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Trek to Tasmania's Remote Cradle Mountain
Published by Aaron JacksonCrabb, Writer
Country: Australia 
The Experience
For a trek to Cradle Mountain, Tasmania you will need an experienced guide with remote first aid qualifications, wilderness training and an adventurer’s spirit. This trek means strapping on an ultra-lite 30-litre frame backpack and traversing into the remote Tasmanian wilderness of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Because of its remoteness there is a strict “leave no trace” guideline policy for anyone wishing to enter the area for trekking. The lack of visitors to the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, near Cradle Mountain, will leave you with a true wilderness experience.
Moving through the landscape of Cradle Mountain National Park, you will encounter never-before-seen vegetation and wildflowers that only grow in this region. Its unique landscape exposes bushwalkers to extreme changes in weather from ice-laden storm winds to high rainfall and low winter temperatures. Along the trail during the summer months you will have an opportunity to spot wombats, echidnas, Tasmanian devils, and three species of kangaroos. Trekking at Cradle Mountain you will stop each night to sleep inside warm shelters among rugged quartzite mountains, near open meadows and gorgeous ridges. Every evening your guide will fire up the wood-burning stove and prepare gourmet mountain-man-style meals, where you can recap your daily adventures before kicking back on a cot for a sound sleep. Arising early each morning, your guide will prepare a quick and plentiful breakfast, and scout for possible wombat sightings. Then you will continue out into the spectacular Tasmanian wilderness following heaps alpine vegetation, dominated by heath and shrubbery. This is Tasmanian trekking at its best.
Joseph Fossey named Cradle Mountain in 1826. Seventy-nine years later, several peaks along the Cradle Mountain region were named: Little Horn, Hanson’s Peak, and Lake Lila by explorers to the area. One of the first pioneers in the 19th century, Gusav Weindorfer, named Dove Lake after an official of the Van Diemen Company, and named Marion’s Lookout after his sister-in-law. During his trip, as they rested at Cradle Mountain's summit, Gustav announced, “This must be a national park for the people for all time. It is magnificent, and people must know about it and enjoy it.”
Moving through the landscape of Cradle Mountain National Park, you will encounter never-before-seen vegetation and wildflowers that only grow in this region. Its unique landscape exposes bushwalkers to extreme changes in weather from ice-laden storm winds to high rainfall and low winter temperatures. Along the trail during the summer months you will have an opportunity to spot wombats, echidnas, Tasmanian devils, and three species of kangaroos. Trekking at Cradle Mountain you will stop each night to sleep inside warm shelters among rugged quartzite mountains, near open meadows and gorgeous ridges. Every evening your guide will fire up the wood-burning stove and prepare gourmet mountain-man-style meals, where you can recap your daily adventures before kicking back on a cot for a sound sleep. Arising early each morning, your guide will prepare a quick and plentiful breakfast, and scout for possible wombat sightings. Then you will continue out into the spectacular Tasmanian wilderness following heaps alpine vegetation, dominated by heath and shrubbery. This is Tasmanian trekking at its best.
Joseph Fossey named Cradle Mountain in 1826. Seventy-nine years later, several peaks along the Cradle Mountain region were named: Little Horn, Hanson’s Peak, and Lake Lila by explorers to the area. One of the first pioneers in the 19th century, Gusav Weindorfer, named Dove Lake after an official of the Van Diemen Company, and named Marion’s Lookout after his sister-in-law. During his trip, as they rested at Cradle Mountain's summit, Gustav announced, “This must be a national park for the people for all time. It is magnificent, and people must know about it and enjoy it.”
When to Go to Cradle Mountain
Hiking the Overland Track during winter months is accessible, but be prepared for conditions prior to departure, and alert park rangers of your route and intentions.
Odds n' Ends
On the northern end of the national park, Cradle Mountain rises to an impressive 1,545 metres. Including Lake St Clair, the park has 161,000 hectares. Lake St Clair is 200 metres deep—the deepest freshwater lake in Australia.
Cradle Mountain is 242 kilometres from Launceston, approximately four hours drive time depending on road and weather conditions.
Cradle Mountain is accessible by bus from either Launceston or Devonport. Using the Overland Track it's a 6-day walk starting at Cradle Mountain, travelling 65 kilometres, ending at Lake St Clair. The hike takes you directly through the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Cradle Mountain is 242 kilometres from Launceston, approximately four hours drive time depending on road and weather conditions.
Cradle Mountain is accessible by bus from either Launceston or Devonport. Using the Overland Track it's a 6-day walk starting at Cradle Mountain, travelling 65 kilometres, ending at Lake St Clair. The hike takes you directly through the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Want a Guide?
- Tasmanian Day Tour to Cradle Mountain
- Awaken yourself with a tour of Cradle Mountain. Enjoy a days trip into Tasmania's magnificent wilderness. Experience the solitary waterfalls, glacial lakes, rainforest and wildlife inside this World Heritage listed National Park. 1st April 2011 - 31 March 2012 Departs from Launceston between 8:00am and 8:30am Returns to Launceston at 5:00pm
- Cradle Mountain Tours
- Enjoy one of Australia's most popular wilderness hikes: Cradle Mountain Overland Track. See the beauty of this remarkable region, experience pure solitude of Tasmania. Journey through lakes, forests, moorlands and mountains up to 70-kilometers into the wilderness.
Places to Eat
- Highland Restaurant
- A premier dining experience awaits you at Highland Restaurant. Enjoy the very best Tasmanian foods and wines. Indulge upon our mountain buffet breakfast or stick around for morning tea and dinner. Available by arrangement a picnic hamper for your Cradle Mountain excursion. Hours of operation Sunday to Saturday Mornings 7:30 to 10:00 Evenings 18:00 to 23:00 (03) 6492.1303
Recommended Places to Stay
- Cradle Chalet
- Luxury boutique lodging in the northwest near Cradle Mountain. Offering exceptional hospitality, and service amongst the beauty of Tasmania. Enjoy fine meals at Cradle Chalet Restaurant offering guests and visitors a tempting range of modern and traditional dishes unique to the area. Enjoy their amenities such as a licensed bar, roaring fire and Tasmania's famous fresh produce and local wine!
- Cradle Mountain Lodge
- Escape into the wilderness surrounding Cradle Mountain driving just 2 hours from Launceston and 1.5 hours from Deveonport across scenic landscapes. Staying at their lodge you will enjoy warm hospitality, sensational local food and wine, indulgent spa treatments, and breathtaking geography. Offering 4 different styles of accommodation Cradle Mountain Lodge provides the perfect escape to rejuvenate, indulge and explore from their property discreetly set within the surrounding wilderness.
Additional Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
Cradle Mountain Lodge is a unique wilderness experience, set right on the edge of the spectacular World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, just ... 6 miles away
$192 AUD+
Cradle Mountain Highlanders offers secluded cabin accommodation on the edge of Cradle Mountain National Park. There are twelve self-contained cabins nestled in temperate rainforest on ... 7 miles away
$115 AUD+
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