Beez Neez now Chy Whella - To Cradle Mountain NP

To Cradle Mountain NP

Beez Neez now Chy Whella

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Sat 23 Jan 2016 23:47

To Cradle Mountain National Park

We left Stanley campsite and headed round to see the Marine Park on Wharf Road – loved the chap on the roof of the seafood shop.

In front of the small lighthouse we could see a block of stone. It is a monument erected in remembrance of Patrick Hursey who lost his life when his vessel overturned and sank while trying to rescue a lone kayaker in Bass Strait in 1986. ‘Kermie’ was the skipper of the Moya Ann and was on a rescue mission, with six other vessels, to locate and rescue a lone kayaker attempting to cross Bass Strait. The vessel had located two life rafts dropped by aircraft and was attempting to get alongside the rafts when tragedy struck.

The skipper went down with his vessel when she was struck by a huge breaking wave. The other crewman was rescued by the fishing boat Albatross II. The tragic loss of the fishing vessel Moya Ann brought resounding condemnation for adventurers risking the lives of others while seeking personal fulfilment. A sad and tragic loss.

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We then drove the short distance to Highfield and enjoyed a couple of hours at this beautifully restored residence, built between 1832-1835.

From the upstairs back bedroom window Stanley Nut was covered in mist.

We left Highfield but soon stopped at a lookout. To the left – Cape Grim, Bear in the lookout. To the right farmland.

At least Stanley Nut looked clearer.

We reached the other side of the bay and looked back for one last look, we could see rain out at sea.

We headed inland and found ourselves once again in bushfire smoke. It’s as if we have put yellow cellophane across the window and soon we had to switch off the air coming into Mabel as it hurts our eyes. There are currently at least seventy fires burning over Tasmania, some near where we are headed. We keep the radio on to listen for updates. We hear names we are now familiar with being told that “if no emergency plan in place, evacuate now.”

Twenty miles later, we go over a small hill and it’s as if someone has waved a wand. All clear, sun shining on this pretty farmhouse.

We pass a lake.

The same lake from along the road.

We begin to see more trees. At the next junction we stop and I get excited to see Hampshire, county of my birth.

Over the road we see a mountain range, then the next lookout.

Scenery is changing.

On we go. Trees changing with more pines and myrtle.

Could be in Scotland on a nice smooth road.

The ground is incredibly dry and cracked.

We went from watching for cows and sheep, to kangaroos, an interesting wiggly bit and we were here. A quick look around the Visitor’s Centre, pick up a map and onto one of the shuttle buses for a general look round.

From the Visitor’s Centre car park it was just across the road to Discovery Park Campsite. Bear picked up our clip to go on our fencepost and through a new one on us. A cable gate.