Cradle Mountain & Lake St Clair Walk - 6 Days

Cradle Mountain & Lake St Clair Walk - 6 Days

6 Days
Moderate

Cradle Mountain & Lake St Clair Walk - 6 Days

from $2,740 / person

Overview

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.

View Fitness Guide

6

Days on the trail

5-17 km

Daily distance range

90-478 m

Daily ascent range

7/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

What You'll Eat

More About This Trip

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.

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

Walk with nothing more than a light day pack. Your main luggage travels ahead of you throughout the trip, handled entirely by your guides, so you're free to enjoy the trail without carrying anything beyond water, snacks and a layer for changing weather. Private vehicle transfers move your bags between properties, and a ferry transfer is included where the route calls for it. Everything arrives ready and waiting by the time you check in each evening.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Start Date

Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule

October 2026

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

Cradle Mountain reviews

5.0
18 reviews
5 Star
18
4 Star
0
3 Star
0
2 Star
0
1 Star
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Robert G
January 2026

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.

Terry B
April 2025

The tour was fantastic and completely met our expectations. Auswalk was excellent with all their communications - prompt, clear and helpful.

Joshua B
December 2024

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.

Lesley Jordan
May 2024

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
May 2024

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
April 2024

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

Similar walks

Frequently Asked Questions

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