Cradle Mountain National Park is one of the most visited sites in Tasmania. In the shadow of Cradle Peak, the area is full of wildlife and boast many different hiking tracks of varied levels and duration, including the multi-day Overland Track. It is definitely worth the visit on a trip to Tasmania.
Things To Do
1) Cradle Mountain National Park
The main attraction in the area is the national park. There are a countless number of hikes starting from various points within the park. Have a stop into the information center and they can help recommend a hike to meet your time allocation and fitness levels. We enjoyed the Dove Lake Circuit on our first afternoon in the park. On our second day we hiked from the Ronny Creek shuttle stop/parking lot to Crater Lake, Marion’s Lookout, across the Crater Plateau to Crater Peak and then back to the Ronny Creek shuttle stop/parking lot. Our original plan was to try and do the Cradle Mountain Summit, however, after making our way 1/2 way to the summit we decided to turn back, as I was not feeling comfortable with the very rocky terrain. The scenery and wildlife is wonderful. Also ask about any ranger led talks or tours, we joined a complimentary evening walk about wombats.
2) Devils@Cradle
Devils@Cradle is a sanctuary for the endangered Tasmanian Devils. In addition to Tasmanian Devils the sanctuary is also home to other rescued marsupials including a quolls and a pair of wombats. We took one of the evening feeding tours and found it very interesting. In advance of our tour we wandered around the sanctuary and enjoyed watching the younger devils at play.
3) The Wilderness Gallery
The Wilderness Gallery is located at the Cradle Mountain Chateau accommodations and features an interesting collection of photography. In under an hour and for a small fee you can browse the ten rooms and enjoy some of the works of art. Our favorite was a display of photos featuring scenery from Iceland.
Restaurant Recommendations
There are limited dining options in Cradle Mountain. If you are hoping to pack lunches for your hikes, be sure to stop at one of the major cities before reaching Cradle Mountain, as there are not many options.
We heard great things about the all you can eat buffet at the Cradle Mountain Chateau. Unfortunately, we did not have an opportunity to try it first hand.
The Tavern
We enjoyed a pint and a casual meal at the Tavern, which is located at Cradle Mountain Lodge. It appeared to be the most budget friendly option in town.
Accommodation Options
Cradle Mountain Chateau
We found all accommodation options that are located near the park were more expensive than we hoped. We elected to stay at the Cradle Mountain Chateau, and found the room to be nice and enjoyed the proximity to the National Park.
Another option near to the National Park is: Cradle Mountain Lodge.