Bushwalk Australia

Hi Guys,
A quickie - I'm interested to know where to people stay before their OLT/Cradle walks?
I'm talking the night before - any camping spots, cabins, caravans parks? side of the road?

Being a Hobartian, I'm usually heading off on a Friday, after work, 5pm ish, so getting to Cradle by 9pm...

Do people stay at Moina? Sheffield?

Somewhere cheap

I'm a big fan of the tactical car nap or the early bed at home and the predawn drive.

Are you leaving a car up there Aztec? Waldheim cabins would be the pick, from around $95 though.. dear by tassie standards. The next cheapest alternative would be the Discovery village, hostel/campsites. From now through to Sept i'd want to plan to arrive by dark given a choice. There are some 'stealth' campsites further back off the link road, some nearer Cradle have been fenced off in recent years but some sites, closer to the roadside, are still obvious. Accomodation next closest, Lemonthyme Lodge, Moina Tavern, 'Love Grove' Guest House (towards Wilmot), Mt Roland Backpackers (towards Sheffield).

I have used the Waratah Hotel. A bit further away and but reasonable rates. Also do stealth camp, but only if arriving pretty late and its not a busy period ie long weekends.

norts

There is now free car-based camping at Lake Lea, although the road in is a bit rough.

Yeah, I'll be leaving Hobart about 5pm, picking up a mate in Launnie, then heading across... so well be getting to the area about 9pm ish

The caravan park has a comfortable bunkhouse, and Waldheim Chalets are good too, very convenient to the tracks, but I'm not sure if you could still check in that late.

Book by phone, tell them you'll be late getting there. They usually have a system for picking up gate cards/keys after hours.

If your plans are to walk the OLT during the off season then going south to north is an option. And so would be a night at the Derwent Bridge Hotel. Not too expensive, good food and very friendly staff.

AL

I supposed another option is to camp somewhere on the Ronnie Creek track before it gets mountainous... setting up in the dark doesn't worry me...not sure whether you're allowed in after dark though...

I've driven in there plenty of times in the dark and slept in the car. You should be fine. You could probably get away with a stealth camp at Ronny if you're up early enough the next morning.
Nor would you be the first to spend a night in the walkers' shelter at Dove Lake, if it came to that.

*scratches head* Do I mean Dove Lake or Ronny Creek? There's a walkers' shelter at one of them. Not that I'm advocating this, you understand. It would be entirely your own idea. *nonchalant whistle*

north-north-west wrote:I've driven in there plenty of times in the dark and slept in the car. You should be fine. You could probably get away with a stealth camp at Ronny if you're up early enough the next morning.
Nor would you be the first to spend a night in the walkers' shelter at Dove Lake, if it came to that.

*scratches head* Do I mean Dove Lake or Ronny Creek? There's a walkers' shelter at one of them. Not that I'm advocating this, you understand. It would be entirely your own idea. *nonchalant whistle*

It's at the lake.

north-north-west wrote:Book by phone, tell them you'll be late getting there. They usually have a system for picking up gate cards/keys after hours.

This would be my choice if it could be arranged. So you could collect the key then stop at the tavern for dinner before heading out to Waldheim.
But I can't help wondering what you are going to do with your car.

Huh.. so drive at night and stealth camp in the day walk area?? Wait a sec now, let's think this advice through

This isn't advice. It's a purely hypothetical discussion of options.

Actually another question - for those who have gone to Cradle at this time of year (late June/July) - what's the road like (usually)?
I've only got a Falcon S/W, no 4WD - do they keep the roads snow free? Should I get chains? Hire a 4WD? Get a bus? Horse?
I know weather is unpredictable, but I'm just trying to get a feel for what I can bring...

Weather on ABC News24 this morning showed wombats in the snow at Cradle. I though snowshoes might be a good idea.
The roads can sometimes become impassable in bad weather. It's probably a good idea to take chains.

RonK wrote:Weather on ABC News24 this morning showed wombats in the snow at Cradle.

Was a great little video!


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That was the point Aztec, after a decent snow dump they will close the road into the park until there's a chance the next day to clear it.
This usually happens by mid morning so consequently its always a wize move in winter to plan to arrive- mid-morning.. Safer, smoother, less chance of contributing roadkill (of all varieties..) Less chance of needing to be pulled from a gutter or tree. Snow chains wont be a lot of use as if warranted the park road will likely be closed to all but 4wd. Typically, in winter, if not the chance of snow you can almost be assured of frost, some of the corners even at lower elevations can be treacherous (even at slower speeds)..