The group includes a family from Canberra, including their Swiss exchange student, a couple from Mt Tamborine near Brisbane, two friends from Orange and us.

 

Guides checked our gear, providing us with a pack and gortex jacket. The emphasis was on ensuring that we had the minimum required for walking comfort.

 

  

We arrived at Cradle Mountain Lodge about 11 and began our walk from the Waldheim Hut. Waldheim, a German immigrant, and his wife were the earliest tourists to the area and built several wooden huts to explore the countryside. They were instrumental in campaigning for the Cradle Mountain region to be  zoned as a national park.

 

Pademelons

 

Wombats

  

From the onset there were lots of surprises. Pademelons sunning themselves, the odd brave wombat and large hawks circling above us. From the initial flat grasslands we suddenly found ourselves in a temperate rainforest.

  

Rainforest pocket as we began our climb

  

Making our way to Marion's Lookout

 

The steepest section of the whole track is in the first hour, walking up to Marion's Lookout (1223m), and we were so fortunate that it was a clear day and we had brilliant views of Cradle Mountain (1545m) and other peaks. There was a bit of residual snow from falls in the last few days. Most of the peaks in this area are dolerite - formed by molten magma under the earth's surface and then exposed after millions of years of erosion.

  

Spectacular view of Cradle Mountain from Marion's Lookout

With an average of 156 rainy days we were very lucky to see it in all its glory!

 

Lunch (with hot tea and coffee) by one of the icy tarns

 

It was a quite a long day with considerable contrasts with Dove Lake, glacial cirque, walking in Waterfall Valley and then climbing over Barn Bluff to our hut at its base. Paths consisted of wooden planks, stony sections and thick rooted stairways. Most of the day was spent on the alpine plateau, skirting around Cradle Mountain, with spectacular views down the valleys.

  

Views down Waterfall Valley

  

Climbing up over Barn Bluff

  

Exotic mosses

  

Wooden paths lead us to our hut

 

 

Barn Bluff Hut

  

Double rooms

 We were welcomed with local cheeses and wine at the hut - and warm shower. Our 3 course meal was delicious - including soup, pasta and chocolate slice.

 

Our guides, Rob, Andy and Tom preparing our sumptuous meal with assistance from Hazel.

 

M&M