3 years ago we did the Dove Lake Circuit walk. That was about 8km & took about 2.5hours. It had a few ups & downs and gave us a good workout.
Today was something else!
We’d originally planned to walk to Marion’s Lookout (via Crater Lake) and return via Wombat Pool & Lake Lilla. About a 3 hour round trip. No big deal. We’re here for 5 days, so thought we’d take it easy to start with. It was the best day for a walk, not too cold/hot, very little breeze, and just enough cloud cover to stop us getting fried in the sun. 
We headed off from Ronny Creek across a tundra plane heading toward the Overland Track and on to Crater Falls. 
Further along we get to The old Boat Shed on Crater Lake 
The water here is very calm & clear as if it’s almost invisible 
About here we ran into a group of 4 mad English walkers, they were a funny bunch. They were doing the high line loop around the lakes & suggested to Jayne that we’d be called “Wussys” if we didn’t go the whole way around.
Onward & upward we plod until we make it to Marion’s Lookout. By this time the cloud that had been obscuring the peaks has disappeared and we have a great view of the whole Cradle Valley Landscape.
Taken from Marion’s Lookout (1223m) – Cradle Mountain out the back
This was our lunch stop & we chatted to the wife of another couple about their travels. Her 7o something year old husband had headed further up the track to look at the Kitchen Hut. If he can do it, we should be OK. So off we go.
Kitchen Hut – Emergency Shelter
The top door & shovel are for when it snows a bit
Inside the hut were a few walkers with a little spirit burner making a cup of tea. Further on up a path behind the hut was a fairly unique drop toilet. Anything dropped here gets flown out by helicopter. Earlier I’d looked at the 20 minute helicopter tour flight & thought the $250 each was a bit much. So I reckon the jokes on the helicopter company as a little peeece of me is gunna get a ride over there one day anyway. From the Kitchen Hut you get a great view of Cradle Mountains Summit. The next sign said the summit was a 2.5 hours return trek. In fact a lot of the signs say 2.5 hours. I think Parks & Wildlife Service got a special deal on 2.5 hour signs and they have just put them up everywhere. We decided to skip the summit this time as our multiples of 2.5 hours were starting to add up. This is the point where it gets interesting… We are now making our way across the “Face Track” which goes past the face of Cradle Mountain summit. The track ( or lack of it) is also a bit of a worry at times.
Is this the Track?
Off the Truly Beaten Track
What Bloody Track?
Back on Track
The next lot of signposts present a bit of a dilemma. We either walk 2.5 hrs via one way or 2 hours another way. We were very tempted to take the short cut but had been warned that way was quite steep. And we didn’t want to be called “Wussys” so we go the long way and another 2.5 hours of walking it is.
Back of Dove Lake – From here it’s just 2.5 hours to the left or 2.5 hours to the right to get back.
Many more lakes and a few huts along the way
Maybe part of Twisted Lake?
Not so many photos taken on the last part of the trip. We were both too busy trying to remember to put one foot in front of the other.
Another little Hut
While we probably bit off a bit more than we thought we could chew, we both managed the walk in fine form. Even Jayne’s dickie knee behaved itself which was the biggest relief for me on the trek. Geez, if her knee pops, who else am I gunna find to carry the backpack back?
We started at Ronny Creek (top of Image) & finished after doing a high line loop of Dove Lake
In all we did about 11km, ascended 420m to 1,284m ( a couple of times we reckon) and took about 6 hours to complete the walk. We’re not sure if we’ll be able to do another mountain walk tomorrow or ever walk again once the soreness kicks in. It was an absolutely awesome experience.
So thanks to Gustav Weindorfer for promoting this place as something for everyone. In his words:
“This must be a national park for the people for all time. It is magnificent and people must know about it and enjoy it.” Gustav Weindorfer, 1910
Gustav Weindorfer, an Austrian, emigrated to Australia in 1899 and married Kate Cowle of Tasmania in 1902. They bought part of Kate’s brother’s farm (Lauriston) near Mt. Roland and spent their honeymoon camping at the top of Mt. Roland. Both dedicated botanists, for them it seemed the ideal way to spend time together, sheltering in a canvass tent at night and cooking their meals over a camp fire. For more info about this area click on “Cradle Mountain Info“
VanExtraOrdinaire.com 