Dove Lake Walk is a 6.3km circumference of Dove Lake nestled below the iconic Cradle Mountain. A selection from our walk:

Marions Peak

A small beach

The Dove Lake Devil let us pass in peace.

Honeymoon Islands – not likely to be disturbed out there.

Ballroom Forest

Mount Campbell and Hansons Peak

Another beach

Waterfall from Marions Peak

The bus shuttle terminus in the distance

Dove Lake Boat Shed

A view of Cradle Mountain at Devils@Cradle – a wildlife sanctuary for Tasmanian Devils and Quolls.

The sanctuary is a key facility for the Tasmanian Devil, housing approximately 40 devils on site. They are involved in breeding, national and international exports, release and re-introduction, field monitoring of wild populations and orphan rehabilitation.

The Save the Tasmanian Devil Program was established in response to Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer that has decreased wild populations by between 85-90% throughout Tasmania. The insurance population is made up of various captive facilities nationally housing approx. 700 animals.

This is Fergus – an older male – their fur browns as they age.

Once they bite, they don’t let go.

Tug of war at feeding time between two males.

A Black Currawong pushing its luck.

As well as the Tasmanian devils, the sanctuary is also home to the closely related Spotted-tail and Eastern quolls. Tasmania’s three largest carnivorous marsupials are all now threatened in one way or another in the wild.

Eastern quoll. The lack of foxes and dingoes in Tasmania is believed to have contributed to the survival of the species here on the island. Considered extinct on the mainland, they remain widespread in Tasmania.

The other colour phase of the Eastern quoll

The Spotted-tail quoll is the largest of the quoll family.

But the stars of the show here are the Devils.

The sanctuary is also home to a Big Wombat….

…and of course, a Big Tasmanian devil.

An unusual colour form of a Bennetts Wallaby living outside the sanctuary.

Using up as much of the day as possible, we head out on the Cradle Valley Boardwalk late in the day before dinner.

Edge of the button grass plain

Did I mention it was cold?

Looking for auroras completed another fabulous day at Cradle Mountain.