COMMUNITY & ENVIRONMENT

At 1.38 million hectares, the World Heritage Area is one of the largest and most important reserves. Natural values of international significance include extensively glaciated landscapes, pristine catchments, a profusion of threatened rare and endemic plants, a complex mosaic of vegetation - moorland, rainforest, alpine, eucalypt and riparian communities, undisturbed stands of millennia-old endemic pines, a collection of the world's largest carnivorous marsupials (Tasmanian devils and quolls), and two of the only three surviving species of monotremes - the most primitive group of mammals in the world (platypus and echidna).

In the mountainous heart of this amazing area, Cradle Huts has built five comfortable, well-appointed huts. Hidden in forest along the Overland Track, they are the only private huts allowed in the area.

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We believe that it is a special privilege to operate in this delicate and immensely important environment, so we observe minimal-impact track and hut practices. We tread lightly and leave nothing and our huts are designed to be ecologically sustainable. Services are non-polluting and self-contained and we use careful waste management practices. This minimal-impact use of the wilderness means that the values of this fragile environment are preserved for the future, while enabling it to be enjoyed and understood now by a small number of people.

Low Impact Design & Operation

Operating in such a delicate environment, Cradle Mountain Huts places a great deal of importance on minimal impact track and hut practices and the huts are designed to be ecologically sustainable.  Each hut is architecturally designed to maximize cross flow ventilation and operate with maximum efficiency with renewable energy.

The remote location of the huts demands that they are autonomous in terms of servicing; rain water is channelled off the roof into tanks and self-composting, water-free batching toilets are used.  Phosphorous free soap is provided for guests and all waste water is separated through grease traps and sand filters, and the residue is physically removed from site regularly along with all other rubbish.  Gas and solar are the only sources of power used for lighting, heating and cooking.

The provisioning of these huts ready for each operating season is a unique procedure, once again due to their remote location.   Only twice each season, supplies of food, wine and gas cylinders are flown in by helicopter over a two day period, while all garbage and waste matter is flown out. Nothing is left within the National Park. All waste is removed and using the helicopters means that no vehicular track degradation occurs during the provisioning or the waste removal process.

5% of all revenue raised from the Cradle Mountain Huts operation goes to Parks Tasmania for the upkeep and maintenance of the infrastructure in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.

Save the Tassie Devil campaign

In January 2010 Anthology’s Cradle Mountain Huts joined forces with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal to raise much-needed funds for ongoing research and management of the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). As a result of this campaign we raised $3,400 for the Appeal (www.tassiedevil.com.au).

THE TASMANIAN DEVIL

The Tasmanian devil is the world’s largest surviving marsupial carnivore and is only found in the wild in Tasmania.

Despite its reputation as a fierce beast, the Tasmanian devil is a timid creature that poses no danger to humans. People who work with Tasmanian devils invariably grow to love their personality - they’re feisty, raucous and bursting with curiosity.

The species has suffered a major population decline over the last ten years and is now listed as Endangered. This decline is due to an infectious cancer known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). First recorded in 1996, DFTD is a fatal condition characterised by cancers around the mouth and head.

SAVE THE TASMANIAN DEVIL PROGRAM

The Program was established in 2003 as the official response to the threat posed by DFTD. The Australian and Tasmanian Governments and the University of Tasmania have established a partnership to protect this keystone species.

If the Tasmanian devil was lost to the wild at least 70 other species could be put at risk. The Program is working with wildlife and disease experts throughout the world in an epic conservation effort. The ultimate goal is to ensure the survival of an ecologically functioning population of Tasmanian devils in the wild.

The Program’s key strategies are: the establishment of healthy Tasmanian devils, laboratory and field based investigation of the disease, and the development of disease suppression and management programs in the wild.

For more information go to www.tassiedevil.com.au

CONTACT US

Call: (03) 6392 2211
Email: bookings@cradlehuts.com.au