On a shorter trip, spend a night or two at the Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in the national park. This bush-clad property, comprising the main mountain lodge and a smattering of luxurious cabins, blends harmoniously with the wild beauty. From the moment of entering my elegant cabin, complete with log fire, I could feel the stress of a day's driving melt away.
The lodge offers a range of dining options, whether it be the premier cuisine experience in the Highland Restaurant, or a more informal, laidback pub meal in the cheerful Tavern Bar & Bistro. Whatever your fitness level, the lodge is bracketed by beautiful walking trails. They also offer a complimentary guided walk, the Enchanted Stroll, a fabulous introduction to the vegetation and wildlife.
In fact, at dusk, the property was teeming with binge-feeding wombats.
But the piece de resistance is the Dove Lake Circuit Walk. The three-hour walk, graded easy, wends its way through the rainforest to Dove Lake. Situated at the base of Cradle Mountain, Dove Lake acts like a giant reflecting pool. Heaven. For more information, see www.peppers.com.au/cradle-mountain-lodge/