Big Coffee Pot at Deloraine. I feel I had been here before – I had a sense of deja brew.

Alum Cliffs Reserve (Tulampanga) was a meeting place for Pakana people. Ochre was found in the cliffs on the Mersey River.

Wildflowers at Alum Cliffs

Western flag iris (Diplarrena latifolia)

A shy pademelon.

Alum Cliffs with the Mersey River below.

“TAZ HUNGRY!” The Big Tassie Devil at Trowunna Wildlife Park – having a devil of a good time.

The Big Tassie Tiger at the Mole Creek Hotel. The story of Thylacines is tragic. Extensive trapping and hunting led to their probable extinction. On 7 September 1936 only two months after the species was granted protected status, the last known thylacine died from exposure at Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart. There have been many claims of sightings but none accurately documented. It was listed as extinct in 1986.

The hotel has a Tiger Bar.

The hotel wall are covered in photos and clippings about Thylacine sightings.

R Stephens honey in Mole Creek township. R Stephens honey began honey production in 1920. The third-generation family company is Tasmania’s largest leatherwood honey producer. I tried to give up honey once but I’m just not a bee-leaver.

The famous label in use since 1930.

The Bee

Dicksonia fern fronds uncurling.

Shelduck ducklings near Mole Creek

Silver wattle trees (Acacia dealbata) were spectacular – they area bout 20 metres tall covered in yellow.

Acradenia – more Stephens honey on the way!

Central Plateau Conservation Area off a very steep road from the Mersey Forest Drive.

The road leads to the top of these mountains to the plateau.

Further up

The road keeps steeply ascending.

Nearly at the top

Up on the top of the plateau with button grass plain.

Devils Gullet from the Lake McKenzie Rd

Looking south towards the Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

Mountains of Cradle Mountain Lake St Claire National Park

We kept an eye on the weather as it can change very quickly.

We re-enter wet sclerophyll forest on the way down the mountain.

Beech tree leaves

A wombat on the side of the road before making a quick retreat into the forest.

Moss is thick on the ground and over tree trunks.

Round Mountain looking north-west on the drive to Cradle Mountain.

Mount Roland range. We descend into a deep valley only to climb to the same elevation on another ridgeline.

We arrive at Cradle Mountain late in the day to a cloudy night with full moon.

We went spotlighting after an excellent dinner and found this pademelon.

The resort we are staying at contains a number of small cabins privately set into the forest – sort of “Cabin in the Woods” …but nice. Tranquility was broken by noise on our verandah…..

….but a pull on the curtains and the intruder was revealed…..” I come in peace,”.

Well, I don’t know about that, it comes with hunger as it desperately tried to enter our cabin and was very persistent.

We are outside the national park so pacified the marauding mammal with some apple. Peace returned for the night.