Top Things to Do in Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain sits at the northern edge of Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, where jagged dolerite peaks rise out of rainforest, button grass plains and glacial lakes. People come for the walks, the wildlife, the changing light, and the feeling of being properly immersed in nature. This is where your Cradle Mountain escape begins.

Arriving at Cradle Mountain

From the very first steps onto the plateau, Cradle Mountain feels alive, shaped by fast-moving weather, close wildlife encounters, and landscapes that swap between rainforest and alpine terrain.

Here, in the northern end of Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, some of Tasmania’s most varied alpine landscapes are found all in one place. And with that varied landscape means a lot of things to do and see. Short walks run around glacial lakes like Dove Lake and longer tracks climb into alpine terrain towards Crater Lake and the summit. Plus, wildlife such as wombats and wallabies is often seen by hikers as they walk, particularly around Ronny Creek.

But there’s a lot more to do than walk in Cradle Mountain.

Staying at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge places you just outside the park entrance, within easy reach of the main sites and activities. Mornings usually begin outdoors, afternoons slow down back at the lodge, and evenings focus on food, warmth and rest before heading out again.

Things to do Cradle Mountain

This guide pulls together the walks, wildlife and adventurous moments that make Cradle Mountain totally worth the trip.

Find the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre

Start your trip at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre, because this is where you’ll can handle the logistics before exploring the national park. By the way, you must have a valid parks pass for entry, and the centre is where you buy it or validate it in person.

Shuttle bus tickets, which are required to use the park’s hop-on, hop-off shuttle that runs between the Visitor Centre and Dove Lake via stops like the Interpretation Centre, Snake Hill and Ronny Creek, are also purchased here and are valid for up to 72 hours. The friendly staff at the centre can also provide you with up-to-date weather reports, track information and walker registration.

You’ll also find an interpretive display here and a ranger station with information about the landscape, wildlife, routes and safety, plus a cafe and souvenirs if you need a snack.

Get Out on the Trails

Dove Lake

Dove Lake sits right below Cradle Mountain and the 6-km circuit loops around its shoreline from the Dove Lake car park, reached by shuttle from the Visitor Centre. Expect 2 to 3 hours of easy to moderate walking on boardwalk and formed track, with reflections on the water, pockets of rainforest and open moorland giving this walk a wide, unhurried feel.

Crater Lake

High above Ronny Creek, Crater Lake lies in a glacial bowl reached by a 5-km loop that takes around 3 hours. This moderate walk climbs steadily through alpine forest and past waterfalls before opening onto still, dark water framed by rock and snow gums; a quieter and more enclosed atmosphere than the lower trails.

Cradle Summit

Rising straight from Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain’s summit is reached via a 13-km return route that usually takes 6 to 8 hours. Steep climbs, rock scrambling and exposed alpine ridges make this a hard walk, rewarded with sweeping views across the lakes and jagged peaks of the park.

Choose a Horse Riding Tour

If you don’t want to use your own legs, you could also opt for a horse riding tour. A half-day ride with Cradle Country Adventures takes you through forest and open country just outside the national park. Small-group rides move through old growth forest, grazing land and blue gum plantations, with mountain views appearing along the way. The ride is suitable for beginners through to confident riders, with opportunities to trot or canter if conditions suit.

Morning or afternoon tea is served beside the Mersey River, a quiet stretch of water known for trout and platypus, before the ride continues back through gently rolling landscape.

Return to a Luxury Spa

Normally in remote areas, you don’t get to end your hiking day with a spa. But here, things are different.

After a day spent outside in the fresh mountain air, Waldheim Alpine Spa at Cradle Mountain Lodge is a luxury wilderness spa set amid rainforest and alpine streams, where the mountain landscape becomes part of your relaxation experience. Inside there are four therapy rooms offering massages, facials, body treatments and more using natural Australian and Tasmanian-made products, including options for couples or solo visitors alike.

Beyond treatments, the spa’s Sanctuary area has a steam room, dry sauna, hot tub and cool plunge pool plus a relaxation lounge where you can ease away the aches of a long walk and soak up views of towering King Billy pines and the Pencil Pine River.

Advance bookings are recommended so you can plan your spa time after a day of exploring Cradle Mountain’s trails and lakes

Go Canyoning

Discover an even wilder side to Cradle Mountain with a canyoning trip that takes you swimming, floating, abseiling, walking and jumping way through a section of river. It’s basically like white water rafting without the raft. Head through narrow gorges, jump down waterfalls and witness the geology of the region up close and filled with adrenaline.

With Cradle Mountain Canyons there are family-friendly options as well as the more adventurous Dove Canyon option.

Devils@Cradle

Beside Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, Devils at Cradle is a conservation and breeding sanctuary that focuses on three threatened carnivorous marsupials; the Tasmanian devil, eastern quoll and spotted-tail quoll.

Entry includes access to the sanctuary paths plus daytime keeper talks, feeding sessions and evening tours, where staff explain how the animals live, breed and why they are protected .Seeing devils and quolls up close adds a different layer to a day that is otherwise spent watching wildlife from a distance in the bush.

Enjoy Dinner at Highlands Restaurant

Highland Restaurant at Cradle Mountain Lodge is one of the standout dining experiences in Tasmania’s wilderness. Inside a warm, artfully designed dining room, the kitchen turns local ingredients into plates that complement the rugged landscape beyond the windows. Seasonal produce from across the island, fresh mountain herbs and Tasmanian seafood are composed with real artistry.

The wine list is carefully curated, focused on award-winning Tasmanian and Australian wines chosen to lift every course, from crisp whites with delicate seafood to rich reds that match wild game or slow-braised meats. With limited seating and a reputation that draws visitors from across the island, booking ahead is wise if you want to secure a table at this premier lodge restaurant in the heart of Cradle Mountain.

Witness the View from a Kayak

Dove Lake Kayak tours (also with Cradle Mountain Canyons) takes you right onto the water beneath one of Tasmania’s most photographed mountain views. Paddling in hand-built King Billy pine kayaks, the two-hour trip crosses the length of the lake while a guide shares stories about the area’s natural and cultural history.

Along the way you’ll pass Glacier Rock, Honeymoon Island, the Ballroom Forest and the old boat shed, then pull up on a quiet southern beach for a snack with Cradle Mountain rising straight above the water.

Take a Guided Tour

If you would rather visit just for the day, you can join a full-day guided tour to Cradle Mountain from Launceston. You are picked up early in the morning, then travel through Sheffield, the Town of Murals, before climbing into the mountains via gorges, rainforest and button grass plains.

Inside Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park, you’ll visit Dove Lake, walk through Weindorfer’s Rainforest, and learn about the history of Waldheim Chalet, with lunch included along the way. The tour runs year-round in all weather, so warm layers, wet-weather gear and solid walking shoes matter.

Stargazing at Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain offers dark skies thanks to its elevation, remote location and of course minimal artificial light. On clear nights, the Milky Way is visible with the naked eye, along with constellations and satellites crossing the sky. Winter brings longer hours of darkness and sharper visibility, while summer nights are milder and easier to spend outdoors.

Book your Stay at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge

Staying at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge gives you a comfortable base right on the edge of the national park, close enough to start walking early and return easily when the weather turns. Cabins and suites are set among forest and creeks, so mornings often begin with mist, birdsong and cold air before you even leave your room.

After time on the tracks, the lodge supports a slower pace with open fires, deep baths, good food and quiet spaces that suit tired legs.

Book your stay at Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge.