Tasmania - The cleanest air I've ever breathed

Tasmania is not only known for being the only state in Australia that is not connected to the mainland. It is also known to have the cleanest air in the world. We were there for 3 weeks and can confirm this.

Since it is easier to hike with clean air, we visited the Cradle-Mountain-Lake-St.-Clair-Nationalpark. In my opinion one of the most beautiful Nationalparks on the island and home to some absolutely breathtaking views. That´s the reason why it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Tasmanian Wilderness

It contains numerous mountain lakes, waterfalls, gorges, mountain ranges and among other things the highest mountain in Tasmania, the 1,617 m high Mount Ossa

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We´ve been there in the middle of summer, but apart from a few days we only had rainy, cold weather. Another thing tasmania is famous for, it´s quickly changing weather. It can be sunny with 25 degree on one day and 5 degree and rain on the next. All you need is good luck. And that´s what we had on the day we were exploring the Dove Lake and the Crater Lake.

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Both walks are relatively easy Grade 3 walks, both 6km long and will take you around 2-3 hours to complete. You can also combine them and do a whole day hiking trip...that´s what we did. Because remember, you never know what the weather is the next day so you should make the most out of it as long as it is good.

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Both hikes start at the Dove Lake carpark. If you want to do both it makes sense to start with the Dove Lake track in clockwise direction. The first track leads you around Dove lake and traverses beneath the mountain and returns through magnificent rainforest to the starting point.

Highlights on this track are Glacier Rock, Ballroom Forest and the Boatshed. The Boatshed is were the track ends, or the other one starts. :)

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The second walk, the Cater Lake is no less spectacular. Although it is called after that one lake you will walk around a series of delightfully different alpine lakes. One more beautiful than the other. And with perfect weather like we had it will be a unforgettable day.

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About half-way point of this 6km loop track you will pass the dramatic Crater Lake which was created by glacial snow and ice. The two other smaller lakes on the track, Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool have their own beauty. See yourself.

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Unfortunately we were not able to make it up to the Marions Lookout from where you´ve got the very best view over the lakes and the Glacier Rock. There were some dark clouds moving very fast towards us and we decided to give it a try on the next day.

The next day turned out to be the total opposite of the day before. Cold, rainy and grey. Friends of us went on the same walk that day and even went onto the Marions Lookout and had ice rain on the summit. Crazy weather!

So we decided to put on our rain jackets and do a short walk, the Enchaned Walk. A walk along a cascading creek and through a magical, mossy forest.

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The only consolation this morning was the chance to see a wombat and we already had a trail. 😂

Wombats poop cubes what makes it pretty easy to identify their poo. But sadly we were not able to spot one.

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Luckily there were some other highlights on this short track.

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