The most incredible walks in Cradle Mountain

Grab your hiking boots and discover why Cradle Mountain is a bush walker’s paradise.

Walking in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is a bucket list item for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. With bushland burgeoning with botanical life and landscapes jewelled with crystalline lakes, it’s no wonder why the walks in Cradle Mountain have a reputation as some of Australia’s most picturesque. If you’re ready to lace up your hiking boots and explore the unrivalled natural beauty that Tasmania has to offer, check out these iconic Cradle Mountain walks ranging from easy 10-minute strolls to challenging ascents.

Rainforest Walk

Difficulty: easy + access friendly
Distance: 431m
Duration: 10 mins

Starting just outside the Cradle Mountain Visitor’s Centre, this walk meanders through a cool temperate rainforest that showcases the diversity of Cradle Mountain’s botanical life. You’ll walk among fragrant Myrtle and towering Pencil Pines until you reach the lovely lookout point over Pencil Pine Falls. Easy, accessible and short – the rainforest walk is the perfect introduction to the beauty of Cradle Mountain’s bushland surroundings.

Get lost in the otherworldly rainforests of Cradle Mountain. (Image: Tourism Tasmania & Paul Sinclair)

Enchanted walk

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 1km
Duration: 20 mins

This short but majestic walk certainly lives up to its name. Wander along the banks of the slow-flowing Pencil Pine River, through button grass moorlands and mossy forests. The Enchanted Walk is great for spotting wildlife, so keep an eye out for the resident wombats and pademelons that like to hang out along the trail. If you’re in luck, you might glimpse a platypus playing in the river if you head down at dawn or dusk. Although it’s just 1 kilometre, the Enchanted Walk has a reputation as one of Cradle Mountain’s best walks.

The Enchanted Walk is just as beautiful in winter. (Image: Paul Flemming)

Dove Lake Circuit

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 6km
Duration: 3 hours

The rugged peaks of Cradle Mountain hanging over the crystal waters of Dove Lake are the postcard-perfect image of Tasmania. The Dove Lake Circuit offers a pleasant stroll that keeps these iconic landmarks in view. The trail is fringed by beautiful forest and plenty of vantage points for incredible vistas of Cradle Mountain over the lake. The Dove Lake circuit is the quintessential Cradle Mountain walk, so it’s certainly not one you want to miss!

Witness the craggy face of Cradle Mountain surrounded by the serene waters of Dove Lake. (Image: Cultivate Productions)

Cradle Valley Board Walk

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 12km
Duration: 3 hours

This beautiful boardwalk snakes through golden grasslands and moorlands peppered with luscious tussocks of button grass. You’ll walk through the open countryside, stopping off at waterfalls and crossing over rushing creeks. Stretching from Ronny Creek to the Cradle Mountain Visitor’s Centre, the Cradle Valley Board Walk offers a wonderful introduction to the pristine wilderness contained within Cradle Valley.

A wombat near Rooney Creek Cradle Mountain

A wombat near Ronny Creek along the Cradle Valley Board Walk. (Image: Jess Bonde)

Echo Point Walk

Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 11km
Duration: 3-4 hours

This walk in the southern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park combines a ferry ride from Lake St Clair Visitors Centre to Echo Point, where hikers can walk the lakeside trail back. The trail will take you through a luscious rainforest, offering incredible views across the lake where the towering Mount Ida frames the shores. The walk coincides with the last leg of the Overland Track – offering a picturesque yet not-too-strenuous sample of the iconic hike.

Echo Point walk runs alongside Lake St Clair. (Image: Stu Gibson)

Marions Lookout

Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 5km
Duration: 2 hours

Watch marvellous views over Dove Lake unfold as you embark on the climb up to Marion’s Lookout from the Dove Lake circuit. Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll be met with a breathtaking vantage point to admire the rocky peaks of Cradle Mountain. Once you’re done taking it all in, walk back via Wombat pool, which will bring you past sparkling lakes and down into picturesque plains peppered with button grass and Eucalypts.

A view of Crater Lake from Marions lookout. (Image: Tourism Tasmania & Yee Seng Hock)

Cradle Mountain Summit

Difficulty: Hard
Distance: 12.5km
Duration: 8 hours

What better way to experience the iconic peak than an expedition to Cradle Mountain’s summit? You’ll be treated to marvellous views from Hanson’s Peak and Marion’s lookout as you ascend. Keep going toward the historic Kitchen Hut, a charming mountain shelter perfect to rest in and admire the magnificent scenery. After a scramble up Cradle Mountain, you’ll be rewarded with truly epic panoramas. On one side, you’ll see the crystalline Dove Lake and the verdant landscapes that lie beyond. On the other, you’ll gaze into the heart of the Central Highlands, where the renowned Overland Track continues.

Aerial View of Cradle Mountain Summit in winter

A taste of the views from Cradle Mountain Summit. (Image: Luke Tscharke)

The best time to walk in Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain is a great destination year-round – each season offers something unique. The most popular time to hike in Cradle Mountain is during the glorious summer months between December and February when the days are warm and rainfall is at a minimum. In autumn, you can experience the forest flushed with warm golden hues – if you’re prepared to dress for cooler and wetter weather. Winter in Cradle Mountain – and anywhere in Tasmania for that matter – is nothing short of show-stopping, with snow-capped peaks that make the mountains appear even more magical. During winter, it’s best to check conditions if you’re planning on a short walk, but serious trekking is not recommendable. Spring has plenty of rainy days, but if you don’t mind the wet weather, you’ll be rewarded with blooming valleys and lots of wildlife sightings.

Bask in the beauty of Cradle Mountain on one of its many walks. (Image: Cultivate Productions)

Know before you go

The walks in Cradle Mountain have varying degrees of difficulty, so make sure you select a hike that corresponds with your fitness level. It’s important to be adequately prepared with equipment and information before you head out hiking in Cradle Mountain. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Services is a great resource for hiking safety and a packing list to help you prepare. We have also rounded up our top picks of Cradle Mountain accommodation options that put you close to the walking trails – and they have the added bonus of offering great dining options too, so you can refuel after all that walking.

Two new luxury retreats have opened in Cradle Mountain National Park. Here’s what we know so far.

Forget overwater bungalows in the Maldives. Tasmania’s idiosyncratic Pumphouse Point hovering over Lake St Clair is the luxury accommodation of dreams. Originally constructed in the 1940s as part of Tasmania’s Hydroelectric Scheme, the site was transformed into a boutique hotel in the 90s and remains the final word in wilderness luxury today. Now, Pumphouse Point has welcomed two new retreats nestled amid the myrtle forests of the UNESCO-listed surroundings.

Pumphouse Point sits on Lake St Clair at the southern end of Cradle Mountain National Park. (Image: Adam Gibson)

The retreats, which opened last month, are set right on the edge of Lake St Clair, with the native bushland acting as a privacy screen. Each is blessed with sweeping lake views, a fire pit and a bathtub perfectly positioned for soaking it all in. Rates start at $1950 and include all food and drinks, with included meals at the Heritage Shorehouse restaurant showcasing the very best of Tassie produce. In addition, guests can also take advantage of brand-new experiences, from a Pumphouse Point History Tour to a chocolate-tasting journey in partnership with Tasmania’s renowned House of Anver.

The lodgings are similar to the much-loved signature retreat that already exists at Pumphouse Point. The two newer retreats expand the capacity to stay in the vicinity of this exceptional landmark.

Room rates include breakfasts and dinners in the Shorehouse restaurant. (Image: Adam Gibson)

If you’ve ever tried to book accommodation in Cradle Mountain National Park, you’ll know the options are extremely limited. This is a deliberate decision to preserve the natural environment. The retreats, on the lesser-visited end of the National Park, offer the chance to enjoy the wilderness in total comfort.

Pumphouse Point gains two new luxury retreats (Image: Adam Gibson).