Cradle Mountain Park Explorer Tour

Depart Launce­s­ton and trav­el via Sheffield, the Town of Murals before trav­el­ling up into the moun­tains through gorges, rain for­est and but­ton grass plains to reach the des­ti­na­tion of Cra­dle Moun­tain, one of Tasmania's most recog­nis­able land­marks and one of Tasmania's most vis­it­ed attractions. On this ful­ly guid­ed day tour you expe­ri­ence the unique flo­ra, fau­na and geo­graph­i­cal fea­tures of the World Her­itage list­ed Nation­al Park. We visit the historic guest house of Waldheim and enter Weindorfers Forest, an easy 20-minute walk where the evolutionary significance of the unique moss communities and tangled rainforest is explained to you. Comfortable sturdy walking shoes are required along with a warm and waterproof jacket.

Our professional driver/guide will collect you from your Cradle Mountain accommodation at dusk in our 4wd bus, times will be confirmed at booking but generally, begin one hour before sunset. Once all the group are all on board we will travel into the Cradle Mountain National Park to Ronny Creek to begin our exploration of the area. We leave the bus with our hand held torches and spotlights and quietly and slowly walk into Mt Kate Hut area to see the nocturnal animals, including wombats, wallabies, possums and sometimes even a spotted quoll that have commenced their night time feeding. We stroll along the Cradle Valley boardwalks and perhaps even the start of the Overland Track in search of nocturnal feeding animals. We leave the fun of the animal viewing at Ronny Creek and we travel to Waldheim Chalet where we take a short walk in the ancient king billy pine Weindorfers Forest, as we search for the more elusive nocturnal animals who are commencing their night time forging activities. Your bus will then return to your accommodation after a memorable and informative 2 hour tour.

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.

The Waldheim Cabins offer a wilderness accommodation experience within the Cradle Mountain National Park. Cradle Mountain is located at the northern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. The National Park is a two-hour drive from Launceston (144 km) and an hour-and-a-half from Devonport (83 km). There are eight cabins in total, located behind Waldheim Chalet, the home built by pioneer Gustav Weindorfer in 1909. The cabins accommodate between four and eight guests in single bunk beds; guests should provide their own bedding. Each cabin has cooking facilities and there are electric heaters located in all cabins. The Waldheim Cabins have shared amenities blocks close by, each with showers and toilets. The Cabins are located in the heart of the day-walk zone at Cradle Mountain and offer easily accessible short, half-day and full-day walks. Options include the Weindorfer's Forest Walk and the popular Dove Lake Circuit. For a greater challenge, there is the walk to Marion's Lookout or the summit of Cradle Mountain. The starting point for the famous 65 km Overland Track is also easily accessible. At dusk, you can watch for grazing wallabies and wombats on the nearby open plains.

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.