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| • The
main attraction in the northwest
is the spectacular Cradle Mountain
but Cradle Chalet
is also centrally located just a
short drive from a host of other
regional attractions ranging from
stunning alpine wilderness to salmon,
wine, cheese and chocolates! |
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• There is literally something
for everyone - click on the links
below for more detailed information
on the various attractions of Moina
and the northwest.
There is also a map showing the
local attractions in relation to
Cradle Chalet here.
This map can also be downloaded
here |
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Latrobe
is situated on the banks of the
Mersey river and is an historic
town known as “the town of
antiques”. It has six antique
shops and three of them are Reliquaire
Antiques with quality antiques
and restoration, dolls, teddies,
china, furniture, coffee and fudge,
spa, sauna and private gym.
Nathans Emporium
has collectibles, traditional dolls
and Teddy Bears. Claren
Antiques has furniture,
jewellery and Silver.
Located about 45 minutes drive from
Cradle Chalet past
Sheffield.
see » map |
The
Mole Creek Caves
are located in the Mole Creek Karst
National Park, one of the first
karst national parks in Australia,
located beneath the spectacular
Great Western Tiers. The area is
surrounded by beautiful rich green
farmland and much of the water flowing
off the Tiers disappears into a
network of underground streams which
have created over thousands of years
many caves with superb calcite formations.
These limestone caves are ranked
amongst the most decorated in the
world. Creatures found nowhere else
in the world live in these caves
plus a diverse range of flora resulting
from the calcium rich soils.
The most popular are King
Solomon’s and Marakoopa
Caves which are open to
the public for guided tours through
Tasmania’s National Parks
and Wildlife Service. This extensive
limestone cave system is well worth
a visit with the caves featuring
underground streams, glow-worms,
rim pools, reflections and stunning
stone formations.
Tours take about one hour and operate
almost everyday of the year and
an admission fee is charged.
There are also privately operated
Wild Cave Tours
where your guide can arrange full
or half day tours in undeveloped
caves by the light of headlamps
- suitable for the more adventurous
cave enthusiasts. |
| Anvers
Chocolates, the most popular
attraction for the sweet tooth,
is located at Latrobe - about a
45 minute drive from Cradle
Chalet through Sheffield
- see » map |
Ashgrove
Farm Cheese specialize
in the production of award winning
English Country style cheeses using
traditional recipes and manufacturing
techniques. The cheese is manufactured
from milk produced on the farm by
the 800 cow dairy herd ensuring
the highest quality standards are
maintained throughout the process.
The cheese factory is on the Bass
Highway 20 minutes from Devonport
and 10 minutes from Deloraine. Visitors
can view the cheese making area
and sample the range of cheeses
available.
Located about 45 minutes from Cradle
Chalet - see » map |
| Honey
varieties can be tasted at Stephens
Honey Factory in Mole Creek
and the Honey Farm
in Chudleigh (about 5 minutes from
Mole Creek) where visitors can enjoy
free honey tasting, buy gourmet
honey ice cream and other products
and watch thousands of bees making
honey in the indoor exhibition hive.
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Highland
Trails capture the spirit
of the spectacular Tasmanian High
Country with horse riding through
areas where there are bush tracks,
quiet roads, horse trails and uncharted
bush.
The rides take in the area bounded
by the triple peaks of Mt. Roland,
Mt. Van Dyke and Mt. Claude, the
Forth River and Lake Barrington
where riders can enjoy the clean
mountain air, unique Tasmanian forests,
splendid views and magnificent scenery.
The horses are well cared for and
can be matched to the riders style
and ability.
Highland Trails
is at Staverton about 15 minutes
drive from Cradle Chalet.
see » map
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Cradle
Chalet is located 625m
above sea level and is surrounded
by lakes, many have hydro dams used
to provide electricity. The hydro
system is quite unique there are
seven hydro dams in our region,
starting at an elevation of 1100m
at Lake Mackenzie and Lake Rowallan
on the central plateau as they progress
toward the sea, along Lake Barrington.
Lake Gairdner is our closest lake
and is tunneled through the mountain
to Lake Cethana.
The lakes create areas for recreation
such as fishing, rowing boating
touring and photography.
Dove Lake is at the base
of Cradle Mountain
where the famous board walk around
the lake is a must for every visitor.
See also » walking
tracks
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Leven
Canyon is a spectacular
canyon and lookout with the walk
passing through giant ferns and
temperate forest. This is a round
trip and as you leave the car park
the well constructed path takes
you down a fern glade. As you reach
the lookout, the roar of the river
heralds an impressive sight, the
Leven River rushing through the
canyon. The walk is considered average
fitness level, and a well marked,
good surface.
Leven Canyon is only 40min from
Cradle Chalet -
see » map
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Devils
Gullet is located between
Lake Mackenzie and Western Bluff.
To find it take the entrance to
Lake Parangana and thentake the
road to Devils Gullet. This road
is gravel, and at this point the
road climbs to the top of the Great
Western Tiers about 20mins drive
on the right. Look for the car park
there is a 15 minute climb to the
lookout. This lookout must be one
of the best views in the state with
a 220 metre shier drop. On a clear
day the Central Plateau, Cradle
Mountain, Mt Pelion and Tasmania’s
tallest Mountain Mt Ossa can be
seen.
Marion’s Lookout
is located at Cradle Mountain and
overlooks Dove Lake. This is only
accessible on foot, about three
and a half hours return. While visiting
Cradle Mountain this walk and Dove
Lake circuit are a must.
See also » Cradle
Mountain - Dove Lake
The summit at the top of Cradle
Mountain at 1545 metres is a seven
and half hours return, however Marion’
Lookout will give a very good over
view of the entire valley.
Bell Mountain Lookout
is 2km just north of Cradle
Chalet at Moina, this is
more of a bush track and it’s
very steep , but the view is worth
the climb. Some of our guests take
the challenge before breakfast as
it is close to us.
Cethana Dam Lookout
is few kilometres away at Wilmot
Power Station - which is part of
the hydro electric system in this
area - see » map
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Tasmania
is essentially a mountainous island
with almost half of the State more
than 600 metres above sea level.
Four of Tasmania’s highest
mountains are located in the Cradle
Mountain - Lake St Clair National
Park, the highest in the
State being Mt Ossa at
1614m, followed by Mt Pelion
West at 1560m, then Barn
Bluff at 1559m and Cradle
Mountain at 1545m.
There are 155 mountains in Tasmania
which exceed 1100 meters in height
and Mount Wellington
overlooking Hobart only ranks as
number 76th highest.
The approach to Cradle Chalet
through Mole Creek
offers spectacular mountain views
of the Great Western Tiers,
one of the longest unbroken escarpments
in Australia and it is the face
of the central plateau which is
the source of many lakes, streams
and waterfalls.
Western Bluff at
1420m is the most western end of
the Tiers, snow capped in winter
a most impressive sight.
From Sheffield Mt Roland
is the most predominant mountain
as it rises abruptly to 1233m. This
is one of the most photographed
mountains in the region because
of its stunning rock formations
and waterfalls.
see also » walking
tracks |
Lake
Barrington is located at
the base of the Forth River Valley.
It is an artificial lake that was
created by the building of the 84
metre high Devils Gate Dam on the
Forth River for hydro-electric power
production in 1969.
The lake is 20 kilometres long and
a feature of this recreation area
is an international standard rowing
course with comprehensive competitor
and spectator facilities. The course
is used for local, interstate and
international rowing, skiing and
canoeing competitions. The international
rowing competition is held approximately
every four years.
This course is located about 20
minutes drive from Cradle
Chalet.
see » map
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41°
south Salmon Farm & EcoExperience
near Deloraine
offers self-guided tours for viewing
the fish farm, flora and fauna plus
learning about the ways in which
they interact with this unique ecosystem.
The key attractions are the fish
farm itself, ginseng plantation,
fish feeding, walks through a natural
and man-made wetland with dragonflies,
frogs, birds, fish, platypus and
nature trails to the base of our
waterfall. Visitors can also discver
the miracle plant ginseng and enjoy
a free tasting of hot-smoked salmon
products. 41º south
is an eco certified ecotourism business.
»
www.41south-aquaculture.com |
Tasmazia
is a colourful, miniature village
set amongst a complex of mazes.
Each summer, on the first Sunday
of February, it is the scene for
the annual Lavender Harvest
Festival.
Tasmazia, is on
the scenic route to Cradle
Mountain from Sheffield
and is one of the most visited attractions
in this region.
It is only 20 minutes drive from
Cradle Chalet -
see » map
»
www.tasmazia.com.au
|
With
over 3000 lakes, rivers and streams
Tasmania it is an anglers paradise
and regarded by many as Australia’s
premier wild trout fishing destination.
Salmon and trout ova were brought
to Tasmania by ship in 1864 and
although the salmon failed, but
the brown trout thrived in the Tasmanian
environment and were later used
to stock the waters of other States
of Australia and New Zealand.
A popular fishing lake is Lake
Barrington where black
fish, brown trout and rainbow trout
all thrive. |
The
Overland Track is Tasmania’s
most famous walking experience and
it is widely regarded as one of
the world’s great wilderness
walks. It stretches some 80 kilometres
over Tasmania’s highland country
through the Cradle Mountain - Lake
St. Clair National Park, beginning
at Cradle Mountain. The track passes
through a variety of ecosystems
ranging from rainforest to button
grass plains. This spectacular country
contains rugged mountains, deep
forested valleys and alpine moorlands.
Even in mid summer snow is a frequent
visitor, but the weather is as changeable
as the scenery and throughout the
short summer wildflowers bloom under
clear blue skies.
There are a large number of waterfalls
and crystal clear streams and dark
forests of beech trees festooned
with mosses, fungi and lichens.
The Fagus (Tasmania’s only
native deciduous tree) turns gold
and chestnut brown in late autumn
before it loses it leaves for the
onset of the long winter months.
Walkers also have the opportunity
to climb Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s
highest mountain, or Mt. Pelion
and other side trails including
the Walls of Jerusalem National
Park.
The walk takes from between 6 –
8 days and there are very basic
huts along the way which provide
shelter. Towards the end of the
track is a fascinating leisurely
walk through eucalypt forests of
spectacular snow gums at Narcissis
Bay then on to Lake St. Clair National
Park.
Each year some 4,000 visitors walk
either the full length or sections
of the Overland Track. This walk
has often been described as one
of the best wilderness experiences
in the world.
Dove Lake is a
2 kilometer long glacial lake situated
at the base of Cradle Mountain.
It is at an altitude of 940 metres
and there is a 7 ½ kilometer
walk around the lake which is probably
one of the most popular National
Park walks in Tasmania.
The Dove Lake Circuit Track
as it is known is suitable for people
of all ages and it is a relatively
easy walk with most being a board
walk. It is recommended to walk
around in a clockwise direction
and this walk takes about 2 hours
to complete. Along the way there
are spectacular views up to Cradle
Mountain and a wonderful
variety of native plants and animals.
The track passes through an area
known as The Ballroom Forest with
ancient myrtles and the deciduous
beech (the Fagus) and this is definitely
a highlight of this wonderful walk
and in the late Autumn much of the
area around Dove Lake is a blaze
with the spectacular gold and copper
colours of the Fagus before the
leaves fall in preparation for the
icy cold winter ahead.
The weather can change very rapidly
in this area and it is always recommended
to be prepared and take warm weatherproof
clothing at any time of the year.
There are also other walks which
lead from the car park at Dove Lake.
More walk information » wilderness
walks
|
Trowunna
Wildlife Park is located
in Mole Creek and
the park offers the experience of
interacting with the many animals
and birds there. Visitors can witness
e a Tasmanian Devil being hand fed,
hold a baby wombat and see a variety
of other animals such as Kangaroos,
Waterfowl, Echidnas, Eagles, Koalas,
Quolls. There is also a Nocturnal
House.
The Park is open daily from 9am
to 5pm and is about a one hour drive
from Cradle Chalet - see
» map |
Lake
Barrington Estate
The vineyard was established in
1986, on the banks of Lake Barrington.
It’s very cool climate is
proving to be perfect for sparkling
wine and “Alexandra”
is consistently one of the State’s
best Methode Champenoise. Other
wines include Chardonnay, Riesling
and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Visitors are welcome at Lake Barrington
Estate, where they can unfold a
picnic hamper and enjoy the spectacular
scenery of the area. The scenery
is worthy of a trip to the vineyard,
and the wine is, of course marvelous
bonus.
Wilmot Hills Vineyard
The vineyard is nestled in the North
West of Tasmania just west of Lake
Barrington 300 metres above sea
level with spectacular views looking
over Lake Barrington toward Mt Roland.
Barringwood Park Vineyard
Barringwood Park Vineyard is another
beautiful vineyard in the region
just a short 15
minute drive south of Devonport,
located on the main tourist route
(B14) to Sheffield and Cradle Mountain.
This vineyard is nestled on sunny
north facing slopes overlooking
the picturesque Don valley, with
Bass Strait in the distance.
» www.barringwoodpark.com.au
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