Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park
Australia's deepest lake meets its grumpiest wombatsAncient rainforests, glacial lakes, and rugged peaks define this Tasmanian wilderness. Spot wombats near Dove Lake, trek the Overland Track, or watch fagus trees turn gold in autumn.
Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park stretches across Tasmania's Central Highlands, where you'll find Australia's deepest lake and peaks rising above 1,545 meters. Walk past wombats grazing near Dove Lake, spot Tasmanian devils at dusk, or climb to Cradle Mountain's summit for views across alpine plateaus. In autumn, watch the deciduous fagus trees paint the mountainsides in gold and orange, or trek the famous Overland Track through ancient rainforest and glacier-carved valleys.
Getting to the Park
Enter the park through Cradle Mountain in the north or Lake St Clair in the south. From Hobart, drive 2.5 hours northwest to Lake St Clair. From Launceston, reach Cradle Mountain in 1.75 hours west. The Lyell Highway connects both entrances, with winter snow sometimes affecting access.
Walking Trails at Cradle Mountain
Walk the 6-kilometer Dove Lake Circuit beneath Cradle Mountain's peaks, through rainforest and along rocky shorelines. Challenge yourself on the 12.8-kilometer Cradle Mountain Summit track - you'll need to scramble over boulders before reaching views across the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The 1.1-kilometer Enchanted Walk takes you through moss-covered forest where you're likely to see wombats and wallabies during morning or late afternoon.
Lake St Clair Area
Lake St Clair reaches depths of 200 meters. Local Aboriginal people named it leeawuleena. Start at the visitor center to walk the Watersmeet Trail, where the Hugel and Cuvier Rivers converge. Take a ferry across the lake to Narcissus Bay to access additional walking tracks that lead into the wilderness.
Wildlife and Plants
Look for 11 bird species unique to the park, including black currawongs. At dawn and dusk, Bennetts wallabies and pademelons feed in grassy areas, while platypuses swim in quiet waterways. Red waratah flowers bloom in spring and summer among yellow banksias and native orchids. Each autumn, deciduous beech (fagus) trees turn the mountain slopes yellow and orange.
Aboriginal Connection
The Big River and Northern Tasmanian Aboriginal nations lived between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair for over 10,000 years. Archaeological sites show evidence of seasonal hunting grounds, and many current walking tracks follow traditional Aboriginal pathways through the mountains.
Practical Information
A shuttle bus connects the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre to Dove Lake from 8 am to 6 pm in summer and 9 am to 5 pm in winter. You'll need permits for private vehicles during shuttle hours. Book the Overland Track in advance if hiking between October and May. Find cafes and ecological information displays at both the Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair visitor centers.
