Cradle Mountain is the number one destination for hiking in Tasmania. Most people start their trip in Hobart and wonder what the best way to get from Hobart to Cradle Mountain is.
Look no further as this itinerary will share the perfect route to pack the most value into a short time. Most itineraries simply follow the shortest route on google maps, there and back. I don’t know about you but I don’t like to see the same stuff twice!
This route follows a loop that doesn’t add significant distance but also takes in other amazing natural landmarks of Tasmania. The trip can be done in as little as 4 days but can easily be extended if you have more time.
Hiking the Face Trail
Table of Contents
Hobart to Cradle Mountain Road Trip – Overview
Recommended Stops
- Hobart – Start Point
- Central Highlands/Great Lake Lookout
- Mole Creek Caves
- Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
- Queenstown/Strahan
- Horsetail and Nelson Falls
- Optional: Lake St Clair/The Wall in the Wilderness
- Mount Field National Park
Hobart to Cradle Mountain Summary
Day 1 – Drive across the scenic central highlands and explore the Mole Creek Caves
Night 1 – Cradle Mountain
Day 2 – Spend a full day hiking Cradle Mountain
Night 2 – Cradle Mountain
Day 3 – Explore some of the western wilderness in Queenstown and Strahan
Night 3 – Strahan
Day 4 – Drive the amazing ’99 bends’ mountain road, stopping at lookouts and waterfalls. Make an optional stop at Lake St Clair and ‘The Wall in the Wilderness’ art installation. Continue on to see the beautiful waterfalls and landscapes of Mt Field National Park.
Night 4 – Hobart
Extra Days – If you have more than 4 day then you should definitely extend this itinerary. Consider spending an extra day at Cradle Mountain or perhaps do some more hiking around Lake St Clair and spend a night there.
The beautiful Dove Lake from above
Total Driving Time
~12 hours driving time
Total KM Covered
807km
Longest Stretch of Driving
4hr 45min, 347km – Hobart to Cradle Mountain via Mole Creek Caves
Best Tours from Hobart to Cradle Mountain
Not everyone likes to drive themselves while on holiday, especially on steep mountain roads. See below for the best tours from Hobart that include a stop at Cradle Mountain.
There are no tours that include a full day on the mountain so if this is your goal you will have to do it yourself. The below tours however are designed for active people and you will get a good amount of hiking time.
They take in much the same sights but on different timeframes. You will get to experience a taste of both the east and west coast on top of Cradle Mountain.
5-Day Best of Tasmania Tour from Hobart – More Info
6-Day Tasmanian Explorer Adventure Tour from Hobart – More Info
Can you do a day trip from Hobart to Cradle Mountain?
The short answer is not on your own! The amount of driving to get there and back means a super early start. Add to this a lot of hiking and you will be dangerously fatigued on the drive back.
There is however one way to do it if you are really short on time. The Big Day Out Tour handles all the driving for you and guarantees at least 5 hours to explore the mountain. As the name suggests, you will have to be prepared for a big day!
There are some very exciting trails on Cradle Mountain!
Best Time of Year To Visit Tasmania
December to March is the most reliable time to visit, with mostly clear days and mild temperatures. Don’t be afraid to travel in the bumper months, just bring some warmer clothing! We visited in April and had mostly good weather.
Hobart to Cradle Mountain Road Trip Tips
- Buy a Parks Pass: You will need a pass to access Cradle Mountain National Park. You can buy this at the visitors centre when you arrive for around $25pp. If you are travelling more of Tasmania then the best option is the holiday pass; for around $80 this will cover one vehicle and everyone in it.
- Don’t drive at night: Always plan your drives during daylight hours. There is a lot of wildlife along Tasmanian roads.
- Book ahead for popular stops: Tasmania is a popular holiday destination in the summer months. Make sure to book well ahead for accommodation in Cradle Mountain NP and Queenstown/Strahan. Also for any experiences like cruises, trains or wildlife parks.
- Be prepared for 4 seasons: Tasmania has some wild weather fluctuations. If hiking or out for the day, make sure to pack for all conditions.
►Check out our list of all of the best Australian road trip tips you must know before hitting the road!
The Best Travel Insurance for Road Trips
If you are travelling to Australia from overseas then make sure you have good travel insurance before hitting the road. We use Heymondo when we travel as it’s perfect for adventures such as hiking, surfing, road tripping etc.
For peace of mind while abroad, Heymondo is one of the most reputable travel insurance companies that will provide you with simple and flexible coverage. Whether you are into adventurous activities or simply looking for trip cancellation and basic medical insurance, Heymondo has you covered.
As a reader of The Road Is Life, you get 5% off your Heymondo travel insurance by using the link below!
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Hiring a Car
If you are flying into Hobart and need to hire a car then check out Rental Cars. You can compare all the providers to find the best price. They also have an option to include full insurance with no excess, which is highly recommended.
Cute wombat right next to the trail, Cradle Mountain
Hobart to Cradle Mountain – An Essential Tasmania Road Trip
Day 1 – Hobart to Cradle Mountain (via Mole Creek Caves)
You’ll have to make an early start to get the most out of this action packed first day. The easiest way to find the correct route is to enter ‘Great Lakes Lookout’ into Google maps.
After turning off the main highway onto Highland Lakes Rd, the drive starts to get exciting. You will find a number of nice places to pull over and admire the view as you ascend to around 900m altitude. This is known alternatively as Tasmania’s central highlands or lake country.
After finding the ‘Great Lakes Lookout’ the next stop to enter will be ‘Marakoopa Cave’. The ticket office for the caves is located near here however they do advise to book in advance. See the official website for details of the various tours on offer and how to book.
Go deep under the ground before climbing high above it!
From here you can head to your accommodation in Cradle Mountain or explore some other attractions. There are some great things to see and do between the town of Deloraine and Cradle Mountain. Check out the list below for some of the top spots.
- Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary – One of the highest rated wildlife parks in Tasmania and a great alternative to the busier parks in Hobart and Cradle Mountain.
- Tasmazia & The Village Of Lower Crackpot – A unique attraction featuring a number of mazes and a wacky model village.
- Sheffield – It’s about a 30 minute detour off your route but the town is very popular due to the beautiful murals adorning many buildings.
- Champagne and Bridal Veil Falls – Park at Lemonthyme Wilderness Retreat to start this hike. A moderate 4.8km return trail will visit both these falls. They are a little season so may have reduced flow in the drier months.
See Devils on the drive from Hobart to Cradle Mountain
Where to Stay in Cradle Mountain NP
Budget
Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain – The caravan park offers economy dorms and private rooms. Basic but you can use all the park facilities.
Mid-Range
Cradle Mountain Hotel – Attractive, well-appointed rooms and an onsite restaurant/lounge bar. Located in beautiful forest surrounds, about 1.8km from the visitor centre.
Luxury
Cradle Mountain Highlanders – Beautiful wooden cabins with wood-stoves and spa baths. Exactly what you need after a long day hiking and the perfect place to enjoy a glass of Tasmanian Pinot!
Day 2 – Cradle Mountain
The hiking around Cradle Mountain is possibly the most scenic and fun of any I’ve done in Australia. You’ll want a nice early start to make the most of it and definitely if you want to attempt the summit hike.
Your day will start off at the visitors centre where you can get a map of the hiking routes. The shuttle bus into the park leaves from here, tickets are included with a Tasmanian Parks Pass, which is required to enter Cradle Mountain.
Cradle Mountain from Dove Lake
See the official website for details on the types and costs of passes. These can be purchased at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre. Busses depart the Visitor Centre every 10 – 15 minutes and stop at a number of popular locations within the park.
The shuttle bus runs daily between 8:30am – 4:30pm with the last return bus departing Dove Lake at 5:30pm (don’t miss this bus!).
Best Cradle Mountain Walking and Hiking Trails
Enchanted Walk – The first bus stop after departing the visitor centre is the Cradle Mountain Interpretation Centre. This walk starts from here and is the easiest/shortest in the park. The 1.1km circuit passes through some beautiful rainforest scenery and along a pretty creek.
There are interpretive tunnels along the route that are fun for kids to climb through. Wildlife like pademelons and wombats can sometimes be spotted near the path. When you’re finished just jump on the next bus heading further into the park.
The Dove Lake circuit is a great short hike
Dove Lake Circuit – This is the most popular trail due to it’s accessibility and relatively level grade. The well maintained trail loops around the stunning Dove Lake for 6.4km. There are great views of Cradle Mountain over the water and you will also pass through some nice forest.
The trail begins and ends right where the shuttle bus stops. You can complete the loop in around 3 hours which allows you to combine it with one or two other short hikes.
Cradle Valley Boardwalk – This is another nice easy walk that is suitable for all ages. It starts from the interpretation centre like the above so you can complete that and then walk into the park before getting the bus back.
This trail takes around 2 hours to Ronny Creek bus stop or 3 hours to the Dove Lake stop. The terrain is flat and you are on a purpose built boardwalk for most of the journey.
The scenery varies between fields, forests and waterfalls, with great views of Cradle Mountain along the way. The section between Ronny Creek and Dove Lake is one of the best places to spot wombats.
The boardwalks are nice and easy
Marion’s Lookout – This lookout offers the most popular view of Cradle Mountain. You also get spectacular views of both Dove Lake below and Crater Lake on the opposite side of the ridge.
The most popular trail to access this lookout starts from the Dove Lake shuttle stop. You will turn off the Dove Lake Circuit and pass by Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool as you gently ascend up the ridgeline. This route is around 3hrs return and considered moderately difficult.
Another option is to take a shortcut from the Dove Lake Circuit. The Marion’s Lookout Link Track is a very steep trail that takes you pretty much straight to the lookout. It is grade 5 and requires a very good level of fitness as well as hauling yourself up almost vertical rock-faces using a fixed chain!
The lookout is located at around 1200m altitude so make sure to pack some warm clothes. The view from here is absolutely sublime and should be high on the list of priorities for your Hobart to Cradle Mountain road trip.
Marion’s Lookout, Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain Summit Hike – This hike is not for the faint hearted as it involves some seriously challenging terrain. The 13km trail involves climbing through a large and steep field of boulders and some pretty scary cliff edges.
The hike is classified as a grade 5 and takes around 8 hours to complete. You will need a good level of fitness and some solid hiking experience. The reward is spectacular panoramic views on all sides, you can even see Lake St Clair in the distance.
Starting at Dove Lake, follow the trail past Lake Lilla, Wombat Pool and Crater Lake to Marion’s Lookout. From here you can jump onto the trail that starts ascending towards the summit. You can either return the same way or follow the Face Track and then the Lake Wilks Track which brings you down to the Dove Lake Circuit.
This is not a suitable hike for young children and shouldn’t be attempted during wet or snowy conditions. Pack for all conditions and wear solid hiking boots. It will take most of the day and you can’t miss the 5:30pm bus back, so start as early as possible.