CRADLE MOUNTAIN FLORA AND FAUNA

Not only is Cradle Mountain spectacularly beautiful but it protects a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Around half of its vegetation is endemic to the region while some of Tasmania’s most iconic wildlife species call the national park “home”. Cradle Mountain has also been identified as an Important Bird Area and offers exceptional birdwatching while providing habitat for fungi that are rarely seen elsewhere. 

Cradle Mountain Fauna

 Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
Cradle Mountain is famed for its population of common or bare-nosed wombats, which are one of Australia’s most endearing native animals. These large, herbaceous mammals feature short legs that result in their unique “waddle” and strong claws that are used to excavate burrows. While wombats are usually nocturnal, they like to come out and graze on sunny days and can easily be tracked due to their cube-shaped dung. 

Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii)
Featuring a compact body and short, rounded ears, the Tasmanian pademelon is one of the most commonly spotted animals in Cradle Mountain National Park. They are heavier and bushier than their mainland counterparts and were once prey of the thylacine. Pademelons love to graze on fresh shoots of grass, with many going about their daily business with joeys bundled in their pouches. 

Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
Brushtail possums are nocturnal marsupials that are notorious for finding their way into trekker’s packs to feast on unattended snacks. They feature large, pointed ears and bushy tails (hence the name), which are used to help them grasp onto tree branches. Brushtail possums prefer to live a solitary lifestyle and can often be heard hissing, grunting and screeching while competing for territory. 

Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
These cute, waddling creatures are widespread throughout Australia, although Tasmania has a subspecies that is endemic to the island. Their bodies are covered in spines that they use to defend themselves while their large claws help them to burrow into insect nests. Echidnas are one of only two monotremes in existence (platypus being the other) and lay eggs as part of their reproduction lifecycle. 

Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus)
While spotted-tailed quolls vary in colour from reddish to dark chocolate brown, they are distinctive due to the white spots that cover their bodies and tails. They are one of the largest carnivorous mammals remaining in the world, with these primarily nocturnal creatures feeding on insects, birds, frogs and lizards. Quolls hunt by stalking their prey before pinning them down and sinking their jaws around the neck. 

Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)
Also known as a red-necked wallaby due to the colour of its neck and shoulder fur, this hopping creature is the largest marsupial in Tasmania. It features a black nose and paws that it uses to scratch its belly, as well as a white stripe visible on its upper lip. Bennett’s wallabies are mostly nocturnal and can often be seen grazing at dusk on grasses, tree leaves and roots,

Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)
Iconic to the island, the Tasmanian devil is the largest carnivorous mammal in the world, with its large head and neck enabling it to generate a powerful bite. Devils will hunt anything up to the size of a wallaby but are also known to scavenge on carrion, including roadkill. While Tasmanian devils are rarely seen during daylight hours (when they spend most of their time in dense bush or holes), they occasionally come out to rest in the sunshine.

Green rosella (Platycercus caledonicus)
Also known as the Tasmanian rosella, this brightly coloured bird is the largest in the rosella genus. While its greenish-black upper body gives it its name, the underparts, neck and head are usually yellow. Females are distinguishable by their prominent red markings and smaller beaks. Green rosellas can often be seen coming and going from their nesting hollows while searching for seeds, berries and nuts to feed on. 

Black currawong (Strepera fuliginosa)
Endemic to Tasmania, the black currawong is a large and noisy bird that is closely related to the magpie. Black in colouration, it features white wing patches and yellow eyes, not to mention a large, heavy bill. Currawongs inhabit the dense forests and alpine heathlands of Cradle Mountain National Park where they can often be seen foraging on the ground for berries and invertebrates. 

Pink robin (Petroica rodinogaster)
Instantly recognisable due to their bright pink chests, these tubby robins prefer to inhabit dark and densely vegetated gullies in damp eucalypt forests. Although quieter than other robins, they have a characteristic “tik, tik, tik” call that can help to identify them. While males have a brownish-black upper body, females are a warm olive-brown colour with pink-tinted cinnamon-buff underparts. 

Tasmanian scrubwren (Sericornis humilis)
Occupying the understorey of temperate forests, these unique scrubwrens are endemic to Tasmania and are usually spotted in pairs. They are greyish-brown in colour with a distinct black-and-white shoulder patch, as well as a pale-coloured chin strap. Tasmanian scrubwrens are named after their foraging habitat where insects and seeds lie in wait. 

Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Tasmania is only home to around 120 breeding pairs of peregrine falcons, so seeing them in the wild at Cradle Mountain National Park is always a treat. They prefer to nest in hollow trees or on cliff ledges, from where they hunt for small birds and mammals. Female peregrine falcons are significantly larger than males (around 30%) while the immature birds have a brown, rather than bluish-black colouration. 

Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax fleayi)
Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles can often be seen soaring around the rocky cliffs of Cradle Mountain and make for a majestic sight. This endemic subspecies is listed as endangered and is known to abandon its nest if disturbed, so be sure to keep your distance if one is spotted. Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles can have wingspans of up to 2.3 metres and feature a hooked beak and large talons that make it a powerful predator. 

Cradle Mountain Flora

 Deciduous beech (Nothofagus gunnii)
Endemic to the highlands of Tasmania, Nothofagus gunnii (or deciduous beech) is one of the island’s most iconic floral species. It can grow up to eight metres in height and features ovate leaves with rounded teeth that turn various shades of yellow and red in autumn. Making a pilgrimage to see the changing colours of the fagus has become a yearly event for many Tasmanians, who are proud of what is Australia's only cold-climate winter-deciduous tree. 

Myrtle beech (Nothofagus cunninghamii)
Myrtle beech is the dominant species in Tasmania’s cool temperate rainforests and can be found in abundance throughout Cradle Mountain National Park. It prefers to grow in partial shade and features rough bark that is often covered in mosses and epiphytes. Although similar to deciduous beech, myrtle beech is evergreen, so it doesn’t shed its leaves each year. 

Pandani (Richea pandanifolia)
As the world’s tallest heath plant, the pandani is instantly recognisable in the alpine landscapes of Cradle Mountain National Park. It is always a photographer’s favourite, with its serrated leaves growing up to one metre in length and spilling from the top of a thick stem. Richea pandanifolia is endemic to Tasmania, with some scientists believing it is a relic of Gondwanan fragmentation. 

Southern sassafras (Atherosperma moschatum)
Native to the temperate rainforests of Tasmania, the southern sassafras is a conical-shaped tree that has been known to grow up to 40 metres in height. It has pale green leaves that give off a distinct scent and a springy wood that has been used to make everything from musical instruments to clothes pegs. If you’re visiting in the wintertime, keep an eye out for the sassafras’ white and yellow flowers. 

King Billy pine (Athrotaxis selaginoides)
Named after a Tasmanian Aboriginal man, William Billy, this endemic coniferous tree is not, in fact, a true pine. It can grow up to around 30 metres in height and features claw-like leaves that spiral off its shoots. Once subject to heavy logging, King Billy pines are now protected but are still endangered to their sensitivity to fire. 

Celerytop pine (Phyllocladus aspleniifolius)
Together with King Billy pines, celerytop pines create a thick rainforest canopy for mossy undergrowth to thrive. They are named after their leaves’ resemblance to a celery plant and are the most abundant conifer in Tasmania. Celerytop pine has long been revered by wooden boatbuilders and furniture makers due to its straight grain and golden colour. 

Tasmanian snow gum (Eucalyptus coccifera)
Dominating the exposed, rocky terrain of Cradle Mountain’s alpine areas is the beautiful snow gum with its smooth, grey and cream-coloured trunk. It grows to around 15 metres in height and features lance-shaped leaves of a greenish-blue colour. Tasmanian snow gums are particularly impressive in summertime when their white flowers blossom. 

Scoparia heath (Richea scoparia)
Endemic to Tasmania, this broom-like shrub flourishes in the wind-swept environs of Cradle Mountain. It features sharply-pointed, curved leaves and terminal flowers that ignite in oranges, pinks, reds and whites in summer. Protruding from the rest of the plant, the flowers often appear like candles illuminating the alpine terrain.

Tasmanian waratah (Telopea truncata)
With its bright red inflorescences, this beautiful plant in the Proteaceae family thrives in the alpine eucalypt forests of Cradle Mountain National Park. It is the most distinctive of Australia’s five waratah species, with its freely branching stems setting it apart from its New South Wales counterpart. Flowering at lower elevations begins around October and continues through to January at higher locations. 

Pencil pine (Athrotaxis cupressoides)
This Gondwanan species can be seen in the sub-alpine areas of Cradle Mountain, particularly around the park’s tarns and lakes. While they have been known to live to around 1,200 years, their susceptibility to fire damage and inability to recover have contributed to their “vulnerable” status. If you come across a stand of pencil pines, it is likely that they are genetically identical, having reproduced through suckering. 

Button grass (Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus)
This tussock-forming sedge dominates the alpine landscapes near the summit of Cradle Mountain where it thrives in the damp, nutrient-poor soils. While it is highly flammable, Tasmania’s buttongrass recovers quickly after a fire, allowing it to out-compete other species. It forms dense clumps of narrow leaves that are yellowish-brown in colouration and is an important food source for the endangered orange-bellied parrot. 

Cradle Mountain Fungi

 Cradle Mountain National Park is home to hundreds of species of fungi, many of which play an important role in regulating the ecosystem. Not only do they help to break down fallen leaf litter and recycle organic matter, but they effectively return nutrients to the soil. Of particular note are the strawberry bracket fungus (Tyromyces pulcherrimus), which is named after its red colouration, and the rare green stem pinkgill (Entoloma rodwayi).