Activities
All tours can be booked through the reception office at Cradle Mountain Highlanders Cottages.
For more information see the Parks and Wildlife Visitors Guide to Cradle Mountain.
Self-guided hiking and day walks
The Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park offers a huge range of walking experiences all starting just a short drive or shuttle bus ride from your base at Cradle Mountain Highlanders. From a 5 minute stroll along wheelchair friendly duckboards, to a challenging, full day circuit or ascent of Cradle Mountain, there are walks to suit all fitness levels and time budgets.
cradle mountain rangers station and interpretation centre
Located just inside the national park entrance, this centre provides visitors with informative displays, an art gallery, videos, and a welcoming log fire! The Cradle Valley Boardwalk and some other short walks commence near the Rangers Station. The centre is open daily from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm.
national park ranger-led activities
At certain times throughout the year, Cradle Mountain National Park Rangers offer a variety of free activities including interpretive walks, campfire yarns, and slide shows for both adults and children. Besides being lots of fun, these are great ways to learn about our national parks, wildlife and cultural heritage.
devils @ cradle
Experience the mysterious world of the Tasmanian Devil at Tasmania's premier devil sanctuary. Wander through the sanctuary at your leisure or for a close up encounter join one of their guided tours, day or night. Devils @ Cradle is a unique Tasmanian conservation facility focusing on Tasmania's three carnivorous marsupials, the Tasmanian Devil, the Eastern Quoll and the Spotted-tail Quoll. Knowledgeable keepers will give you a detailed understanding of their lifecycle and the threats that confront them such as Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The sanctuary is located 800m from Cradle Mountain Highlanders.
park explorer tours
McDermotts Coaches offer an informative, two hour guided tour of some of the Cradle Mountain National Park highlights including Dove Lake, Waldheim Chalet, Weindorfers forest walk, a visit to the Interpretation Centre and Ranger Station, and the Pencil Pine Falls walk. Tours depart three times a day from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre (or they can pick you up and drop you off from your accommodation).
after dark spotlight tours
McDermotts Coaches operate a two hour wildlife spotting tour from their 4WD minibus. The tour commences from your accommodation at dusk and takes you into the Ronny Creek and Waldheim Chalet areas where you leave the bus for some short walks armed with torches and spotlights to look for wombats, pademelons, possums and quolls. Then it's back onto the bus for some spotlighting along the road, through the forest, and back to your accommodation.
cradle mountain canyons
Canyoning is the most exciting way to experience the World Heritage Area at Cradle Mountain! Climb, jump, abseil and swim through the Cradle Mountain’s canyons and gorges. For the fit and the brave, Cradle Mountain Canyons offers an adrenaline packed, full day adventure through Dove Canyon or Machinery Canyon. For the more faint-hearted, the Lost World Canyon trip is a refreshing and relaxing half day of walking and floating through a beautiful shallow section of river. This tour is great fun for families with children aged 8 or more, with some optional jumps and challenges along the way. The office is located near the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre just 200m from Cradle Mountain Highlanders.
scenic flights
Experience Tasmania’s spectacular scenery from the air with Cradle Mountain Helicopters. See sights you never imagined in the comfort, safety and style of your private, air-conditioned helicopter. With a range of tour packages available, you are guaranteed a truly magical experience. The Cradle Mountain Fury Gorge adventure takes you on a 20 minute flight from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Center down to the picturesque Dove-and Crater Lakes, then west to the entrance of Australia’s deepest gorge. From there, you climb up to the plateau to see the entire southwest mountain range, including Tasmania's highest mountain, then back past the Twisted Lakes with one last look at Dove Lake before returning to the Visitor Center.
horse riding
Cradle Country Adventures offers horse riding tours twice daily from November until April. The Speeler Plains ride climbs up through a changing mix of alpine eucalypt and myrtle forests to the buttongrass moorland at the top of the Speeler Plain. There, you can enjoy spectacular views of Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Western Bluff, Mt Roland and Black Bluff. The tour includes pick up from your accommodation and transfer to the stables at the base of Speeler Plain. The whole experience takes about 2.5 hours with approximately 1.5 hours in the saddle.
the cradle mountain wilderness gallery
Located at the Cradle Mountain Hotel, The Cradle Mountain Wilderness Gallery is an extensive 12 room experience that incorporates large art installations, exhibitions, displays and film. Bursting with artwork produced by Tasmanian artists and those from further afield, it is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing artists, the wilderness around Cradle Mountain, and the stories of Tasmania.
