Cradle Mountain – Active Day Tour

Cradle Mountain – Active Day Tour

Discover Tasmania’s alpine heart and tick World Heritage listed Cradle Mountain off your bucket list.

Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park is known for its iconic alpine scenery and diverse range of walking trails, making it a top destination for active travellers. As a World Heritage-listed area, it showcases some of Tasmania’s most stunning natural landscapes. With around four-five hours to explore the park, we keep the walking itinerary flexible to suit our guests and the day’s weather conditions.

After departing Launceston, we make a short stop in Sheffield – the quirky rural town known as the Town of Murals. Nestled in the foothills of the mountains, Sheffield is Tasmania’s outdoor art gallery, with over 100 murals depicting the history of the Cradle Mountain region. It’s a colourful introduction to the area before we head deeper into the mountains.

Arriving at Cradle Mountain National Park, we get ready to make the most of the walking opportunities ahead. With around 4–5 hours to explore, we begin with one of the introductory walks — such as the Enchanted Walk or Pencil Pine Falls — offering an easy and scenic introduction to the area. These short trails are a great way to stretch your legs and get a feel for Cradle Mountain’s unique environment before heading out on longer walks.

After that it’s onto our main walk of the day, Dove Lake Circuit, a comfortable 6km circumnavigation of the glassy lake that sits at the bottom of Cradle Mountain. , the track undulates around Dove Lake and traverses beneath Cradle Mountain.  All the magnificent flora can be viewed on this walk, with buttongrass, myrtle, sassafras, fagus and King Billy Pine along the way, and the views are epic.

If you’re looking for a challenge, tackle the hike to Marion’s Lookout. An uphill climb rewards you with breathtaking views of Cradle Mountain, Little Horn, Smithies Peak and so many mirrored lakes.

We take a break during the day to enjoy lunch out on the trails.  Relax and enjoy the views of Cradle Mountain, keep a sharp eye out for the famously friendly wombats in their natural habitat. You’ll also learn about the area’s history with a visit to Weindorfer’s Chalet and a walk among the ancient King Billy Pines on the Weindorfer’s Forest Trail.

On our return to Launceston, we make a final stop at Van Diemen’s Ice Creamery and Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm — the perfect place to enjoy well-earned treats made from Tasmania’s finest dairy and local produce. A sweet end to an unforgettable day.

We return into Launceston around 5.30 – 6.00 pm