Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair
Dolerite Peaks above Glacial Lakes
schedule 3 min read / Updated Apr 2026
The most recognisable mountain in Tasmania and the start of the Overland Track, Australia's most famous multi-day hike. Cradle Mountain rises 1,545 metres above the glacial landscape of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, part of the UNESCO-listed Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Cradle Mountain stands at the northern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in central Tasmania, around two and a half hours' drive from either Launceston or Devonport. The distinctive double-peaked summit is made of dolerite, a hard igneous rock that cooled slowly underground millions of years ago and was exposed as the softer surrounding rock eroded away. The 'cradle' name comes from the shape of the ridge line between the twin peaks, which resembles a cradle when viewed from the east.
The mountain and its surrounding 161,000 hectare national park are part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, inscribed by UNESCO in 1982 and meeting more of the UNESCO natural and cultural criteria than almost any other site on earth. The park protects alpine tarns, glacial cirques, ancient rainforest, buttongrass moorland and king billy pine forests, some of which are thousands of years old. It is also one of the last refuges of the Tasmanian devil.
The park's existence is largely down to an Austrian immigrant named Gustav Weindorfer, who reached the summit of Cradle Mountain in 1910 with his wife Kate and fell in love with the landscape. He built a cabin at Waldheim on the edge of the park, opened it as a guesthouse in 1912, and campaigned tirelessly for the area to be protected. The park was declared in 1922, largely thanks to his advocacy, and Waldheim is preserved today as a museum.
Dove Lake, at the foot of Cradle Mountain, is the most photographed location in the park. The 6 kilometre Dove Lake Circuit is a flat lakeside walk that gives continuous views back to the mountain and passes through the Ballroom Forest, a stand of 400-year-old Antarctic beech trees with thick moss carpets underfoot. It is the single best introduction to the park and can be comfortably walked in two to three hours.
For experienced hikers, the summit climb is possible as a long day hike, involving a scramble over boulder fields on the final approach and some exposed rock climbing just below the peaks. The summit provides one of the best views in Tasmania, with the island's entire central plateau visible on clear days. Summit attempts should only be made in good weather, and the mountain is off-limits in snow, which can fall at any time of year.
The Overland Track is one of the great multi-day walks of the world. It runs 65 kilometres south from Ronny Creek near Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair, crossing the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area over six days. The track uses a booking system from October to May and limits walkers to 60 starts per day to protect the environment. Hut accommodation is available along the route, though most walkers carry tents as backup. Completing the Overland is a rite of passage for serious Australian hikers.
The weather is famously changeable, and the Parks and Wildlife Service routinely warns that all four seasons can happen in a single day. The best months statistically are January to March, when days are longest and conditions are most stable, though autumn (April to May) has the benefit of the fagus (Nothofagus gunnii) turning gold, Australia's only deciduous native plant, drawing photographers from across the country.
Common questions
Things visitors ask about Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair.
Quick answers to help you plan.
Where is Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park?
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The park sits in north-west Tasmania and forms part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, which it joined in 1982. It has two widely separated access points: Cradle Mountain in the north and Lake St Clair in the south, with no road linking the two ends.
How do I get to Cradle Mountain?
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Most visitors drive in from the north coast: about 1.5 hours (roughly 83 km) from Devonport and around 2 hours (about 144 km) from Launceston. From Hobart it is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive via the Lake St Clair end of the park. The Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre is at 4057 Cradle Mountain Road and is the starting point for all park access.
How much does it cost to enter the park?
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Cradle Mountain uses a Cradle Mountain Icon Day Pass, which costs $29.80 for adults, $11.95 for children aged 5 to 17, and $71.60 for a family. The Icon pass includes the shuttle bus to Dove Lake. Multi-day Holiday Passes and Annual Passes also cover entry, but the shuttle bus is not included with those and must be paid for separately.
Do I have to catch the shuttle bus to Dove Lake?
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Yes, in practice. Private vehicles are not permitted on Dove Lake Road during shuttle operating hours, so almost all daytime visitors park at the Visitor Centre and take the shuttle. The bus stops at the Interpretation Centre, Snake Hill, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake, with the trip to Dove Lake taking about 20 minutes. A standalone shuttle ticket is $15 for adults (free for under 18s) and is valid for 72 hours.
How long is the Dove Lake Circuit and how hard is it?
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The Dove Lake Circuit is a 6 km loop graded as Grade 3, taking most walkers 2 to 3 hours. The track is the classic Cradle Mountain walk, with views straight up at the summit, a stretch through the cool Ballroom Forest and a mix of boardwalk and rock underfoot. Parks recommends walking it clockwise from the Dove Lake viewing shelter.
Can I climb to the summit of Cradle Mountain in a day?
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Yes, but only if you are fit and the weather is settled. The Cradle Summit walk is 12.8 km return with about 600 m of climbing, takes around 8 hours and is graded as Grade 5, with steep exposed scrambling over large boulders near the top. It is not safe to attempt in wind, snow or rain, so check the forecast at the Visitor Centre before setting out.
What is the Overland Track?
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The Overland Track is Australia's premier alpine walk, a 65 km route from Ronny Creek at Cradle Mountain south through the wilderness to Narcissus on Lake St Clair, usually walked over six days. Bookings are required from 1 October to 31 May, with up to 34 independent walkers departing each day and walking north to south only. The booking fee covers park entry for the duration of the walk and shuttle access to the start, but transport at either end and the Narcissus ferry are arranged separately.
When is the best time of year to visit Cradle Mountain?
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Each season offers something different. Summer (December to February) brings the longest days and wildflowers, autumn (late April into early May) is famous for the golden fagus turning above Dove Lake, and winter (June to August) regularly delivers snow on the peaks and around the lake. Spring is good for wildlife activity. Snow is possible at Cradle Mountain in any month, so warm and waterproof layers belong in your pack year-round.
Where can I stay at Cradle Mountain?
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There is a small cluster of accommodation just outside the park boundary on Cradle Mountain Road. Options include Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge, Cradle Mountain Hotel and Discovery Resorts Cradle Mountain, which also has a backpackers and powered camping sites. Inside the park, the historic Waldheim Cabins behind Waldheim Chalet offer a simple wilderness stay.
What wildlife will I see at Cradle Mountain?
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The park is one of the best places in Tasmania for wildlife. Wombats are commonly seen grazing on the buttongrass plains around Ronny Creek, especially in the late afternoon, and you may also spot echidnas, pademelons, platypus and the inquisitive black currawong. Tasmanian devils are nocturnal and rarely seen wild, but the nearby Devils@Cradle sanctuary runs after-dark feeding tours that support conservation programs.
How dangerous is the weather at Cradle Mountain?
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Conditions in the Tasmanian alpine country can change very quickly and snow can fall in any month, including summer. Walkers have died from hypothermia after being caught out unprepared, so Parks and Wildlife requires that you carry a waterproof jacket, warm layers, sturdy boots and food and water on every walk above the boardwalks. Always check the forecast at the Visitor Centre and be prepared to turn back if the weather closes in.
Gallery
Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair in pictures.
11 images licensed from Wikimedia Commons
All images are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licences. Individual photographers are credited on the source pages.
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Attribution
Sources & credits
Content (6)
- Wikipedia: Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cradle Mountain · Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
- Cradle Mountain Shuttle Bus information · Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
- Overland Track frequently asked questions · Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
- Park passes and entry fees · Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania
- Guide to Cradle Mountain · Tourism Tasmania
Images (11)
- Barn Bluff from Waterfall Valley.jpg · JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kitchen Hut with Cradle Mountain in the background.jpg · Darren Grattidge · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lesser Tasmanian Darner Austroaeschna hardyi female.jpg · JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) · CC BY-SA 3.0
- A red-bellied pademelon in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair Nat... · Proto353 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cradle Mountain Dove Lake HDR Stevage.jpg · Stevage · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cradle Mountain Sunset.jpg · Ryan Wilkes · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre.jpg · Mx. Granger · CC0
- Cradle Mountain over Dove Lake, Tasmania.jpg · BennyG3255 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dove Lake in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.jpg · Ovico · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hiking at Cradle Mountain, Lake St Clair National Park.jpg · Pacol358 · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake St Clair National Park.jpg · Kathie4670 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under licenses that permit commercial use. If you are the rights holder and believe an attribution is incorrect, please contact us.