7 memorable things to do in Cradle Mountain (that aren’t hiking)

You don’t have to break a sweat to enjoy the world-renown beauty of Cradle Mountain.

Cradle Mountain is a bushwalker’s paradise. But if you’re not much of a hiker, there are plenty of other things to do in Cradle Mountain that cater to every activity. From enjoying mountain scenery with a glass of champagne in hand at a wilderness spa to abseiling down waterfalls, here are the top things to do in Cradle Mountain other than hiking.

1. Spot some local wildlife

The bushland surrounding Cradle Mountain is ideal for spotting some of Australia’s most unique and beloved creatures. Wildlife sanctuary Devils @ Cradle offers visitors the chance to get up close with three species of threatened marsupials, the Spotted-tail quoll, the Eastern quoll and the Tasmanian devil.

An adorable Tasmanian Devil joey. (Image: Jewels Lynch)

Wander through the alpine sanctuary and learn about these unique animals during either a day or nighttime visit. You can also join a wildlife night-spotting tour, or try your luck staking out a few wildlife hot spots on your own!

Wander through the Devils @ Cradle alpine sanctuary. (Image: Laura Helle)

2. Pamper yourself in a wilderness spa

Give nature’s restorative qualities a little boost with a trip to a day spa sequestered among Cradle Mountain’s serene surrounds. Visitors can access the Waldheim Alpine Spa located in Pepper’s Cradle Mountain Lodge and the Retreat Spa in the Cradle Mountain Hotel, open to both guests and the public.

The view from the outdoor spa at Waldheim Alpine Spa — Soak up the views from the outdoor spa at Waldheim Alpine Spa. (Image: Emilie Ristevski)

There are saunas and steam rooms to unwind in, as well as massages and a range of decadent spa treatments on offer. Enjoy calming views of the luscious Tasmanian forest and distant mountains as you venture into a journey of ultimate relaxation. With champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries available as an add-on, an experience at a Wilderness Day Spa is certainly one of the most decadent things to do in Cradle Mountain.

Waldheim-Alpine-Spa — Spa treatments come with calming views of the luscious Tasmanian forest. (Image: Lauren Bath)

3. Take a helicopter tour for a birds-eye view

For those that don’t have the time (nor the desire) to hike all 65km of the Overland Track, Cradle Mountain Helicopters offer the opportunity to see it all by air. Go aloft for breathtaking views that afford unparalleled views of Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair and beyond. Flights range from 20-100 minutes and offer a truly unforgettable way to experience the majesty of Tasmania’s Wilderness.

helicopter tour cradle mountain — Get a bird’s eye view of cradle mountain on a helicopter tour. (Image: Luke Tscharke)

4. See the stunning surroundings on horseback

Saddle up and immerse yourself in the bushland with a horseback tour through the heart of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Cradle mountain horse riding company Cradle Country Adventures offers short tours and full-day treks for all difficulty levels. Let your guide and a fabulous team of horses lead you through verdant alpine forests, and watch as beautiful vistas unfold in front of you. Reap some of the most rewarding views in the national park, without having to do any hiking at all!

horseback cradle mountain — Witness the landscape from horseback with Cradle Country Adventures. (Image: Tourism Australia)

5. Try your luck Fishing

Learn fly fishing with a local, or set-out solo for a day by the stream. The fishing in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park offers some of the most picturesque spots to catch brown and rainbow trout.

Fly fishing in Cradle Mountain — Give fly fishing a go while in Cradle Mountain. (Image: Adam Gibson)

Tour companies like Riverfly can take you off the beaten track, or you can head out to the popular Lake St Clair or Dove Lake for a beautiful day on the water.

Catch trout while fly fishing in Cradle Mountain — See if the fish are biting out on Lake St Clair or Dove Lake. (Image: Adam Gibson)

6. Take a Canyoning Tour for the ultimate adventure

For the adventurous at heart, a Cradle Mountain canyoning tour ought to get your adrenaline pumping. Tour company Cradle Mountain Canyons can show you waterfall sliding, abseiling and rafting just a stone’s throw from Cradle Mountain. Tour options range from introductory family-friendly day adventures to multi-day rafting trips. If you’re seeking excitement, then a Canyon tour is one of the most exhilarating things you can do in Cradle Mountain.

7. Take a scenic cruise on Lake St Clair

Enjoy a visit to the deepest lake in the Southern Hemisphere and take the scenic ferry ride that traces the final leg of the famous Overland track along the length of Lake St Clair. The boat doubles as a drop-off and pick-up service for hikers. A great option is to take the ferry up to Echo Point and walk back along the lake. Otherwise, just stay on board and have your breath taken away by the scenery (and not the trail!)

Final tips to help you explore Cradle Mountain

To help you enjoy it all, we’ve also rounded up our pick of the best Cradle Mountain accommodation options here that will put you in the heart of all the action, as well as where to eat while you’re here.

Hobart has quietly become our coolest capital, but the real wonder lies just beyond the city limits.

In the cool shade of Kunyani/ Mt Wellington, Hobart has earned a reputation. Home to culture-defining Dark MOFO, the city blends rugged, raw wilderness and rule-breaking galleries. But, step beyond the thrumming capital’s border and you’ll find a new perspective: historic towns, Jurassic-era cliffs and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. With ALL Accor as your home away from home, fill your days with epicurean odysseys and wild scenery on the best day trips from Hobart.

Where to stay

Behind every good road trip is the perfect home base. Somewhere central to review your camera roll, make the most of Hobart’s dining scene and relax before setting off again.

For modern, Tasmanian-inspired design, book a stay at the Movenpick Hotel Hobart . Standing at the Salamanca Markets, look to the Hobart skyline and the award-winning hotel will catch your eye. As the third-tallest building in the CBD, the views across the harbour toward Antarctica are totally unique to your room. Here, end each day at the daily free chocolate hour (plus a free Movenpick ice cream for the little ones).

For a more budget-conscious option, head to the picture book, sandstone buildings of Macquarie Street. Nestled along the buzzing, historic streetscape, you’ll find Tasmania’s biggest hotel: the Ibis Styles . Return home each day to defrost in one of the hotel’s two saunas. Make use of the proximity to MONA, or take an easy stroll to the candy-coloured cottages of Battery Point between your adventures.

A stylish, Tasmanian-inspired bedroom at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, your perfect base for relaxing after the best day trips from Hobart. — Elevate your Hobart stay with sleek style at Mövenpick.

1. Bruny Island

Craggy cliffs and tropical-hued, white sand beaches signal your arrival to Bruny Island/ Lunawanna-Alonnah.

Start your day trip at the island’s most iconic spot, the Neck Game Reserve. Scale the Trunganini steps to gaze out over the teensy stretch of land that juts through the sea connecting the two ends of the island.

Catch a rare glimpse of the white furred wallabies that call Bruny Island home at Adventure Bay. Then, for ocean-fresh oysters, pull into the drive-thru window at Get Shucked . Sample Bruny Island cheese at the cellar door before catching the ferry home with an esky full of local produce.

Bruny Island Neck is an isthmus of land connecting north and south Bruny Island. — Begin your adventure with a climb and a view. (Image: Elise Weaver)

2. Mount Wellington

At 1271 metres, Mount Wellington watches protectively over Hobart. Follow the winding road to climb through alpine forest and tufts of snow to reach the summit. Gaze down over Hobart and out to sea, or over your shoulder to the southwestern wilderness.

Reset your adrenaline with a mountain bike ride back down. Or, make like the locals and head into the mountain on foot. Try the hike to the Jurassic-period Organ Pipes which slips under the mountain’s magnificent dolerite cliffs (perfect for families thanks to the trail’s minimal incline).

For a view of Mount Wellington itself, hike nearby Cathedral Rock.

No matter where you are in Hobart you are never far away from the City's beloved mountain, Kunanyi / Mount Wellington — Climb through alpine forest to the summit. (Image: Paul Flemming)

2. Port Arthur

Constructed entirely by convicts, the manicured gardens and penal buildings of Port Arthur offer a day trip that practically hums with history.

The rugged, seagirt location was chosen for its difficult escape conditions. Now, you can cruise the coast below the towering, jagged cliffs of the Tasman National Park or wander the sloping fields of fragrant lavender.

Tickets to Port Arthur include a walking tour and harbour cruise. See the Isle of the Dead where 1000 men are buried in marked and unmarked graves. And Point Puer, Britain’s first prison for children.

The Port Arthur Historic Site is one of Australia's most important heritage sites and tourist destinations. Located on the scenic Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula in the south east of Tasmania, it offers a unique and essential experience for all visitors to the area. — Wander convict-built grounds and gardens. (Image: Dearna Bond)

3. Launceston

You’ll find Launceston at the confluence of three rivers after an easy 2.5-hour drive from Hobart. Launceston is a patchwork of old and new. Here, heritage streetscapes meet modern architecture.

Visit Cataract Gorge, the green, sun-dappled heart of the town and sacred meeting point for Tasmania’s indigenous communities. Pull up at roadside produce stalls that dot the Tamar Valley, or dine out. Launceston is, after all, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Should the local wine scene persuade you, simply extend your time in Launceston at Peppers Silo (but definitely at least stop by the onsite restaurant, Grain of the Silo , for a farm fresh menu) or Mercure Launceston before heading back to Hobart.

Walk the sunlit paths of Cataract Gorge. (Image: Nick H Visuals)

4. Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Take a 35-minute drive from your hotel and you’ll find Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary . This social enterprise is run by a team of extremely passionate Tasmanians with a mission to look after critically endangered species who have found sanctuary here after facing extinction on the mainland.

Choose to wander the sanctuary at your own pace or join a guided tour (free with your ticket) to come face to face with Tassie’s most iconic species. Tasmanian Devils, wombats and echidnas are part of the free tour. You can book up close encounters with your favourite animals, too.

Bonorong is a Sanctuary for wildlife run by a passionate team of like-minded people. We're a social enterprise: a little business with a big heart. — Snap a cuddle-worthy encounter. (Image: Tourism Australia)

5. Richmond Village & Coal River Valley

Richmond is a town that belongs in a snow globe. Fifty colonial-era, Georgian buildings have been painstakingly restored and turned into cafes, cosy restaurants and galleries. Visit Richmond Gaol , said to be the home of a prisoner so vile he inspired Charles Dickens to pen Oliver Twist’s Fagin.

Then, follow the Coal River as it flows past grassy, duckling-dotted knolls and under the iconic Richmond Bridge, the oldest bridge in Australia. From the crest of the bridge, see the oldest Catholic Church in Australia. The river crawls past many cellar doors, perfect for a day of wine tasting.

Richmond is a picture-perfect town in the Coal River Valley wine region, offering a glimpse into early colonial life, one of the best day trips from Hobart. — Trace the river through history and wine country. (Image: Fin Matson)

Plan your trip to Hobart and beyond with ALL Accor at All.com .