A day trip to Cradle Mountain seems a little bit ambitious considering the scale of Cradle Mountain National Park, which is around 1600 km2. However, having a tight 4D3N trips exploring the whole Tasmania only allowed us to have maximum 1 day in Cradle mountain. After researching online and read experience from others, we found that with proper planning day trip in Cradle Mountain is possible! But firstly we need to concentrate on only one trail. There are several trails for us to explore, from short Dove Lake trails to longer trails to Marions Lookout. We have decided to go for Marlions Lookout trails since we have allocated one day for Cradle Mountain, and seeing nice feedback from others.

We woke up early in the morning to get a good head start, but the cloudy weather in the morning made us worry about the slippery trails, and us being not well equipped for cold and wet outdoor activities. When we reached Cradle Mountain National Park, the drizzle just made the trekking condition worse! The ranger advised us to take shorter trips at Dove Lake seeing us poorly equipped. We were a little bit worried and disappointed because we had been looking forward to have a nice view of Cradle Mountain from Marions lookout. After paying for entrance fee (by the way, yes you have to pay for entrance fee to explore Cradle Mountain, and considering the conservatories works, we think that what we are paying for is very reasonable), we drove straight to Dove Lake and decided just go to Marions Lookout without listening to the ranger's advise.

It was really cold and misty in the morning, and we regretted that we didn't do proper research to realise that Cradle Mountain is wet, windy and cold all year round due to its high attitude, and worse still we were there during early summer, so the temperature was around 13-16 deg C. Therefore, we advise those who want to explore Cradle Mountain to carry at least wind breaker to have a protection against the unstable weather. We were lucky that halfway trough it was sunny as the weather were getting warmer, and scenery started to brighten up after the mist was gone.

There are few lakes at the base of Cradle Mountain, namely Dove Lake, Wombat Lake and Crate Lake. The teardrop shape of Crater Lake is interesting and very photogenic, and I could not stop taking photos of it. The fresh air of Tasmania really made the trekking easier and refreshing one. It took us around 3 hours to reach Marions Lookout, and it was crazily windy and cold up there, till the extend we worry that we might be blown away by the wind! :P

We didn't stay too long there before made our way back to Dove lake (too windy!) , and the journey back was easier as the weather got better. And we saw a cute Echidna crossing the road on our way back. In Tasmania I felt like I am so close to nature, and saw a harmonic relationship between human and nature. That is what I like about Tasmania, the places are so raw and not overly developed that makes everything so pure and unpolluted. And I kind of like the healthy lifestyle during my entire trip in Tasmania.