CRADLE MOUNTAIN

Welcome to Cradle Mountain

Tasmania’s most famous peak sets the scene for a range of unforgettable mountain experiences.

The imposing summit – the fifth highest in the state – stands supreme above Dove Lake, which provides the classic Cradle Mountain vista. The ridges and peaks around the lake, meanwhile, add new angles to the panorama.

This one mighty mountain, which rises at the northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, is a gateway to more vast alpine wilderness. Lakes lie scattered across the landscape, riverbanks are cloaked in rainforest, and wildlife is prolific along the trails and around visitor areas. Lake St Clair – Australia’s deepest lake – frames the park’s southern border.

Cradle Mountain is a place for all seasons, beaming through summer (with occasional unexpected snowfalls), gleaming white in winter, and glowing gold and red in autumn when the deciduous fagus turns in colour on the slopes above Dove Lake.

Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, this is the place to discover Tasmania’s alpine treats. Walking tracks radiate into the park, including the celebrated multi-day Overland Track, though you needn’t walk for a week to discover this region’s mountainous charms and rugged beauty.

Experience the natural splendour that surrounds Cradle Mountain on a range of lake walks. There’s the Dove Lake circuit, with highlights including the old boatshed on its shores, the lush Ballroom Forest and opportunities to sense the majestic magnitude of the mountain that towers overhead. The two-hour Crater Lake circuit ascends to an alpine lake set in a deep hollow in the mountains, returning past the serene Wombat Pool.

Thaw out and wind down from your outdoor adventures with a luxurious alpine pamper at Waldheim Alpine Spa, and retreat to a humble refuge, or well-appointed quarters with Cradle’s extensive array of accommodation options.

Come for the mountain, but expect so much more.

Beginning the Dove Lake circuit

Pooled beneath Tasmania’s famously bowed Cradle Mountain is the striking glacial Dove Lake.

Set out on a lap around the icy body of water, passing directly beneath the epic nose of Cradle Mountain. This two-to-three-hour walk traverses six kilometres of pristine alpine wilderness and ushers you on a gentle journey through rare vegetation unique to Tasmania.

Hop off the National Park shuttle bus at the last stop and begin your trek on a boardwalk over windswept scrub and a babbling brown stream, flowing with water as icy as the wind swirling around you. You might hear a chorus of what sounds like soft bleating lambs – but this curious call actually emanates from the Tasmanian froglet, found across the island in high altitudes near bodies of water.

Hardy, brownish-green scrub skirts the Dove Lake trail, along with short gumtrees, stunted in stature by the high altitude. Take the circuit in a clockwise direction, over a track that combines sturdy boardwalks with pebbly, pale earthen stretches. The first lookout doesn’t take long to reach, and has you standing high above the water upon the mighty Glacier Rock.

As you weave through the vegetation, the track circumnavigates the majestic Dove Lake and brings you on several occasions right to its coarse, pebbly shores. Hear the watery rocks mash beneath your shoes as fresh ripples wash aground. Sometimes, this body of water stays eerily still, mirroring the misty, mountainous terrain behind it. At other times, currents and wild winds whip whitecaps upon the water, and the peaks disappear into a muddy snow cloud. Or you might get glorious sunshine and clear, blue skies... it’s also possible the landscape will glow with a spellbinding coating of snow, even in summer. The weather here changes at the drop of a hat, making this walk unique each time.

Finishing the Dove Lake circuit

Continuing your captivating circumnavigation of Dove Lake, the vegetation surrounding the trail grows denser into an alpine forest, and the boardwalk track now hugs the base of the mountain. Here you’ll enter the ancient Ballroom Forest, where you’ll walk among mossy myrtle trees, leafy sassafras trees, and contorted King Billy pines.

The forest then falls away to reveal pillowy slopes of buttongrass expertly maintained by adorable Tasmanian wombats – a subspecies of Australia’s Common Wombat. These fluffy rectangular-shaped marsupials munch and waddle their way around the area completely unphased by the humans in their midst. As relaxed as these charismatic native mammals are in your company, remember to keep a respectful distance and avoid feeding the wildlife.

Upon the vast landscape here, you’ll also find Tasmania’s endemic deciduous beech – the fagus. The “turning of the fagus” is a phenomenon that takes place each year in mid-autumn, when the tiny, crimped leaves of this Gondwanan plant smatter the highlands in a blushing blaze of gold, copper and crimson – a real treat for hikers.

You’ll know your pilgrimage is nearly complete when you reach the distinctive 1940-built Dove Lake Boatshed, which sits right on the shoreline and is sometimes semi-submerged in the water. This landmark was built by the first stationed Cradle Mountain ranger, Lionel Connell. Tide levels permitting, you can walk inside this shadowy, grey wooden structure and see its raw, remarkably intact interior.

From here, it’s only a short walk back to where you started, to complete the loop of the Dove Lake circuit. Wander back to the bus stop, accompanied by the now-familiar soundtrack of trickling water and bleating froglets.

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge

Retreat from the cold in splendour at this contemporary accommodation hub in the heart of the wilderness.

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge offers 86 private timber cabins nestled among a neighbourhood of pademelons, echidnas, wombats and platypuses.

Quaint cabins and private suites dot a landscape webbed with more than 20 walking trails – including the Enchanted walk through verdant woodlands; the King Billy track among pines more than 1,000 years old; the peaceful stroll to Pencil Pine Falls; and the famed Dove Lake circuit.

The pencil pine cabins feature natural hues, queen beds, and toasty gas heaters. Grab a nibble from the mini bar and relax in the self-contained space, ideal for couples and families, with views of the chilly wilderness.

Kick the relaxation up a notch in a spa cabin. After exploring the gorgeous outdoors, thaw out in a bubbling spa bath, then migrate to a cosy chair beside the crackling fire with a steaming cup of tea or hot chocolate. The spa suite is even more luxurious, featuring a king-sized bed and a mini-bar equipped with gourmet goods.

Or go all out and book the spacious King Billy suite – featuring a four-post king-sized bed, elegant furniture in earthy browns and emerald greens, a freestanding bath, and a double-sided wood fireplace set on a stylish stone hearth. Hop into the steamy outdoor jacuzzi on a veranda overlooking the green surrounds, then slip into your soft bathrobe and slippers.

For indulgent pampering, head to the on-site Waldheim Alpine Spa Sanctuary to access the dry sauna, wet steam room, cool vitality pool and spacious outdoor hot tub. Enjoy Tasmanian wines and platters of chocolate-coated strawberries while you rejuvenate; or go for a facial, hot stone massage or body scrub.

Stop by the lavish Highland Restaurant or the rustic Tavern Bar and Bistro for quality foodie experiences.

Accessibility

Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre is a 140-kilometre drive west of Launceston, and a 300-kilometre drive north-west of Hobart. The Visitor Centre is just outside the park’s northern edge and contains a cafe, gift shop and tour operator offices. National park shuttle buses run between the visitor centre and Dove Lake from 8am to 6pm between October and March, and from 9am to 5pm from April to September, with private vehicles not permitted on the road during these times. Shuttle bus tickets are $15 return for adults, and free for children.

Lake St Clair, at the southern end of the National Park, is a 180-kilometre drive north-west of Hobart, and a 170km drive south-west of Launceston. The Lake St Clair Visitor Centre is on the shores of Cynthia Bay, at the southern end of the lake. The attached Lake St Clair Lodge has a restaurant and makes bookings for the lake ferry.

Trained dog guides assisting people with vision and hearing impairments are permitted in national parks. However, you will need to obtain a permit for them and carry identification with you. To obtain this permit or for enquiries relating to other assistance animals, please phone the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service or email parkfees@parks.tas.gov.au ahead of your visit.

The Dove Lake Circuit includes some steps, so the track is not wheelchair accessible. TrailRider all-terrain wheelchairs are available at Cradle Mountain, to enable greater exploration by visitors with limited mobility.

Two of the pencil pine cabins at Cradle Mountain Lodge are wheelchair-accessible and accessible parking is available.

There are campgrounds at Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair. A cluster of accommodation is located at the park’s edge at Cradle Mountain. On the shores of Lake St Clair, there’s accommodation at Lake St Clair Lodge, and at Pumphouse Point, and in the nearby township of Derwent Bridge.