Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
One of Australia's greatest natural assets, this is a national park in two parts.
It's accessed from Cradle Mountain at its northern edge and Lake St Clair in the south - both of them among Tasmania's most famous landmarks - and spans seven of the state’s 10 highest mountains.
Part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, this is the place to discover Tasmania’s alpine treats. In autumn the slopes beneath Cradle Mountain blush yellow and red as the deciduous fagus turns in colour. Wildlife is plentiful, and glacial lakes fill the spaces between mountains.
Walking tracks radiate into the park from both visitor areas, including the celebrated multi-day Overland Track, though you needn’t walk for a week to discover this park’s alpine charms and rugged beauty.
Highlights
Cradle Mountain
Tasmania’s famously bowed mountain, Cradle Mountain rises steeply from the shores of Dove Lake, creating a spectacular scene from Marions Lookout or the lake edge.
Lake St Clair
Australia’s deepest lake is fringed with mountains and cool-temperate rainforest, offering excellent short walks or simply wilderness lake views.
Other mountains
Though often dwarfed in the imagination by Cradle Mountain, the park’s other peaks are no less spectacular. Many of Tasmania’s highest mountains - including Mount Ossa (the state’s tallest peak), Pelion West and Barn Bluff - bracket the Overland Track, creating magnificent mountain views as the hike weaves between them.
Dove Lake
Pooled beneath Cradle Mountain, this stunning glacial lake provides classic mountain views – from the historic wooden boat shed on its shores or as the deciduous fagus glows across the slopes in autumn.
Boat Shed at Dove Lake, and with Cradle Mountain
Tourism Tasmania & Andrew McIntosh, Ocean Photography
Cradle Mountain
Tourism Tasmania and Jason Charles Hill
Wombat Pool
Tourism Australia & Graham Freeman
WHILE YOU'RE IN THE AREA
Walks
Dove Lake
Set out on a lap around the lake, passing directly beneath the nose of Cradle Mountain. This walk (2-3hr, 6km) mixes mountain views with dense thickets of rainforest. One of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks.
Cradle Mountain
The challenging climb to the summit of Tasmania’s fifth-highest peak (8hr, 12.8km) delivers incredible mountain views. It requires a head for heights and an ability to scramble over boulders. One of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks.
Enchanted Walk
Short on effort, high on scenery, this well-named walk (20min, 1.1km) loops through mossy rainforest beside a creek at the park’s northern edge. One of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks.
Mount Rufus
Ascend from the shores of Lake St Clair to the high alpine tip of this grandstand mountain. This circuit (7hr, 19km) makes a challenging day out. One of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks.
Overland Track
Tasmania’s most famous multi-day trek is a 65km, six-day walk that threads between many of Tasmania’s highest and most spectacular peaks as it traverses the park from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. Bookings are required to hike the track from October to May.
WHILE YOU'RE IN THE AREA
Other activities
Cradle Mountain Canyons
Swim, leap, slide and abseil your way through a narrow canyon on this adventurous tour at Cradle Mountain.
Cradle Mountain Helicopters
Scenic flights range from a short loop over Dove Lake to an hour-long flight encompassing the park.
Devils@Cradle
Witness the antics of Tasmanian devils (and quolls) at this sanctuary at the park’s edge. Wander the centre by day, or come later for an after-dark feeding tour.
Walking the Overland Track
Tayla Gentle
Twisted Lakes
Jason Charles Hill
Sitting by Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain
Tourism Tasmania and Chris Crerar
WHILE YOU'RE IN THE AREA
Need to know
Facilities
The Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre is just outside the park’s northern edge and contains a cafe, gift shop and tour-operator offices. 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.
Shuttles and entry
National park shuttle buses run between the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and Dove Lake (8am-6pm October to March, and 9am-5pm April to September), with private vehicles not permitted on the road during these times. Shuttle bus tickets are available to purchase from the Visitor Centre, and a parks pass is required for entry to Tasmania’s national parks.
Accommodation
There are campgrounds at Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair. A cluster of accommodation is located at the park’s edge at Cradle Mountain: choose a ‘tiny escape’ beneath the Milky Way, an alpine retreat in a cosy cottage, a natural timber highland cabin, or a sophisticated hotel. Slip into an indoor spa bath in Cradle Village, or an outdoor spa with a wilderness view at the luxurious Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, surrounded by wildlife and walking trails. Accommodation in the artsy town of Sheffield is within 30min of the 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.
Food and drink
If the hiking snacks aren’t quite hitting the spot, mosey into a cosy establishment for a more satisfying dining experience. Head to CMWV Resort Restaurant, the “highest restaurant in Tasmania”, for takeaway meals or dine-in grazing with whisky, wine and a view of Cradle Mountain. Warm up by the fire at Altitude Restaurant, where lush buffet breakfasts and dinners fuel you up for adventure. Or settle in for relaxation at Tavern Bar and Bistro – gather the crew for a game of pool and a Tassie craft beer.
Where
Cradle Mountain is a 4hr drive (300km) north-west of Hobart, and a 1hr 45min drive (140km) west of Launceston. Lake St Clair is a 2hr 30min drive (180km) north-west of Hobart, and a 2hr 15min drive (170km) south-west of Launceston.
