⛰️ Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair, Tasmania
Things to do in Cradle Mountain
Jagged peaks, mirror lakes and Tasmania’s wild alpine heart
Cradle Mountain is Tasmania’s alpine icon — a serrated dolerite ridge rising above the still, dark water of Dove Lake, wrapped in ancient rainforest, button-grass moorland and roaming wildlife. The northern gateway to the famed Overland Track, it’s the island’s great wilderness day out, with walks for every level from an easy lakeside loop to a hard summit scramble.
Time needed
1–2 days
Best time
December–March for the mildest hiking weather and long days; autumn for the turning fagus
Region
Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair, Tasmania
Don’t miss
The Dove Lake Circuit
The classic: a roughly two-hour, mostly boardwalked loop around Dove Lake directly beneath the peak — the postcard view of Cradle Mountain, and manageable for most walkers. Serious hikers push on to the summit or the Overland Track.
Check availability on GetYourGuideTop things to do in Cradle Mountain
- The Dove Lake Circuit beneath the jagged peak — the signature walk.
- Wildlife at dusk — wombats on the moorland, and Tasmanian devils at the nearby sanctuary.Find tours
- The short Enchanted Walk and Knyvet Falls through mossy rainforest.
- The demanding summit climb, or the first leg of the Overland Track.
- A guided day tour from Launceston if you’re not self-driving.Find tours
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How to get to Cradle Mountain
Around 2.5 hours’ drive from Launceston or 4.5 hours from Hobart. Private cars park at the visitor centre and take the mandatory shuttle bus in to Dove Lake in peak periods; full-day guided tours also run from Launceston.
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Best time to visit
December–March for the mildest hiking weather and long days; autumn for the turning fagus. Snow and four-seasons-in-a-day conditions are possible any time of year, so always pack for cold and wet.
Cradle Mountain tips
- Buy a Parks pass and use the shuttle from the visitor centre — private cars are restricted at busy times.
- Pack warm layers and full waterproofs even in summer; the weather turns fast up here.
- Stay the night nearby to catch the lake at dawn and the wildlife at dusk.
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