CRADLE MOUNTAIN

Leaving Strahan behind, our next destination took us through the fascinating historic mining town of Zeehan. Located on Tasmania's rugged west coast, about 140 kilometres south-west of Burnie, Zeehan was once known as the "Silver City". During its mining boom in the early 1900s, more than 10,000 people called the town home, making it one of Tasmania's largest settlements. Sadly, it has become a quiet living museum with approximately 700 residents.

As someone who appreciates historic architecture, we enjoyed wandering along the main street admiring the beautiful heritage buildings. The magnificent 1898 Gaiety Theatre immediately caught our eyes, while the charming Federation-style Post Office, often described as "chocolate box" architecture, and the impressive School of Mines and Metallurgy were wonderful reminders of the town's prosperous past.

One small but deeply moving feature that caught my attention was a plaque beneath a Lone Pine tree beside the Zeehan War Memorial on Main Street. The tree was grown from a seedling descended from the original Lone Pine at Gallipoli and stands as a living tribute to the soldiers who served during the First World War. My grandfather served as a Light Horseman and Chaplan in Gallipoli. It was incredibly touching to see such a powerful connection between this small West Coast town and one of Australia's most significant chapters in history. Moments like these are a poignant reminder that even in the quietest places, stories of courage, sacrifice and remembrance continue to live on.

Continuing our journey towards Cradle Mountain National Park, we stopped at Black Bluff Lookout. The panoramic 360-degree views across the surrounding wilderness were simply spectacular and gave us our first real appreciation of the vast and rugged landscapes we were about to explore.

By late afternoon we arrived at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, our home for the next two nights. Nestled within the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, the alpine lodge blended perfectly into its natural surroundings and proved to be the ideal base for exploring one of Tasmania's most iconic destinations.

The following day was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our entire trip so far.

We set off early to explore Cradle Mountain, and from the very first steps it was easy to understand why this place is regarded as one of Australia's greatest natural treasures. Glacial lakes, towering mountain peaks, alpine moorlands and dramatic river gorges combined to create scenery that seemed almost too beautiful to be real. Around every corner was another breathtaking vista that had us stopping constantly to soak it all in and of course, take countless photographs.

Another section of the walk was the famous boardwalk through wombat country. It felt like stepping into a wildlife documentary. We spotted at least ten wombats leisurely grazing beside the track, completely unfazed by the steady stream of excited visitors. Watching these adorable creatures going about their day was an unforgettable experience.

By the time we returned to the lodge, we were exhausted from the 8.5 km trek but absolutely exhilarated. It had been one of the most rewarding and memorable hikes we've ever completed, and without question, another standout experience of our Tasmanian adventure.