Devils on the Mountain

 Leaving Strahan we visited Hogarth Falls, just a few minutes from the Strahan township. It is an easy walk in and out, and is rated as one of Tassie's best short walks. The track is edged by ancient tree ferns

and we had fun trying to spot a platypus in the creek. The lush green walk in, with the air full of the smell of Sassafras, was rewarded by Falls that were tanking. This was a stunning walk so close to a township.

Hogarth Falls , just outside Strahan

After the Falls we headed to Cradle Mountain. The drive was just under 3 hours and an interesting drive, again with such contrasting scenery along the way. Scrub and tundra quickly turns to rolling green hills and back again, lakes and wildflowers break up the rest of the drive. One thing we found really interesting is the relics of some of Tasmania's past industrial pockets. Rusting aerial pulley systems that were  used to move ore down mountainsides, rusted rail lines, man made watercourses that would have been used for transport of logs during Tasmania's heavy logging days. Many of these are still used for transport of plantation timber and retrieved Huon Pine.

When we arrived at Cradle Mountain, before we had even checked into the Campground, we went to Devils@Cradle. The kids were desperate to see a Tasmanian Devil as they had never seen one before.

Devils@Cradle is a conservation sanctuary. It runs breeding programs for Tasmanian Devils, Spotted Quolls and Eastern Quolls. I had never even heard of a Spotted Quoll or Eastern Quoll, so from the minute I walked through the door I was learning something. I'm so happy I have met some now though, so cute and such luscious coats! Quolls are even more endangered than Devils.  We did the tour with a very informative guide, named Prue. We were shocked at how few of these species are estimated to be left in the wild. I was so glad I did this tour, because while I knew Tasmanian Devils were endangered, there was so much about them I didn't know. When I was growing up in Brisbane, I would visit a wildlife park with my family. They had two devils that sat in a sad little enclosure. They mostly hid, but when you did see them they looked scabby and sad. The sign on them also said how vicious they are, which is  not true. We learned on the  tour that they are  quite friendly and only get cranky with their mates around mating time, which is typical of any mammal, really. The other thing is the ones we saw at this conservation reserve were really healthy, and cute. Some of the conservation initiatives involves hand raising Devil joeys. The next day the kids and I went back to have a "Joey Encounter", where we got to meet the juveniles up close, along with some juvenile Quolls and their resident Wombat rescue, "Pancake". Some of the joeys had been hand raised by their keepers in their keepers homes, as like any baby, they require feeding every 4 hours. One keeper said to us, "The first Tasmanian Devil joey I raised at home had her own bedroom I set up for her in the spare room". I said to her, "I bet you never expected to say those words in your lifetime." 

After the tour at Devils@Cradle and after meeting the Devils and Quolls we checked in at our Campground, Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain and hooked Van Diesel up to our powered site. For anyone thinking of camping at Cradle Mountain, be aware the only shop for groceries and alcohol and personal items, is in the reception area of Discovery Parks. That said, it is pretty well stocked, but you will be paying more than you would in a supermarket. So if there are particular things you want, stock up before you come. They sell frozen meat and frozen veges and rice, all the basics you need for a nutritious meal made in the communal kitchen. This park is wonderful and sites are surrounded by patches of forest. Wildlife roamed the campground and we were lucky enough to have a visit from a Pademelon and her baby, within 30 mins of arriving. Guests are asked not to feed the wildlife so we didn't. They still seemed happy to stay and forage in the bushes, completely unfussed about our presence. We also saw Echidnas by the side of the track to our site. There are signs on all the communal areas - bathrooms, kitchens, games rooms, that ask that guests please leave doors open at all times, so wildlife don't become trapped. Our site was really special. It was lovely to open the blind from bed in the van the  next morning and just see thick forest and birds in the trees,

 

Handraised Tasmanian Devil at Devils@Cradle

Copyright Mary Longford 2021