Cradle Mountain Canyons

Tour Operator

Waterfall, Canyoning, Canyon, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

A person paddles a packraft down a rapid in Tasmania.

A canyoner about to go over a big waterfall at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

Canyon, Canyoning, Adventure, Tasmania, Cradle Mountain, Tours

Canyoning at Cradle Mountain. Jumping off Tea Cup Falls in Dove Canyon.

A group paddling packrafts through a gorge in Tasmania

Discover the secret side of Cradle Mountain on canyoning, packrafting or Dove Lake kayak tour. Canyoning involves putting on a wetsuit and helmet and swimming, floating, abseiling, walking and jumping your way through a section of river - like white water rafting without the raft. Packrafting is fast becoming a very popular way to explore the Tassie wilds. On our tulumpanga/Alum Cliffs trip, we pack everything you need for three days of fun rapids and two of the most stunning campsites you will ever see. Packrafts are stable and easy to paddle, so no previous experience is necessary. The Dove Canyon Tour is a full-on day involving an abseil into the canyon, followed by six waterfall jumps and slides and a number of other obstacles. No experience is necessary - just a reasonable level of fitness and the ability to swim. The Lost World Canyon is a much easier and shorter option, great for families and available to participants aged at least eight. You'll be getting up close and personal with nature. Canyoning tours depart from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre. Packrafting tours depart from Launceston weekly Dec-March. Dove Lake Kayak tours run daily from the Dove Lake viewing shelter, in our hand-built King Billy pine kayaks.

4085 Cradle Mountain Road, Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, 7306

Carpark

Abseiling

Swimming

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Tours

Tour

Dove Canyon

An action packed day in an amazing place. After abseiling into the canyon, we soon come to Freestyle Falls and jump the seven metres into the deep pool below. We continue through the canyon, encountering five more waterfalls. A highlight is the Laundry Shoot - a massive natural water slide in the heart of the canyon. Finding yourself in a large cave-like area, you bob towards the light at the end of the tunnel that seems to be sucking you toward it with more force the closer you get. We won't spoil the surprise of what happens next...but it's damn cool. This amazing part of Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area can be seen by no way other than canyoning. There's plenty of time to soak in the grandeur of the place in between the heart-pumping waterfalls. Dove Canyon is our most action-packed adventure, but participants do not need previous experience - just a sense of adventure and the ability to swim.

$265 - $285

Tour

The Lost World Canyon

Float and walk through a beautiful section of the river and see the world from the point of view of a platypus. The Lost World Canyon offers a truly unique way to experience Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. This tour is all about getting up close and personal with nature. Available to participants aged eight and up, it is not aimed at the adrenaline junkie, but some jump rocks up to three metres high and other challenges spice things up. Some of the highlights include seeing 1000-year-old pencil pine trees and hearing the story of James 'Philosopher' Smith - the legendary first canyoner at Cradle Mountain.

$135 - $155

A group of packrafters makes their way through a gorge in Tasmania

Tour

Alum Cliffs Packrafting

Three days of paddling through fun rapids and some of the most spectacular campsites you will ever come across. The packrafts we use are stable and easy to paddle, meaning no previous experience is required - just a good level of fitness, ability to swim and a sense of adventure. This is an immersive wilderness experience through a stunning gorge that few get to see. We usually see platypus every day of the tour.

$1450

Tour

Dove Lake Kayak

The view of Cradle Mountain with Dove Lake in the foreground is one of the most famous vistas in the Australian wilderness. The Dove Lake Kayak allows you to immerse yourself in that vista while paddling beautiful hand built King Billy pine kayaks. We spend approximately two hours traversing the lake, learning about the natural and cultural history of the area while passing well-known sites including Glacier Rock, Honeymoon Island, the Ballroom Forest and the boat shed. At the southern end of the lake, with the spires of Cradle Mountain towering overhead, we stop on a beach for a snack. We’ll also hunt around for a living King Billy.

Quality Tourism Accreditation

Rainbow Tasmania Tourism Accreditation

Offers

Offers

The Off Season

A morning adrift

Witness the scale of Cradle Mountain as you paddle beneath. Slip into the dark waters of Dove Lake on a 3-hour kayak tour for groups of up to six. After gliding around in hand-built, King Billy pine kayak, step onto a secluded shore for a hot drink before a walk through the crisp rainforest.

$155.00

Valid from Wednesday 1 May 2024 to Saturday 31 August 2024

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Subject to weather, registrations of interest taken, with bookings confirmed upon understanding the weather conditions. Suitable for beginner paddlers and children in a double with a parent.

Places to stay

Accommodation

Cradle Mountain Lodge

Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain Lodge is widely considered one of Australia’s iconic wilderness experiences. Nestled on the edge of the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, this premier wilderness region is just a 2-hour scenic drive from Launceston and 1.5 hours from Devonport. Cradle Mountain Lodge offers a unique experience, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and an abundance of flora and fauna. Discover the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure and immerse yourself in the beauty of Tasmania’s premier wilderness region. Whether you’re seeking rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation or an adventure exploring the great outdoors, Cradle Mountain Lodge has something to offer. So come and explore the stunning natural beauty of Tasmania’s premier wilderness region at Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Accommodation

Cradle Highlander

Cradle Mountain

Cradle Highlander offers secluded mountain cabin accommodation on the edge of Cradle Mountain National Park. With 16 cabins in total, Cradle Highlander offers privacy and exclusive enjoyment of the surrounding native bushland and endemic wildlife. With an original log fireplace and rustic handmade furniture, Cradle Highlander offers an authentic mountain cabin experience. Glowing with charm and character, every piece of wood used for the cabin and furniture is from local timber. All cabins are self-contained with full kitchens and private bathrooms. There is also shared laundry and BBQ on site. Centrally located, Cradle Highlander is a 200-metre walk from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and Shuttle Bus Terminal. While Cradle Highlander doesn't have restaurant on site, however restaurants and cafes are within a two-kilometre drive. With wildlife at your doorstep, spectacular alpine scenery all around and a rustic mountain cabin to call home, you will feel at one with nature when you make Cradle Highlander your base for exploring the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Voted a "Top Pick" by Lonely Planet and awarded TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice in 2021-2023, TripAdvisor Hall of Fame and Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor (5.0 rating) for 12 consecutive years.

Accommodation

Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village

Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village enjoys a secluded bush setting in the Cradle Valley on the edge of the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain / Lake St. Clair National Park since 2000. The Village has several chalet styles set in small clusters to maximise privacy and comfort. Cradle Village is the perfect base for exploration of the Cradle Valley whilst enjoying stunning views of Cradle Mountain. Private, cosy, self-contained one and two-bedroom chalets have fully equipped kitchens, lounges, bathrooms, wi-fi, televisions, private balconies, and parking at the front door. The Premium Spa Chalets provide open-planned luxury accommodation in an elegant contemporary style. The ultimate 'bush hut'. When you step out onto your private balcony you may well come face to face with a wallaby, wombat, pademelon, possum, and currawong. Takeaway service is available from our onsite restaurant. Bookings for the restaurant are required as they book out most evenings year long. Guests from all other properties are welcomed. Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village is just over a one-hour drive from Burnie or Devonport, a two-hour drive from Launceston, and a four-hour drive from Hobart.

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