Cradle Mountain: Up to Marions Lookout

We didn't have to climb very far for a second alpine
lake to come into view - Lake Lilla

The next segment of our hike at Cradle Mountain led us up and away from Dove Lake on a steep trail to Marions Lookout.  As we climbed we could see Lake Lilla to the north and as we neared our destination, Crater Lake to the west.  It was a difficult climb, but the views from the top were astounding!  There were lot of people at the top, taking photos and lunch breaks, and a great sense of camaraderie.

Marions Lookout is on the Overland Track, which is a six-day hike starting at the northern end of the park and ending at the southern.  For some of the people who stopped to take in the views at Marions Lookout, like us, the hard part of the hike was over.  For others, it was just beginning.

The hike down from Marions Lookout to Ronny Creek was pleasant and overall, pretty easy (there were some steep downward sections but not quite as intense as our climb up.  Now we know.)  The walk led us through a short section of cool temperate rainforest as we passed Crater Falls on our way to the open grassland.

We saw wombats and an echidna on the last stretch by Ronny Creek.  The echidna was definitely a surprise because we didn't think we'd see one again.  The wombats slightly less so -- we had heard they are numerous and often seen on that part of the trail.  At the same time, however, we weren't really expecting to see them: it was the height of the day, hot in the sun and a certain amount of walkers on the boardwalk.  Apparently none of them minded very much at all.

Steep track upwards, our destination above.

Cradle Mountain in view behind us

Looking down over the valley after the first steep climb

Taking a trail mix break..

..before heading up again.

Looking north, Lake Lilla on the left and Dove Lake on the right

The distant mountains coming into view as we climbed

At the trail's steepest points there are chains to help you climb

Realizing we had come all this way..

..and yet still so far to go.

We still had to climb up and around those rocks

Crater Lake comes into view

As Dove Lake gets further and further below

Above Crater Lake (not actually a crater)

And the lookout is still high above...

At the top

Dove Lake from the lookout

A friendly Tassie American offered to take our photo

Crater Lake from Marions Lookout

The rest of the trail was visible from the lookout: all the way down the hill to Ronny Creek.

Looking back whence we came -- the trail to Ronny Creek
goes steadily downwards

And suddenly we found ourselves in a cool temperate rainforest

Crater Falls

Button grass and eucalyptus

Boardwalk through the open grassland

The creek waters stained brown from the tannins leached from the button grass

Button grass and Pandani follow the creek

The last segment of the walk by Ronny Creek is all boardwalk

Foraging short-beaked echidna

Tachyglossidae

Wombat sleeping in the sun

Vombatidae

Made an acquaintance as we waited for the shuttle bus
to take us back to the Visitors Centre