Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, is Australia’s most famous alpine wilderness: jagged dolerite peaks, glacial lakes, buttongrass plains, ancient rainforest of myrtle beech and pencil pine, and some of the country’s most approachable wildlife, from wombats to pademelons. The park covers about 1,617 square kilometers (624 square miles) and is the heart of the UNESCO-listed Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. At its northern end, the craggy summit of Cradle Mountain rises above Dove Lake, one of Australia’s most photographed views. At its southern end lies Lake St Clair, carved by glaciers and, at 167 meters (548 feet), Australia’s deepest lake. Between them runs the Overland Track, a 65 km (40-mile), six-day hike that is Australia’s best-known alpine walk. Protecting the area owes much to Gustav Weindorfer, an Austrian-born naturalist who built his Waldheim chalet here and campaigned for a national park. The highlands’ weather is famously changeable, with snow possible in any month, so even a day visit needs planning. Two practical rules matter most at Cradle Mountain: you need a Tasmanian parks pass, and during the day you reach Dove Lake by shuttle bus from the visitor center, not by car.
Right now in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (Cradle Valley)
- Wed-2–11°C29–51°FClear
- Thu-0–11°C31–51°FMostly clear
- Fri2–12°C36–53°F4 mm rain
Top tours in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
See all tours for Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park →
From local operators, with prices and reviews; you check availability and book on Viator, our partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we earn money
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair at a glance
- Best months: December to March for the warmest, longest days and the best hiking conditions; late April and early May for the turning of the fagus (deciduous beech), Australia’s only native cold-climate deciduous tree. Winter (June to August) brings snow and short, cold days.
- Time needed: one full day for Dove Lake and short walks; two or three days to add the summit or Crater Lake and a wildlife night; six days for the Overland Track.
- Getting there: Cradle Mountain is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Devonport and about 2 to 2.5 hours from Launceston by car; Lake St Clair is about 2.5 hours from Hobart.
- Costs (as of October 2026): a Cradle Mountain Icon Daily Pass costs $30.70 per adult and includes the shuttle bus. Holders of other parks passes buy a $15.50 shuttle ticket (adults 18+).
- Before you go: entry rules (ETA, eVisitor or visa), biosecurity and money are covered in our Australia travel guide.
Parks passes, the shuttle bus and the Overland Track
Tasmania parks passes
A valid parks pass is required in all Tasmanian national parks, and children under 5 are free. As of the Parks and Wildlife Service’s July 2026 fee list:
- Icon Daily Pass, Cradle Mountain only: $30.70 adult (18 and over), $12.30 child (5 to 17), $73.75 family (2 adults, 3 children). It includes the shuttle bus, is sold at the Cradle Mountain visitor center and can’t be upgraded.
- Daily Pass (up to 24 hours): $49.15 per vehicle (up to 8 people) or $24.55 per person traveling by bus, bicycle or on foot. It excludes Cradle Mountain and the shuttle bus.
- Holiday Pass (all parks for up to 2 months): $98.35 per vehicle or $49.20 per person. It covers Cradle Mountain but not the shuttle bus.
- Annual and two-year passes: $104.75 and $133.80, mainly for residents; shuttle not included.
Fees are reviewed every year in line with inflation. If you plan to visit several parks, such as Freycinet, Mount Field and Lake St Clair, the Holiday Pass is usually the best value; add a shuttle ticket at Cradle Mountain.
The Cradle Mountain shuttle bus
All day visitors park at the Cradle Mountain visitor center, validate their parks pass and board the shuttle bus into the park. Buses run seven days a week, including public holidays, and stop at the Interpretation Centre and Ranger Station, Snake Hill, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake; the ride from the visitor center to Dove Lake takes about 20 minutes. A 72-hour shuttle ticket costs $15.50 for adults unless you hold an Icon Pass or an Overland Track pass; under-18s ride free, and an annual shuttle pass costs $46.50. Hours are seasonal: from the start of daylight saving in October to November, about 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; in December, 8:10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; from late December to February, 8:10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and from mid-May to September, 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Private cars can’t drive to Dove Lake from 15 minutes before the first shuttle until 30 minutes after the last; outside those hours there are only nine car spaces at Dove Lake. Campervans, motorhomes, caravans and trailers are never allowed on Dove Lake Road. The buses are low-floor and wheelchair accessible.
The Overland Track
The Overland Track runs 65 km one way from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair, a grade 4 walk that most people complete in six days, carrying all their food and equipment. In the booking season, 1 October to 31 May, you must book ahead and pay the Overland Track fee: $312 per adult and $272 per child or concession, which includes park entry and the shuttle. Departures are capped at 34 independent walkers a day, so book early. Huts can’t be reserved and may be full, so every walker must carry a tent. At the end, most walkers take the privately run ferry from Narcissus Hut across Lake St Clair, which must be booked before you start, or walk another 17.5 km (11 miles) along the shore. From June to September there is no booking fee, but you need a parks pass, and winter conditions demand serious alpine experience. Walkers check in at the Cradle Mountain visitor center for a briefing before departure.
Top things to see in the park
Dove Lake circuit
The classic walk: a 6 km (3.7-mile) loop around Dove Lake in two to three hours, grade 3, with the mountain reflected in the water on calm mornings, the much-photographed boatshed and the mossy Ballroom Forest of cool temperate rainforest. It’s the best introduction to the park.
Cradle Mountain summit
A challenging, grade 5 climb to the 1,545-meter (5,069-foot) summit: about 12.8 km (8 miles) return, eight hours and 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) of ascent, finishing with a scramble over large dolerite boulders. Start early, carry warm and waterproof gear, and turn back if cloud or snow moves in.
Crater Lake and Marions Lookout
The 5.7 km (3.5-mile), two-hour Crater Lake circuit, grade 3, passes a string of alpine lakes and is a good alternative when cold winds lash the higher tracks. Fitter walkers climb from Dove Lake or Crater Lake to Marions Lookout for the view over Dove Lake and the mountain.
Ronny Creek, Enchanted Walk and Weindorfer’s Forest
Ronny Creek’s boardwalk across buttongrass plains is the best place to see wombats grazing in daylight. Near the park entrance, the 1.1 km (0.7-mile), 20-minute Enchanted Walk follows a cascading creek through old-growth rainforest, and the short Weindorfers Forest Walk starts at the replica of the Waldheim Chalet.
Lake St Clair
At the southern end, the Lake St Clair visitor center at Cynthia Bay explains the glaciers and the area’s Aboriginal history. Short walks lead to Watersmeet and Platypus Bay, the lamairremener tabelti walk explores Aboriginal connections to the lake, and longer Great Short Walks climb Mount Rufus or reach Shadow Lake and Echo Point in three to seven hours. The ferry to Narcissus Bay is Australia’s highest-altitude ferry service.
Other things to do
- Wildlife spotting: wombats, Bennett’s wallabies, pademelons, echidnas and, at night, possums and quolls. Platypus live in Lake St Clair’s creeks.
- Tasmanian devils: a wildlife sanctuary near the park entrance runs devil-feeding tours, the easiest way to see these endangered animals.
- Photography: Dove Lake at sunrise, the fagus in autumn and snow in winter.
- Scenic flights: helicopter flights from Cradle Mountain fly over the peaks and lakes.
Food and drink
Food options are limited to the cafe at the visitor center and the restaurants at the lodges and hotels near the park entrance, plus a cafe and restaurant at Lake St Clair. Basic groceries are sold at the holiday park, and there’s a 24-hour card-only fuel pump. Bring supplies from Devonport, Launceston or Hobart if self-catering, and never feed wildlife.
Day trips and nearby
Devonport and the north coast
About 1 hour 15 minutes north, Devonport is the Spirit of Tasmania ferry port. The north coast has the Mersey River, Sheffield’s murals and the Leven Canyon lookout.
Launceston and the Tamar Valley
About 2 to 2.5 hours northeast, Launceston has Cataract Gorge and the Tamar Valley wine route.
The west coast
Strahan and the Gordon River cruise on Macquarie Harbour are about 2 to 2.5 hours southwest via the Murchison Highway.
Hobart
Hobart is about 2.5 hours from Lake St Clair and about 4.5 hours from Cradle Mountain. Many visitors combine the park with Hobart, Freycinet and the east coast on a loop.
Nearby destinations
- Hobart164 km
Getting there and getting around
By car
Most visitors drive. From Devonport, take the Bass Highway and the Cradle Mountain Road, about 1 hour 15 minutes; from Launceston, about 2 to 2.5 hours. Lake St Clair is reached via the Lyell Highway from Hobart (about 2.5 hours) to Derwent Bridge. Roads are winding, can be icy in winter, and wildlife is active at dusk.
Flights, ferries and buses
Fly into Launceston, Devonport or Hobart, or bring a car on the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Geelong to Devonport (adult fares from $49). Seasonal coaches and bushwalker transport companies run to Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair; book ahead, especially if you’re walking the Overland Track one way.
Inside the park
Park at the visitor center and use the shuttle bus to reach the Interpretation Centre, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake during operating hours. Allow at least a full day to make the most of a shuttle ticket, which is valid for 72 hours.
When to go and how long to stay
The park has a cool, wet mountain climate, and conditions can change from sunshine to snow within hours in any season. Summer (December to February) is the most popular time, with daytime highs around 18–20 °C (64–67 °F) and long daylight. Autumn (March to May) brings crisp days and the golden fagus in late April. Winter (June to August) is cold and snowy, with highs around 7–8 °C (45–47 °F) and frosts. Spring (September to November) is wet and windy, with wildflowers and lingering snow. Cradle Valley, at about 900 meters (3,000 feet), is generally colder and wetter than the table below.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rain days (≥1 mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20 °C (67 °F) | 6 °C (44 °F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 10 |
| Feb | 19 °C (67 °F) | 6 °C (43 °F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 9 |
| Mar | 17 °C (62 °F) | 5 °C (40 °F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 12 |
| Apr | 13 °C (56 °F) | 3 °C (37 °F) | 136 mm (5.4 in) | 14 |
| May | 10 °C (50 °F) | 2 °C (35 °F) | 179 mm (7.0 in) | 16 |
| Jun | 8 °C (46 °F) | 0 °C (33 °F) | 169 mm (6.6 in) | 16 |
| Jul | 7 °C (45 °F) | 0 °C (32 °F) | 213 mm (8.4 in) | 18 |
| Aug | 8 °C (47 °F) | 0 °C (32 °F) | 241 mm (9.5 in) | 20 |
| Sep | 10 °C (50 °F) | 1 °C (34 °F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 18 |
| Oct | 13 °C (55 °F) | 2 °C (36 °F) | 179 mm (7.0 in) | 16 |
| Nov | 16 °C (60 °F) | 4 °C (39 °F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 14 |
| Dec | 18 °C (64 °F) | 5 °C (41 °F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 13 |
| Year | 13 °C (56 °F) | 3 °C (37 °F) | 1,888 mm (74 in) | 176 |
Figures are the Bureau of Meteorology’s 1991–2020 statistics for Lake St Clair National Park, at Cynthia Bay at the park’s southern end (about 30 years of records). There is no current long-term station at Cradle Mountain.
How long to stay: 1, 2 and 6 days
- One day: the Enchanted Walk, the shuttle to Dove Lake for the circuit, and Ronny Creek for wombats in the late afternoon.
- Two or three days: add Crater Lake and Marions Lookout or the summit, a devil-feeding tour and a day at Lake St Clair.
- Six days: walk the Overland Track, with a spare day either side for transport.
Where to stay
- Park entrance (Cradle Valley): a wilderness lodge with cabins, a hotel, a holiday park with cabins and camping, and the Waldheim Cabins inside the park.
- Lake St Clair: a lodge with cabins and camping at Cynthia Bay, and a hotel at nearby Derwent Bridge.
- Overland Track: public huts (first come, first served) and tent platforms, or guided walks using private huts.
Book well ahead for summer and Easter, when the Cradle Valley accommodation is often full.
Typical costs
| Item (as of October 2026) | Australian dollars | About US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | — |
| Icon Daily Pass, adult (incl. shuttle) | $30.70 | $21 |
| Icon Daily Pass, family | $73.75 | $51 |
| Holiday Pass, per vehicle (2 months) | $98.35 | $68 |
| Shuttle bus, 72 hours, adult | $15.50 | $11 |
| Overland Track fee, adult (Oct–May) | $312 | $215 |
| Lodge or cabin, per night | about $250–600 | about $170–415 |
| Campsite, per night | about $40–60 | about $28–41 |
Passes, the shuttle and the Overland Track fee are official Parks and Wildlife Service prices; accommodation is a typical range, not an official price. Conversions use about US$0.69 to A$1.
Safety in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair
- Alpine weather: snow, rain, wind and sun are all possible at any time of year, and fog can make tracks hard to follow. Carry a warm fleece or down jacket, a waterproof jacket and pants, a hat, gloves, food and water even on short walks, and turn back if the weather turns. Hypothermia is a real risk on exposed ridges.
- Walking safety: register your plans in the walker log books, tell someone your route, and stay on marked tracks. The summit route involves boulder scrambling; don’t attempt it in ice, snow or high wind.
- Bushfire season: bushfires can occur between October and March. Check Tasmania Fire Service warnings, obey total fire bans and follow park alerts, including planned burns.
- Wildlife and roads: drive slowly at dawn, dusk and night, when wombats, wallabies and devils are on the roads.
- Water and snakes: lakes and rivers are cold enough to cause shock; tiger snakes are active in warm months, so wear closed shoes.
- Emergencies: call 000 (112 also works from mobile phones). Mobile coverage is patchy; a personal locator beacon is recommended for the Overland Track.
Practical tips
- Time zone: Australian Eastern Time, as in Hobart; daylight saving runs from 4 October 2026 to 4 April 2027.
- Visitor centers: the Cradle Mountain visitor center sells passes and shuttle tickets, gives track and weather information and hosts Overland Track check-in. The Interpretation Centre is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Fuel and supplies: there’s a 24-hour card-only fuel pump at Cradle Mountain, but fuel may not always be available; fill up beforehand.
- Biosecurity: you can’t bring fresh fruit, vegetables or plants into Tasmania from the mainland.
What to pack
Pack for four seasons in a day: thermal layers, a warm fleece or down jacket, a fully waterproof jacket and overpants, a beanie and gloves, sturdy waterproof hiking boots, sunscreen and sunglasses, and a daypack with water and snacks. For the Overland Track, add a four-season tent, a warm sleeping bag, a stove and a personal locator beacon.
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair travel FAQ
Do I need a parks pass for Cradle Mountain?
Yes. Buy an Icon Daily Pass for Cradle Mountain ($30.70 per adult, shuttle included) or use a Holiday or Annual Pass plus a $15.50 shuttle ticket. The standard Daily Pass doesn’t cover Cradle Mountain.
Can you drive to Dove Lake?
Not during shuttle bus hours. Park at the visitor center and take the shuttle, about 20 minutes. Outside those hours there are only nine parking spaces at Dove Lake.
How much is the Cradle Mountain shuttle bus?
$15.50 for adults for 72 hours, free for under-18s, and included with the Icon Daily Pass and the Overland Track fee.
How long is the Dove Lake circuit?
About 6 km, taking two to three hours on a well-made track.
How hard is the Cradle Mountain summit walk?
Hard: about 12.8 km return, eight hours and 600 meters of climbing, with a rock scramble near the top. It’s a grade 5 walk for fit, experienced hikers.
Do I need to book the Overland Track?
Yes, from 1 October to 31 May, with a fee of $312 per adult. Numbers are limited to 34 independent walkers a day.
What is the best time to visit Cradle Mountain?
December to March for the best weather; late April for autumn fagus colors. Expect cold, changeable conditions at any time.
Can you see wombats at Cradle Mountain?
Yes, often. Ronny Creek’s buttongrass plains are a good place to see them, especially in the late afternoon.
How far is Cradle Mountain from Launceston?
About 2 to 2.5 hours by car. From Devonport, it’s about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Is Lake St Clair the deepest lake in Australia?
Yes. Carved by glaciers, it reaches a maximum depth of 167 meters.
Plan your trip
Partner links: TravelerCenter may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Sources · last reviewed 5 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 5 October 2026. Parks pass prices and rules, shuttle bus fees, stops, timetable and vehicle restrictions, Overland Track fees, season, daily cap, tent and ferry rules, walk distances, times and grades, Lake St Clair’s depth and ferry, visitor facilities and the bushfire and weather warnings come from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (parks.tas.gov.au); the Spirit of Tasmania starting fare from Spirit of Tasmania; climate from the Bureau of Meteorology’s 1991–2020 statistics for Lake St Clair National Park; area and coordinates from Wikidata. Cradle Mountain’s height, drive times, accommodation, the devil sanctuary, scenic flights, coaches and typical prices are general references and flagged for checking. For entry rules, biosecurity and money, see our Australia travel guide.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)