Wombat, Cradle Mountain

Wombats, wallabies (small kangaroos) and echidna (porcupine-like ant-eaters) are seen at dawn and dusk. The endangered Tasmanian Devil, the last marsupial carnivore on the island, is nocturnal and hard to spot. We did not see one though heard some screeching in the middle of the night. Its population has declined rapidly due to a rare disease among its species.

Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

This national park represents the start of the Overland Track, a 65 km bush-walk over six nights. Currently, there is a total fire ban across all of Tasmania due to unusually hot temperatures and high wind. But bush fires in the dry eucalyptus forests have already led to evacuations in parts of the state.