"The crisp Tasmanian wilderness, combined with amazing flora and fauna, makes this a hiker's delight. Plenty of walking options suit any challenge level. Quality accommodation, including one of only two lodges in the world located inside a UNESCO World Heritage Area."
– Ian, Walking Holiday Specialist
OverviewOverview
Few places in the world offer such pristine scenery than the world heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. It's a paradise for photographers, wildlife and outdoors enthusiasts, but, most of all, it's a haven for walkers.
Filling a valley carved out by ice during several glaciations over the last two million years, Lake St Clair is Australia's deepest lake and the Derwent River's headwaters. It is ringed by some remarkable mountain peaks covered in snow for much of the year. We will walk the northern and southernmost sections of the world-famous Overland Track, plus some of the best of Tasmania's great short walks of this region.
Highlights
Walk the iconic Cradle Mountain walks, including the Face Track, Dove Lake and Mnt Rufus at Lake St Clair
Admire glacier-sculpted mountain peaks, river gorges, lakes, ancient rainforests and alpine heaths
Boat ride to Narcissus on Lake St Clair and trek back to your accommodation
Take in the region's best walking, including parts of the Overland Track
Excellent 4-star accommodations right in or next to the park and chef-prepared food
Itinerary
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What's Included
Accommodation
4.5-Star Hotel (3 nights), 4-star Hotel (2 nights)
Meals
5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 3 dinners
Transfers
Private Vehicle Transfers
Luggage Transfers
Ferry transfer
Guidance & Support
Itinerary & Walk Notes
Walking App for Navigation
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.
The walk starts in Launceston at 12.00pm Monday to Friday (6.30am on Sunday or Public Holidays). It is possible to fly into Launceston in the morning from Melbourne and Sydney. Although it might make sense to fly in the day before as there is a nice walk at Cataract Gorge which is very central to Launceston CBD that is worthwhile. We pick you up from either the airport or your hotel. Please let us know what arrangements you have made once you get closer to departure, so we can inform our transfer people.
The trip ends in either Launceston or Hobart on the last day at 5:30 pm. If you intend to return to Hobart this may incur a fee as this service does not operate 7 days a week. Please speak to the office.
If you decide to use your own car then you drive to the beginning of the walk and to and from the end.
The window that works best is October to May, though as with anywhere in Tasmania, conditions can turn regardless of season, so proper wet-weather and warm layers are essential year-round. Spring and autumn tend to be the most popular times to walk, offering more settled conditions, while summer is only slightly warmer, with average temperatures sitting around 18 degrees. Departures are available right through this window, and with 97% of walkers securing their chosen date, booking early for peak spring and autumn periods is worthwhile.
Trail conditions on this walk vary considerably across the six days, ranging from well-formed boardwalk through Cradle Valley and around Dove Lake to rougher, uneven alpine terrain on the Face Track's plateau and button grass moorland, with additional stretches through beech forest, rainforest with moss and lichens, and open sclerophyll forest featuring black peppermint and eucalypts; the optional Cradle Mountain summit adds scrambling sections suited only to strong, fit walkers with a head for heights, and overall the walking carries a moderate grading, meaning easier valley and lakeside walking is mixed in with genuinely challenging alpine sections.
Locals will tell you that November to May is suitable, but it's Tasmania so you need to have the right clothing. Spring and autumn are the most popular times to walk on the Tasman Peninsula. Summer can be a little warmer, however, the average temperature is only 18 degrees. Please come prepared with warm clothes and good rain gear (realistically year-round). See the gear advice section in our FAQs for more information.
See the Bureau of Meteorology’s information about average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.
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.
Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule
October 2026
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November 2026
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Out of season
Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.
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.
Stephen F
9 months ago
Excellent variety in the walks and very nice accommodation. The guides were excellent. They looked after the group very well including providing interesting information on areas we visited.
Nola G
9 months ago
Entire walk went extremely well. It was absolutely fabulous!David and Kathleen remarkable . So knowledgeable . Nothing was too much trouble .
Joanne E
last year
I really enjoyed the Dove Lake circuit, especially the light snowfall towards the end.
Anna A
last year
Lovely experience in the Tarkine. Very enjoyable trip, and appreciate the workarounds. Foods were of good quality.
Terry B
last year
The tour was fantastic and completely met our expectations. Auswalk was excellent with all their communications - prompt, clear and helpful.
Peter T
last year
As always, Katie was fantastic, adapting to changed conditions in the Tarkine, and ensuring all hikers were catered for . She was ably assisted by Chris throughout. Foods were of good quality. Overall, our walk went very well.
Roby B
2 years ago
This was my first time doing a group walk so I didn’t know what to expect. I can say that the trip exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed being immersed in nature and was able to challenge myself by taking some of the harder options which was a boost to my confidence. As a lone traveler, I felt included in the group by Kathleen and David’s way of connecting and engaging everyone with their warmth and senses of humour.I had such a wonderful time on my Auswalk led by David and Kathleen, I’m still on a high 3 days later! I can’t speak highly enough of their care, attention to detail and fun natures - I really hope I can do another walk with them in the future.
AnnaA
2 years ago
Kathleen & David did a fantastic job looking after us all and matched the walks to our capabilities, they went above & beyond their role as guides & our group of 12 randoms + guides all gelled together well making it a fun & action packed adventure.
Anna F
2 years ago
Fabulous variety of places and beautifully timed walks, sights, and refreshing repasts! Our walking guides Kathleen and David were just marvelous. They shared such an amazing combination of fascinating knowledge about the places we were walking and discovering, creative ways of enjoying it all, music and fun. Oh, and some beautiful yoga! We all felt so nurtured by the care and quality of the K & D's company, but also a freedom to be ourselves and learn. Both body and mind felt so much stronger afterwards. I loved it, it was quite life changing!
Joshua B
2 years ago
We thoroughly enjoyed our self-guided Auswalk trip to Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair - such an amazing part of the world to visit. The Overland Track Transport team were fantastic and the accommodation was excellent. The walk guides made it super easy to follow the recommended walks. We were very happy with how our walking holiday turned out. Thanks Auswalk.
April G
2 years ago
The guides were superb. Clear explanations and instructions. Kathleen was terrific, ensuring I was adequately fed (understatement!) on a vegan diet. I especially appreciated David's botanical knowledge. I was enthralled with the Tasmanian forests and subalpine areas, and learned a lot.
Margaret P
2 years ago
I was a little concerned that we would spend too much time being transported and less time walking. This was definitely not the case, as time on the bus was broken up regularly with info stops and great walking opportunities. And the mix of rainforest, open forest and coastal walks worked really well. Our guides, David and Kathleen were amazing guides, making sure we were safe, but also that we experienced the max possible. Whilst also sharing with us an incredible amount of information about the environment we travelled through
Jillian B
2 years ago
I didn’t know what to expect coming into this trip. The detail and care that went into it from the team to make it wonderful for all was superb. The guides were inclusive and welcoming to all. AUSWALK ensured there was sufficient information provided prior to departure. The guides were very knowledgeable, kind and enthusiastic. They were a large part of the reason the trip was so wonderful! Thank you all!
Margaret D
2 years ago
Tarkine trip. Good variety - beach walks, river cruises, rainforest, mountains..... Interesting commentary as we travelled re industries and other aspects of the area that we travelled through. David and Kathleen Heap were excellent guides. Nothing was too much trouble in terms of ensuing we enjoyed our trip. They were well organised and very attentive to everyone's needs e.g. food intolerances etc. They kept us fully informed of what was happening next (where we were going, meeting times etc). Selected walks were well chosen, and provided a variety of features. They were very knowledgeable about the vegetation we were passing through and passed this knowledge on to us. Not a negative comment, but maybe they could also include something basic on the bird life for those of us not familiar with Tasmanian birds (although the guides were always happy to answer any questions).
Lesley Jordan
2 years ago
From start to finish this was a fabulous trip. Our wonderful guides, Bec and Georgie looked after us like family, nothing was a bother.
The accommodation, food and walks were top notch. In particular, I enjoyed the walk along the southern section of coast from Pieman Heads. The rock formations are spectacular and the walk surface excellent.
I was impressed that there were two walk options most days to cater for walkers of varying ability.
A huge thank you to Georgie and Bec for making the trip. You both worked hard to keep things running smoothly and if it didn't your good humour kicked in. I can't thank you enough.
Carol Layton
2 years ago
The Auswalk tour exceeded our expectations only because not only were the guided walks excellent but we had such a great group of people, including the sensational team of Bec and Georgie, our guides. They were so much fun, a vital part of why the tour was so successful.
Gail Boserio
2 years ago
The beauty of the forest and rivers in the Savage and Pieman Rivers was astounding. It was so good to get to Corinna, be out of range and enjoy the great food at the lodge, the animals and the glorious forest - both from the walking tracks, the beach and from the boat early in the morning . The love that our guides had for the land and also the flora and fauna was impressive and infectious. Kathleen and David were great story tellers and knew everything about the environment and history of the places we visited. They made the trip a real pleasure. When walking g got harder at Cradle Mountain they could be trusted for sound advice and wise guidance. Thank you for an unforgettable experience
Michael Dadds
2 years ago
Thank you Auswalk for looking after Lisa and me so well on our Tassie walk recently. The guide-books were exceptional, the accommodation top-shelf, and the walking spectacular. This was a terrific trip. We’ll be back in touch soon!
Maddie B
4 years ago
I would definitely love to go on another Auswalk tour. Our guides Kathleen and David were outstanding and truly made such an effort to ensure we all enjoyed ourselves, despite different abilities and interests. I would love to do the exact tour again actually. The accommodation was great as was the food. Well done Auswalks!
Jo S
4 years ago
What a wonderful experience! Our beautiful, experienced and patient guides made this the journey of a lifetime
Ken A
4 years ago
What a wonderful holiday! Perfect weather and perfect company. A guide that likes cold water lake swimming was a definite bonus and swims in Lake Pedder, Lake St Clair and Dove Lake we’re highlights that will long not be forgotten! Food and accommodation were excellent but it was the attention to detail of the guides Kathleen and David that moved the experience from very good to outstanding. Other than their song choices the whole trip would have been perfect! (Just kidding) Because it was a wonderful experience we’ll sign up for another!!!
Margaret O
4 years ago
Having just completed the self guided Lake St Clair/ Cradle Mountain walk with Auswalk I have only the highest regard for how well the holiday was put together. From the outset the contact with the staff, mainly Sanyana was most efficient and friendly. There was the on again off again Covid related travel issues also at this time for her to deal with. The pre travel information booklets and maps were very detailed and all information for both areas was to be found within them.The lunchbox and eating utensils provided were an added extra. All our transfers provided by Overland Travel were excellent. All three drivers had great local knowledge and were prompt and friendly. The accommodation was fantastic and the meals were great. Certainly didn't go hungry. I can highly recommend Auswalk to anyone who is perhaps wondering if this is for them.I am well over 70 so don't let age hold you back. Thanks to all the Auswalk Team.
Nicola R
6 years ago
My Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair trip was the first time I had used Auswalk. Very impressed with their professionalism. Very good communicators. Any questions are answered very promptly. Very easy to navigated booking and payment systems and best of all - all the arrangements they had made for my trip in Tasmania ran like clockwork. A good team using good people to deliver the promised services. Once you are in their care at the agreed starting point, you have no further worries, just enjoy the wonderful scenery of your walk until they deliver you back to an agreed finishing point. very impressed, would certainly use Auswalk again and have no hesitation in highly recommending them.
Lucy de F
6 years ago
We were very happy with our walking experience and are very likely to book another walk in the near future. One thing that impressed us was the high level of attention to detail that had obviously been paid, so that we didn’t have to think of anything ourselves from start to finish but just go with the flow and enjoy ourselves. The level of detail included such things as opening times of every restaurant or information centre etc that we encountered, suggestions where to stop along the trail, detailed maps highlighted by hand with landmarks to look out for and even the name of the driver of the lake transport boat and suggestion to ask him to recite some local poetry! Even more impressive was the swift and caring response received from staff at Auswalk when early in the trip we experienced a small hiccup with food at the first accommodation provider, arising due to us being the first Auswalk group to stay there since the covid shutdown. I received a phone call within minutes of emailing, the issue was fixed the same day and I received another phone call to follow up later that same day. The staff were very obviously sincerely concerned, had a lovely, caring manner and did their very best to help. The drivers from OTT, Steve, Sean and Dan, were also very friendly, polite and helpful and we greatly enjoyed chatting with them and learned a lot about the local area and other places in Tasmania that we might visit. We also felt that they were all very good, extremely safety-conscious drivers with a lot of experience on the local roads as well as the walking routes that we were undertaking. Our whole family really had a great time and we only wished we could have extended the walk by a few more days.
Meredith S
6 years ago
We were a bit apprehensive doing it on our own but the maps and walking notes were great and it proved to be a wonderful alternative which gave us flexibility to do short or long walking days, different walking destinations in the areas we were staying and change our days to suit ourselves. The two accommodation offerings at Lake St Claire Lodge and Peppers Cradle Mountain were both wonderful, the service was great and the food was excellent, including our walkers lunch that was prepared for us in the mornings to take with us in our backpacks. The shuttle transfers worked like clockwork and it turned out to be a fabulous way to see that part of Tasmania. I will have to go back now to see the rest of Tassie!
David R
6 years ago
We recently completed the Lake St Clair/Cradle Mountain walk in Tasmania. All the arrangements by Auswalk went perfectly. The maps/walk notes etc were all detailed and made for trouble free walking and the routes were a good balance of challenging/easier. The scenery is spectacular. All the accommodation was of a high standard, we particularly liked Peppers at Cradle Mountain. We would highly recommend Auswalk and would certainly use them again for walking holidays in the future.
Fred D
7 years ago
Just completed the Lake St Clair/Cradle Mountain self guided walk with Auswalk. Would highly recommend this walk/company. Beautiful scenery, walks suitable for experienced/novice trekking. All arrangements went like clockwork, excellent documentation and maps. Accommodation all of a high standard
Elizabeth C
9 years ago
I have done many Auswalk trips and always found them well-planned and well run. I have never had any problems being a solo traveller and appreciate the opportunity to meet other people with an interest in walking and exploring the great outdoors. Additionally, I can go places with Auswalks that I could never visit independently, because of logistical or safety issues. I definitely recommend Auswalks Australian Walking Holidays.
Tim M
10 years ago
As part of an Inspired Adventures trip, we did a five day tour, incorporating four days walking and one day kayaking in The Tarkine and Cradle Mountain regions. Everything on the trip was organised to perfection, complimented by our absolutely fantastic guide, Hugh. Hugh did an amazing job, so friendly and organised. All on this trip had a really great and memorable time.
Thanks so much Hugh and the AusWalks team :)
Timmi, Inspired Adventures.
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