Only a 40 min drive up into the mountains from our lodge – sadly, no Pademelons to greet us on waking up today

To the visitor centre: grab a shuttle ticket ($15 PP), a coffee and wonder around waiting for bus

We learn the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area has 7 of 10 criteria to be on the World Heritage list, joint first with Mt Taishan in China!

Our hiking plan is to head to Crater Lake, up to Marions Lookout, down to Dove Lake, via Wombat Pool – let’s see how it goes!

Apparently, we may even see some Devils and Platypus today on our strolls ????????

We get dropped at Ronny Creek, the penultimate stop for the shuttle, and take the gradual stroll up to Crater Lake

It’s rather a long uphill climb but a lot of it has a boardwalk which is nice

The path by the lake leads us to a cross roads, we take the trail less taken which takes you rather steeply up to the Marion Lookout

Part the way up, we opt to stop for a lunch refuel while we have an area to ourselves and great views of the valley – lunch is chicken salad baps and has been lovingly prepared by Dave

Back to it, we get up the rest – some good rock scrambling in parts, but they have put chains on to help you climb

It’s up in the clouds a bit today but still some great views, with a pal

Shame the weather is so rubbish – being up here we’re so close to summiting but the cloud/fog makes the last bit to the top a little pointless not being able to enjoy the view

Down we go to Wombat Pool where you can see the tannin-coloured water up close

Of course, we are hunting for some of the namesake but none are around as we go past – must be too noisy with all the human passerbys

Finally, we reach Dove Lake and it’s boat shed

We take a trail around the right of the lake, from there, for about 30 minutes hoping we might get lucky with an aquatic animal sighting

No luck for us, this time, but the area is very idyllic

Back to the boat shed, it’s only a little walk to the Dove Lake visitor centre where we can catch the shuttle bus back to the visitor centre that hosts the car park

That completes a lovely 5 hour hike totalling over 10km – go Davesy ????

Reunited with the car, we drive to Wynard to stay at The Wharf Hotel – checkin, shower and then head out to Burnie

On the way, the rain has been pelting but it lets up and the sun goes up – we all know what happens then

Then, we arrive at Burnie and have some time to kill so find some dinner

We grab a curry at Indian Corner: Onion Bhajis, Chicken Tikka Masala and a Chicken Kadai (be sure to order boneless)

We were both starving as we scoffed it quick – now to see some penguins!

Short walk along the boardwalk on the seafront; it’s truly lovely to see this town embrace their sea-faring guests and allow spectators to get close safely

This walk takes us to the Little Penguin Conservation Centre

Each night, a group of volunteers is out guiding tourists on seeing these feathered friends in the daily treck for parents to go fishing and return to feed their young

The chicks come out around dusk as they get frustrated and hungry waiting – they’re so adorable and chubby!

The fishing parents are usually due in after 9 but it seems they love to doordle – takes them until almost 10:30pm to make their way up to the babies!

After we encounter an incredibly loud feeding, we head off as we have to get back to our hotel about 15 minutes drive away