Dove Lake Circuit, Cradle Mountain

One of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks is the Dove Lake Circuit at Cradle Mountain. 

This walk is best done in a clockwise direction, and it takes you beneath the towering spires of Cradle Mountain which is also the start of the famous Overland Track walk.

The walk is 5.7km long and it took us about 2 hours plus stops to complete. 

Dove Lake with Cradle Mountain behind

We needed to make sure that we had adequate clothing as the weather can change quickly, as it did on this day with a few light snow showers.

Our No Worries Safaris Backpacker tour stopped off here in the early afternoon amidst some brisk weather, and we are all looking forward to our Night Safari (wildlife spotting) tonight.

Out & About in Tasmania

Winter is a great time to get out and about and see our state, Tasmania. 

We decided to drive to St Mary's from our place in Swansea and have a bit of a look around and chat to the locals.

One place that looked interesting was "Pings Place" in the high street. Pings Place is one of those interesting Knick Knack shops, where you will find almost anything that you may need at the last minute. 

More interestingly, there was a Ping Pong table (nothing to do with the shop's name) slap bang in the middle of the shop and before long I was rallying with the store owner Juang for over 30 minutes. Best fun I had all day. 

Feeling hungry we walked around the corner to the Purple Possum Cafe for a coffee and a snack. The Purple Possum has a great range of organic products, pastries, pies and cakes. The owner, Elaine and the staff where great. We even purchased an antique teapot from her collectables shop!

We will be going back really soon!

The Purple Possum Cafe

Has anyone been to Pings Place or the Purple Possum Cafe? Share your stories with us by commenting below.

Tasmania - A Bushwalkers Mecca

Tasmania is one of the world’s most mountainous islands and its natural environment is relatively unspoiled.

Almost 35% of Tasmania lies in National Parks, Reserves and Heritage sites.

This makes Tasmania a mecca for bushwalkers and local guided walking company Adventure Seekers Wilderness Journeys provide truly unique and exceptional walking experiences for their guests.

Adventure Seekers guides are professional, passionate and focused on delivering world class walking tours, which are geared toward a variety of fitness levels and walking styles.

Lush rainforests, craggy mountains, deserted beaches and hanging glacial lakes await the active adventurer. Here are some of the places that we can take you to.

TheMaria Island Guided Walk

4 Days – Easy/Medium

4 days of island exploration with breathtaking scenery and a rich history. This is a supported walk carrying light packs and it’s easy on the sole.

Overland Track

6 Days – Medium

This is Tasmania’s most iconic walk, starting at Cradle Mountain and snaking through rainforests and past craggy mountain peaks to Lake St Clair. With a superb itinerary and great food this is an exceptional wilderness experience.

South Coast Track

9 Days – Medium/Hard

Start your walk with a breathtaking flight to the “worlds end” then walk the southern coastline of Tasmania from west to east. You’ll pass through temperate rainforests and over wilderness beaches. This walk suits the more experienced trekker and load carrier.

Frenchman’s Cap

5 Days – Medium

A return walk, to the summit of the magnificent white quartzite dome that is Frenchman’s Cap. Behold the stunning vistas to be had over the heartland of Tasmania.

 Walls of Jerusalem

6 Days – Medium

Simply serene! A 6 day circuit in an alpine wonderland of majestic mountain tarns and unique alpine vegetation. Picturesque camping spots lie in the shadows of rustic mountain huts. Heavenly!

Tasman Peninsula

4 Days - Medium/Hard

Walk along the top of Australia’s highest vertical sea cliffs. This walk extends out to Capes Pillar and Hauy and boasts spectacular ocean rock stacks and off shore islands.

Lake Oberon

6 Days – Hard

Lake Oberon sits at an elevation of 800m in the Western Arthur Range. Camp beside pristine lakes and be amazed at the geological wonderment of what is part of the “best ridge walk” in Australia.

Wild Hikes

Hard Yakka!

Wild Hikes will take you into the wild South West World Heritage area of Tasmania. The places that we visit are, remote, off track and limited to small groups. Destinations include the Western Arthur Range and South West Cape.

Adventure Seekers Wilderness Journeys also run Electric Bike Tours (fun for the whole family) up the East Coast of Tasmania as well as an adventurous 6day Backpacker Safari.

Heading Bush this Winter? - Here are some safety tips!

Winter is a fantastic time of the year for bush walking - mountains dusted with snow, lush vegetation and cooler walking conditions but there can also be many dangers associated with hiking at this time of the year.

In this article I'm going to cover some tips that you will need to know before you head off into the great outdoors this winter.

In the winter you will generally encounter higher rainfall and in alpine regions lots of snow. Under foot the conditions may be a bit more treacherous, so you will need to be a bit more careful where and how fast you walk.

1. Plan Ahead. Make sure that you have researched your walk and factor in a contingency day or two in case bad weather hampers your progress.

2. Check the weather. Are you a local to the area where you are going to walk? You could always do it another day!

3. Know your abilities and your limits. Have you walked or camped in adverse conditions before? Allow time for the unexpected.

4. Pack for the conditions. You will need 4 season gear, sufficient warm clothing, good wet weather gear and sturdy footwear.

5. Have a plan and tell a friend. Make sure that you leave with a friend, Park Ranger or Police a detailed itinerary of your walk, timings and next of kin.

6. Take emergency equipment. You should have a compass and a topographical map of the area that you are going to visit and know how to use them. Take with you a EPIRB [emergency position indicating response beacon] and/or a satellite phone. If you don't have these devices, they are able to be hired. Pack your personal phone as well, but coverage may be limited.

7. Have an emergency plan. In the event of an emergency you will need to know what to do. Always walk in a group of 3 or more and never leave a sick or injured person alone while someone gets help.
Remember our rule: "Less than 3 shall never be"

If you are not sure of your abilities or have the appropriate gear but want to experience some magical winter walks, consider a guided option in your state or territory.
  

Walking the Overland Track in Winter

Walking the Overland Track at any time of the year is a fantastic experience.

In April around Anzac day you have the "turning of the Fagus" where the green leaves of the Deciduous Beech Trees changes colour to red, orange and gold and it is only here in Tasmania that you will experience this.

From December to January is when the Alpine plant, the Mountain Rocket flowers, blooming from a white to a pale pink colour.

Happy Campers

Winter is a different experience to other seasons on the track as it is more tranquil and the trail is quieter.

The peaks and passes are often dusted with snow, lakes are frozen and the air is fresh and crisp.

To walk this alpine landscape in winter is an amazing experience and very photogenic.

At Adventure Seekers, in winter we run our tours a little different to summer. We utilize the huts instead of camping, or the more hardy can choose to camp if they wish.

We add an extra day to the tour as a contingency (7days) and move at a more leisurely pace as we shuffle along in our snowshoes through this magical landscape.

Winter tours run from the 21st July through to the 15th September 2014. You can book online here or just give us a call.

Have you walked the Overland Track before & when? Do you think that you would be up for a snowshoeing adventure? Please get in touch by commenting below.