AU · Tasmania · 41.83°S 145.92°E

cradle mountain–lake st clair national park

Dove Lake, jagged peaks and wombats grazing beside alpine boardwalks.

Best time
November–April has the longest days and the best odds of clear views. Snow can fall in any month here; June–August is cold, icy and often wet.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly to Launceston with one stop, usually via Melbourne, about 11–14 hours all in. The park is about 2 hours' drive from Launceston. Tasmania is 2 hours ahead of KL, 3 during daylight saving (October to early April).
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AU · Tasmaniacradle mountain–lake st clair national park41.83°S 145.92°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Dove Lake, jagged peaks and wombats grazing beside alpine boardwalks.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingCradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National ParkAU, Tasmania
KLcradle mountain–lake st clair national park
≈ 6,697 km from KL, as the crow flies
Cradle Mountain as seen from the north, across Dove Lake. This view can be had after a few hundred metres walk from the carpark.

Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park runs from the jagged peak of Cradle Mountain down to Australia's deepest lake. On a short trip, the Cradle end gives you Dove Lake, mossy forest walks and wombats grazing by the boardwalks, without taking on the multi-day Overland Track.

Makan

  1. Packed lunchBread, cheese and fruit from Launceston; there's little to buy near the park.Map ↗
  2. Leatherwood honeyTasmania's rich, floral rainforest honey, sold all over the island.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Dove Lake circuitAbout two hours around the lake beneath Cradle Mountain, past the much-photographed old boatshed.Map ↗
  2. Enchanted WalkA short loop beside a tea-coloured creek through moss and myrtle forest.Map ↗
  3. Ronny CreekBoardwalks across buttongrass where wombats graze, especially late in the day.Map ↗
  4. Lake St ClairThe quieter southern end of the park, with lakeside walks; it's a separate trip, about 3 hours away by road.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The shuttle bus from the visitor centre is the usual way to Dove Lake, and you'll need a Tasmanian parks pass.
  • Halal food is scarce up here, so self-cater with supplies from Launceston.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.