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We had a look around Burnie, had a very late lunch at Banjos. We set off for Ulverstone taking the scenic drive via Penguin which was a very pretty spot right on the coast.

I hoped to shoot stars this night but as per every other night the clouds rolled in knocking out most of the night sky.

Thursday at Cradle Mountain
We awoke early to falling snow, what a sight. It continued snowing for another 15 minutes or so and then turned to rain. Soon after, the sun came out with patches of blue sky to be seen and then it began snowing again. We wondered if this would impact access to the NP as the Rangers had warned yesterday. The mountains had a decent covering of snow for this time of year.
We arrived at the visitors centre to find that all was OK but some walkers had been turned away from the Overland Track for not being adequately prepared for snow conditions. Anyhow we hopped on a shuttle bus and headed down to Dove Lake. The weather was cold and windy at 1 deg. Took photos and we took off on the Dove Lake circuit. After reaching Glacier Rock you could see the weather coming across the mountains. Soon we were walking in light snow, shortly after you couldn't see Cradle Mountain any longer. With the wind picking up it got colder and we rugged up even more. We continued to walk and the snow got heavier and was even hail in some places. After a while we decided that continuing would be a bit silly so we turned back for the carpark. Strangely enough we passed many who where continuing on but we're really not dressed for the conditions at all. As we walked back the snow continued to be heavy and was whipping in with the wind. By the time we reached the pickup point the conditions were blizzard like and very cold. We returned to the visitors centre, the weather there was quite OK and we stopped in the cafe for hot chocolate and coffee. As we went to drive off the weather turned again so we sat in the truck to wait it out. This time the weather really blizzard like, almost no visibility, heaps of snow and the wind whipping it horizontal. This went on for about 30 minutes. When the conditions eased we set off for Ulverstone.

Once again the roads were wet winding and slippery, not a quarter of hour out of the National Park we passed a mini bus with trailer that had lost control on a down hill bend and finished on its side in the run off drain on the wrong side of the road. No one was left there when we came upon it so we drove on, even more focused.

Again the scenery was spectacular, gotta love those winding roads and logging trucks. We drove on, electing to head to Burnie before overnighting at Ulverstone.

Accomodation to cradle mountain shop

Wednesday. Drove from Bronte Park to Cradle Mountain. Windy, wet, and winding roads the whole way. Tassie roads overall are narrow, windy, and slippery when wet.
Stopped in Queenstown, toured the railway museum, and had lunch at a local bakery.
On the way you drive by, then across the Lake Berbury. The scenery is absolutely spectacular, it almost appears from nowhere as you leave the forested winding road. I saw it and said wow, it was jaw dropping beauty. The thing is, you are able to see it up close, not miles away. So often I said these mountains just rise up straight out of the water.
Checked in at Cradle Mountain wilderness village and the went to the National Parks visitors centre.
Drove down to Dove lake as forecast for the following day is snow down to 500m, we'll see. The scenery is beautiful, mountains rising up out of the water

15km 4hrs 45min. Shadow Lake Circuit

Walking the Shadow Lake Circuit. 15km, 4 hr 45 minutes.
Had lunch stop at Shadow Lake ( about halfway) before walking out. The weather changed every 10 minutes from warm, blue sky and sunshine to cloudy, cool and windy and misty cloud with rain. It was jackets off and on, rainwear off and on....that's Tasmania

We left Hobart Monday (23rd) for the drive to Bronte Park. Destination Highland Cottages and Cabins. This would be our launching point for Lake St Clair NP. En route we stopped at New Norfolk, visited Rosedown Gardens (very briefly) before stopping for a tour of the Salmon Ponds located on the Plenty River. The trout and salmon were massive, lucky I had the GrPro with me. After a late morning tea we went back into New Norfolk to wander, shop and get a real estate mag as Lisa is moving here (New Norfolk) because it spoke to her soul. After getting a sandwich for later (having forgotten we already had made bread roles) we drove on through Hamilton, detouring through Terraleah to check out the hydro installation and display. We stopped for lunch down by the river at the Tungatinahpower station. From there we continued driving onto Bronte Park, checking in after visiting the general store. So much of Tasmania reminds me of "Justified" country.