Cradle Mountain fits the bill. This UNESCO World Heritage Listed national park is arguably one of Tasmania's most stunning destinations. From vast button grass moorlands and eucalyptus groves to glacial lakes and flower-filled meadows, the scenery here is untamed, pristine and totally serene. Combine mountains and coastline on our Tarkine & Cradle Mountain Explorer trip. Or go all in on the Cradle Mountain Overland Track, a six-day trek that takes you deep into the Tassie wilderness. All you need to enjoy this beautiful part of Australia is a pair of walking shoes, a waterproof jacket and a sense of adventure.
Join your local leader on a guided walk after dusk to spot nocturnal creatures such as rufus wallabies, wombats, brushtail possums and quolls. If you're really lucky, you may spot the elusive Tasmanian devil — listen out for their unmistakable growls, snorts and grunting sounds.
Enjoy breathtaking views across Cradle Mountain National Park and beyond on a hike up to Marion’s Lookout. This iconic viewpoint is located high above the western side of Dove Lake and requires a bit of rock scrambling to get to, but the huffing and puffing is totally worth it when you reach the top.
Visit a wildlife conservation facility that protects endangered Tasmanian devils, and spotted-tail and eastern quolls. Watch how they feed, learn their story, visit the nursery and meet some of the facility’s youngest residents. If you go at feeding time, be prepared for rowdy scenes!
Hike the famous Dove Lake Circuit (6km). Skirting the picture-perfect Dove Lake, you'll walk beneath impressive mountain spires, through the King Billy Pine Forest and past the beautiful Pencil Pine Falls. As most of this circuit is board-walked, you can focus on taking in your lush surroundings.
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Trek the Cradle Mountain Overland Track
Briony · Traveled April 2024
If you are looking for a camping adventure- this is a great trip with the best of Tasmania’s alpine country. Food was great and 6 days in the wilderness was beautiful. Pack warm in the colder months and take the hiking poles!
Review submitted 26 Apr 2024
Trek the Cradle Mountain Overland Track
Yuanyuan · Traveled March 2024
My journey along Tasmania's Overland Track with Intrepid was nothing short of transformative. It ignited a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature, the richness of indigenous culture, and the importance of sustainable travel. For anyone who shares a love for nature, hiking, and authentic experiences, I wholeheartedly recommend embarking on this unforgettable adventure.
Review submitted 07 Apr 2024
Trek the Cradle Mountain Overland Track
Danielle · Traveled February 2024
Trip of a life time. Everything from the views, guides, group and food was sensational.
Review submitted 06 Mar 2024
Trek the Cradle Mountain Overland Track
Naomi · Traveled February 2024
I had the best time doing the Overland Track in February with our guides Josh and Louis.
We had mostly amazing weather, a great group of people and overall a really enjoyable experience in beautiful surroundings.
Review submitted 21 Mar 2024
Trek the Cradle Mountain Overland Track
Yung · Traveled February 2024
Meeting at 2 p.m. before the official tour began and conducting a preliminary inspection was very important for the six-day tour. I think it would have been very difficult without such a preliminary inspection through Stan.
As the tour began, two mountain guides led the nine-member group. I would like to express my respect to the two mountain guides, Samson and Adam. They were faithful to guiding the Overland track's optimized path. They were also amazing tour leaders who played various roles, ranging from explaining historical places, delivering extensive knowledge of animals and plants, preparing meals, and giving careful consideration to safety.
It will not be easy to maximize the joy of a meal with a small amount of food ingredients in the mountains for six days. I would also like to thank Senna for setting up a diet that was the driving force behind making me go a long way with every meal.
Once again, I would like to thank Intrepid's program for giving me unforgettable experiences on the Overland track for five nights and six days.
P.S
As a Korean, I think there will be a lot of Koreans who will like this tour.
Review submitted 17 Feb 2024
Cradle Mountain National Park travel FAQs
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is in Tasmania, an island state located 240 kilometres off the south coast of mainland Australia. The easiest way to get there is via Hobart or Launceston. You can fly direct to Hobart and Launceston from most major cities in Australia.
As public transport is limited in Tasmania, you'll then need to drive or join a tour to Cradle Mountain. The drive takes 4.5 hours from Hobart or 2 hours from Launceston.
The easiest way to get around the national park is with the shuttle bus. You'll receive a complimentary shuttle bus ticket when you pay the park entry fee at the Visitor Information Centre. The shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes from the Visitor Information Centre, stopping at Ranger Station, Snake Hill, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake.
Cradle Mountain–Lake St. Clair National Park has a cool temperate climate with four distinct seasons; however, it's not uncommon to experience four seasons on any given day! It has even been known to snow in summer.
Late spring to early autumn (November to March) is considered the best time to go hiking as the weather is drier, temperatures are warmer and flora flourishes.
Late spring is a great time to see wildflowers and animals as they become more active, while autumn brings stunning orangy-red colours.
Winter is the best time to snuggle up in front of a fire and enjoy cosy Tasmanian nights.
Pretty much everything. Bring clothes you can layer, plus a jumper or jacket, wet weather gear, sunscreen, a hat and a beanie. And don't be surprised if you end up wearing all these things on the same day! If you plan on hiking or doing gentle walking, waterproof attire is essential. Weather conditions can change in an instant and hikers have been tragically caught out in the past.
If you're going hiking, dress for the current conditions and pack additional attire in case the weather turns. If you're hanging out at your hotel or going somewhere to enjoy a meal, dress for comfort rather than fashion. Cradle Mountain is a place for lovers of the great outdoors.
In short, pretty much non-existent when you're exploring the park. Some hotels and guesthouses provide wi-fi access but the signal can be patchy if heavy weather moves in.
There's virtually no mobile phone signal at Cradle Mountain aside from a weak Telstra signal here and there. If you're hiking the Overland Track, get ready to fully disconnect.
You'll likely have no signal throughout the trip. You might pick up a few bars if you climb to the summit of Mt Ossa, but even then it's not guaranteed.
We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations.
We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.