The Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park stretches over a vast 1262 square kilometres, and offers spectacular scenery and fantastic bushwalking. It is also home to Mt Ossa, which is the highest mountain in Tasmania, as well as Lake St Clair, which is the deepest natural freshwater lake in the whole of Australia. It is located in the Central Highlands area of Tasmania, 165 kilometres northwest of Hobart.
Gustav Weindorfer first visited Cradle Valley in 1910 and bought some land. Gustav campaigned for a National Park and in 1922 two separate reserves were created at Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair. The two parks were combined together into one large park in 1947.
There are plenty of bushwalks that you can take throughout the National Park. A truly amazing walk is from Cradle Valley in the north to Cynthia Bay in the south. It is 80km long, although when the scenery is that fantastic, 80km doesn't seem that far.
If you only have a short stay in the park, then there are also plenty of day bushwalks which you can take from both Cradle Valley and Cynthia Bay.
You can take the 80km Overland Track at any time during the year, although to go in winter you must be an experienced walker. The walk takes about 6 days at an easy pace, although there are small detours along the well-posted track, which you can take if you have enough time and supplies.
It is best to carry a tent as the empty cabins along the way can get very busy. You must also have a fuel stove as campfires are prohibited.
If you want to follow this track but don't feel confident about walking this distance on your own, there are a couple of companies who offer guided walks to small groups along this track.
In addition, there are a number of 1 day walks, ranging from easy to challenging. A popular starting point for these shorter walks is the Dove Lake car park with suggested walks ranging in time from 20 minutes - 1 hour for a very short walk, half day walks that range form 1 - 3 hours duration and full day walks that range in time from between 4 - 6 hours.
There is a map within the Dove Lake Registration Cabin where you should also follow the instructions for registration.
The weather in the area can be quite gloomy and wet, so be prepared for all weather conditions. You can get weather updates and general information about the park from the visitors centre in Cradle Valley.
From here there is also a pleasant boardwalk exploration of the beautiful rainforest. Cynthia Bay and Lake St Clair also offers a rangers station where you must register your walk.
In addition, you can also hop aboard the Idaclair ferry which takes you to Narcissus Hut, or if you are heading to Cynthia Bay from the Overland Trail, you can hop aboard the Idaclair ferry at Narcissus saving yourself about 5 hours walking time. You can go for the day or return on another day, depending upon what you fancy
There are several places to stay in Cradle Valley, although accommodation and attractions can also be found at Cynthia Bay and nearby Derwent Bridge. There are two transport services in the area that offer transport between Cradle Valley and Dove Lake, and Cynthia Bay and Derwent Bridge. These are TWT Buses and Maxwells. These companies also offer services to and from Cradle Mountain and Cynthia Bay from towns further afield.
Featured Cradle Mountain National Park Activities
TOUR NAME
LOCATION
RATES (AUD) from
3 Day Cradle Mountain Walking Tour(EX1507) (Adventures) The Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park is home to Tasmania’s iconic Cradle Mountain. One of the first National Parks in Australia, this wilderness area is a must see for visitors to the sta...
6 Day Tassie Icons Tour(EX2548) (Bushwalking, Nature & Wildlife) This 6 Day Tour is the ultimate Tasmanian Experience! Covering all the major Tourist attractions in Tasmania you will be completely immersed in the region's rich history and culture. Bask in the sun o...
10 Day Tasmania Tour(EX2637) (Touring) See parts of Tasmania that larger groups don't see on this small group tour. Start in Hobart and make your way around Tasmania visiting historic Port Arthur, Freycinet National Park and the spectacula...
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