Cradle Mountain - 4 Days

Cradle Mountain - 4 Days

4 Days
Moderate

Cradle Mountain - 4 Days

from $2,395 / person

Overview

The Cradle Mountain region is a World Heritage-listed wilderness of ancient temperate rainforest, glacial lakes, sweeping mountain vistas, and button grass moorlands. This four-day guided walk explores the very heart of it, wandering through moss-covered forests beneath the jagged peaks of Cradle Mountain, past cascading waterfalls and alpine tarns.

The route takes in a section of the iconic Overland Track and climbs to Marion's Lookout for breathtaking views across Crater Lake and the highland plateau. Wildlife is plentiful, with wombats and native birds a constant presence along the trail.

An experienced guide provides local insight at every turn, with comfortable hotel accommodation and chef-prepared meals waiting at the end of each day.

Highlights

  • Walk on a section the iconic Overland track
  • Explore mossy rainforest at the foothills of Cradle Mountain
  • Climb to Marion's lookout and enjoy views of Crater Lake
  • Spot native wildlife, including wombats, pademelons, wallabies, and echidnas.
  • Explore alpine landscapes on the Face Track
  • Stay three nights at the Cradle Mountain Hotel with an ensuite
  • Savour the flavours of Tasmania with chef-prepared, locally sourced dishes
  • Enjoy every moment with a knowledgeable and experienced guide.

Itinerary

Day 1

Launceston to Cradle Mountain + Pencil Pine & King Billy Loop
9 km3.5-4hAscent 270 mDescent 270 m

We meet at 9:00 am in Launceston, where we’ll begin the drive through rich fertile farmlands. After a quick coffee stop en route, we’ll drive another hour to arrive at Cradle Mountain, where the adventure begins. Today's walk is a stunning hike through the Pencil Pine forest. This enchanting trek passes through ancient groves of pencil pines, dripping with moss. Finish the day with a la carte dinner at the Cradle Mountain Hotel. The forest here is absolutely enchanting as the walk passes through ancient groves of Pencil pines dripping with moss.

Accommodation

4-star Hotel in Cradle Mountain

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

What's Included

Accommodation

4-star Hotel (3 nights)

Meals

3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners

Transfers

  • Private Vehicle Transfers

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

3

Auswalk Walking Grade

Moderate

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Expect some hills and longer walking days. A reasonable level of fitness will help you enjoy the experience.

View Fitness Guide

4

Days on the trail

6-12 km

Daily distance range

200-490 m

Daily ascent range

7/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

A forest-nestled hotel at Cradle Mountain provides the base for all three nights on this walk, well placed for the walking days ahead and immersed in the surrounding Tasmanian wilderness. Single travellers are guaranteed a private bedroom and bathroom with the single supplement.

What You'll Eat

Meals are well covered on this walk, with three cooked breakfasts, four walker's lunches and three chef-prepared two-course dinners included throughout. Breakfasts are served in the restaurant each morning before the day's walking begins. Lunches are taken out on the trail at some of Cradle Mountain's most remarkable locations, with trail mix and snacks always on hand. Dinners are prepared by professional chefs at the hotel restaurant, rounding off each evening in the forest properly.

Note: Please advise us of any food allergies or intolerances at the time of booking. If you have severe allergies, bringing some of your own snacks is recommended, as specialist ingredients can be harder to source in more remote parts of this walk.

More About This Trip

The walk both starts and finishes in Launceston, Tasmania. Launceston Airport (LST) is well connected with domestic flights from major Australian cities. The walk departs at 8.00am from the Best Western Plus, 3 Earl Street, Launceston, on the first day.

The walk returns to Launceston at approximately 4.30pm on the final day, with a drop-off at the same location.

Departure dates for this guided group walk are set for spring and autumn. Spring brings wildflowers into bloom across the park, with wildlife becoming increasingly active. Snow is still possible in October and early November, adding a dramatic quality to the landscape. Autumn sees the park turn from bright green to moody orange and brown as the famous Fagus trees change colour. Cradle Mountain's weather can change without warning at any time of year; warm layers and waterproofs are essential whatever the conditions look like at the start of the day.

This walk is graded moderate, with the exception of day two which steps up to moderate to challenging. Daily walks average 10.9 kilometres with around 325 metres of ascent and descent, and a terrain difficulty rating of 7 out of 10. Most tracks are in excellent condition, dry and firm underfoot, though some walks involve steep ascents and descents and walking days can run to between five and seven hours. Sturdy walking boots with good ankle support and grip are essential.

A regular training routine of three to four times per week, with some hill work incorporated, is recommended in preparation. Professional guides lead throughout.

You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

A detailed information pack and itinerary will be sent to you around six weeks before departure, covering everything you need to know for a seamless experience. In the meantime, our team is always on hand to answer any questions.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Departure

Select a fixed group departure - places are limited

Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

Notes

For our 2027 departures, we have added a 1-night stay in Launceston so you can arrive and enjoy a seamless welcome upon arrival in Tasmania. Check 2027 departures here

Cradle Mountain reviews

5.0
35 reviews
5 Star
34
4 Star
1
3 Star
0
2 Star
0
1 Star
0

Megan C
6 months ago

Eric, Dan and Pete were a great combination of supportive, knowledgeable and fun for this Tasmanian walking tour. The walks were challenging and invigorating with many options (hard or not so hard) available each day. I felt they all knew what they were doing and that they also had a great time, which made the whole walking party get along really well.

Edwina M
6 months ago

The guides were fantastic and adapted to variables such as weather, tight timelines, and customer preferences when needed. The walking routes were exceptional!! and a good variety. The addition of Conical Rocks to the tour was pretty special - I highly recommend this forms part of future itineraries.

Barbara K
6 months ago

Entire walk went extremely well. Everything is better than I thought because all the walks and activities were very interesting.

Robert G
7 months ago

This was an outstanding experience for us which was facilitated by the easy to use guide and notes provided by Auswalk. The accommodation choices made by Auswalk were excellent and we looked forward to relaxing after each walk.

Jane T
8 months ago

The guides were excellent and knowledgeable. They managed the itinerary very well.

Joe B
8 months ago

Our guides were great, helpful, friendly, know the region, flora and fauna, geography, geology etc. and passed on information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your luggage is transferred between accommodations for you. You won't need to carry anything more than a daypack on the track.

Included in the trip are five nights accommodation, all luggage and vehicle transfers, transfers to and from Launceston, five packed lunches, five cooked breakfasts, three à la carte dinners, a boat trip on Lake St Clair, national park entry, and navigation support via the Auswalk walking app, maps, and info pack.

The walk is graded moderate overall. Daily distances range from 5km to 17km, with some days involving meaningful elevation gain — the Face Track on Day 2 climbs nearly 500 metres. Most days have a shorter option available if needed. A reasonable base fitness is recommended, and Auswalk suggests being able to comfortably walk 17–25km in a day before you go. Good preparation makes a big difference — building in some hill work and back-to-back walking days in your training will set you up well.

Tasmania's weather is famously changeable, and Cradle Mountain in particular can experience all four seasons in a single day. Locals consider November to May the most suitable walking window, with spring and autumn being the most popular. Summer temperatures average around 18°C — pleasant, but warm clothes and rain gear are still essential. Check the Bureau of Meteorology before each day's walk and never head out without a waterproof layer.

Want to Know More?

The Cradle Mountain Experience

Wonder
Walk Face Track via Crater Lake to Kitchen Hut beneath Cradle Mountain
Circle Dove Lake through cool rainforest beneath glacier-sculpted mountain peaks
Catch a ferry to Narcissus Bay, then follow the Overland Track to Cynthia Bay
Wellness
Breathe alpine air on excellent graded trails through Cradle Valley boardwalks
Unwind in Pencil Pine Cabins with gas fireplace and wilderness views
Savour chef-prepared dinners with local produce and regional wine
Nature
Spot wombats, native hens and echidnas near Waldheim and Ronnie Creek
Wander Ballroom Forest beneath towering Myrtle Beech draped in luminous moss
Alpine moorland, button grass and Myrtle Beech forests around Shadow Lake