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SELF-GUIDED
6 DAYS
Moderate
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.
At 11:30 am Overland Track Transport will transfer you from your Launceston hotel to Cradle Mountain.
The walk today through the valley up to Waldheims is a great area to spot wombats, native hens, echidnas and of course an opportunity to explore Waldheim Chalet. The walk at Enchanted Forrest is surreal, as you travel through a beautiful moss-covered rainforest featuring old King Billy Pines. We extend the day a little by taking the King Billy Track back to the hotel.
Walking: Easy / 5km / 2.5 hrs
Meals: A la carte dinner at your choice of restaurant at Peppers
Accommodation: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in ensuite rooms
Today’s hike on the Face Track is a world-class walk and is somewhat challenging, but the payoff is immense as awe-inspiring views dominate virtually the whole journey. The walk begins in a pleasant gully of beech forest and small waterfalls and ascends to the alpine plateau via Crater Lake and a button grass moorland. At Kitchen Hut, beneath the summit is a magic place to take lunch and admire the view over the lake and the magnificent valley below. Here’s your chance to summit Cradle Mountain, however it requires scrambling, a head for heights and a high level of fitness, so it is not recommended unless you are strong and fit. We head home via the Face Track passing Lake Wilks while taking in the alternate magnificent views out towards the Walls of Jerusalem. If you wish, there are further options to continue walking.
Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 12km / 6–7 hrs / shorter or easier option available
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and à la carte dinner at your choice of restaurant at Peppers
Accommodation: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in ensuite rooms
It’s another iconic Cradle Mountain hike today at Dove Lake, which has fabulous views of the lake and the mountains beyond. The walk makes its way through a magnificent cool rainforest around the lake and right up close to the mountain. The boardwalk through Cradle Valley is a nice contrast to the first walk as we make our way to Ronnie Creek where you can take the opportunity to dip your feet in the crystal-clear mountain water. It is also undoubtedly one of the best places in Australia to spot wombats. In the afternoon we move on from Cradle Mountain and travel to Lake St Clair.
Walking: Easy to Moderate / 11.2km / 4–5 hrs / short version available
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and à la carte dinner at your choice of restaurant at Peppers
Accommodation: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in ensuite rooms
Today we start the day after breakfast with a transfer to Lake St Clair at 9:30 am. In the afternoon we loop together three of Tasmania’s Great Short Walks. We start with the Platypus walk, with the hopes of spotting one of two of these very shy monotremes. The Aboriginal Cultural Walk and then the Watersmeet Track.
Walking: Easy / 5km / 2 hrs
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast and walkers lunch
Accommodation: Lake St Clair Wilderness Lodge in the upgraded Lakeside ensuite rooms
Today’s walk is a real adventure because not only do you get to be entertained with enlightened commentary as you are ferried out to Narcissus Bay on Lake St Clair, but you also get to walk the entire day on the south end of the Overland Track. This delightful walk takes us back along the lake to Cynthia Bay and the lodge. The walk starts out in an ancient rainforest, amongst a world of lichens and mosses. As the day progresses, we walk out of the Sassafras and Myrtle Beech and into the more open Sclerophyll forest dominated by black peppermint and other eucalypts.
Walking: Moderate / 17km / 5–6 hrs / shorter 11km option available from Echo Point
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast and walkers lunch
Accommodation: Lake St Clair Wilderness Lodge in the upgraded Lakeside ensuite rooms
Today’s walk is on the Shadow Lake circuit. Pademelons, Antarctic Beech Forest (Myrtle Beech), Alpine moorland, pineapple grass, cushion plants, and high alpine moorland, this is just the beginning of what you will see today. Among the highlights are the magnificent views as you walk, of course, the lake and the dense verdant Tasmanian rainforest. The walk is followed by a transfer back to Launceston leaving at 2.30 pm and arriving approx 5.30 pm. For a transfer to Hobart, please contact the office as this may incur an additional cost as the service does not run daily.
Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 13km / 4–5 hrs
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast and walkers Lunch
Both Wilderness Lodge accommodations are truly excellent and have a 4 or 4.5-star rating. Above all, the accommodation locations are superb. They are both on the national park boundary and provide a welcoming and comfortable base to relax and recount the day’s highlights. All rooms have their own ensuite. The rooms we use at Lake St Clair are Studio Cabins which have their own balcony and a king size bed. At Cradle Mountain lodge we use The Pencil Pine Cabins which offer a Queen sized bed, gas fire place and beautiful views looking out over the Cradle Mountain wilderness.
All the meals are chef-prepared by the in-house lodge chefs. Then included dinners are a la carte – with your choice of restaurant at Peppers Cradle Mountain either the Rustic Bistro or the high end Highlands Restaurant. The cooked breakfasts are the perfect preparation for each day’s walk. There’s an emphasis on local produce and wine from the region. We have not included dinner for the two nights at Lake St Clair Lodge to give you more freedom as there is an onsite restaurant and also a cafe.
Each day whilst you’re walking, you’ll be provided with a packed walkers lunch, and more importantly, you’ll get to eat it at a fabulous location on the track. A walker’s lunch is varied and may include a high protein type salad, roll or a wrap, muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit.
Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Lake St Clair Lodge is a 4-star accommodation right on the water at the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Reserve of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This place has outstanding natural beauty and is located on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake Lake St Clair. The rooms are large, well-appointed and have beautiful outlooks over the lake and the surrounding area.
Lake St Clair Lodge is a 4-star accommodation right on the water at the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Reserve of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This place has outstanding natural beauty and is located on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake Lake St Clair. The rooms are large, well-appointed and have beautiful outlooks over the lake and the surrounding area.
Lake St Clair Lodge is a 4-star accommodation right on the water at the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Reserve of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This place has outstanding natural beauty and is located on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake Lake St Clair. The rooms are large, well-appointed and have beautiful outlooks over the lake and the surrounding area.
Lake St Clair Lodge is a 4-star accommodation right on the water at the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Reserve of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This place has outstanding natural beauty and is located on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake Lake St Clair. The rooms are large, well-appointed and have beautiful outlooks over the lake and the surrounding area.
The holiday starts and finishes in Launceston, we pick you up from the airport or your hotel (more information below). While the walking terrain is mostly easy to navigate, there are a couple of days where the walks are long. On one of the Cradle Mountain hikes, there are some rocky sections and involves a very small amount of scrambling over rocks. There are other options this day. The walk is rated as moderate overall as there are options to shorten the walking on each day.
We can recommend that you incorporate an extra day at Cradle Mountain to visit other tourist attractions, enjoy a spa treatment, tackle more of the fabulous walking or simply rest and relax.
For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.
The walk starts in Launceston at 11:30 am. 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.
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.
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.
If you have any questions about the Cradle Mountain walks or any other of the walks or logistics, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com
from £ 1860
Please note there is a surcharge for High Season
from £ 1585
WITH USE OF OWN CAR. Please note there is a surcharge for High Season
from £ 1935
Please note there is a surcharge for High Season
from £ 1650
WITH USE OF OWN CAR. Please note there is a surcharge for High Season
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.
At 11:30 am Overland Track Transport will transfer you from your Launceston hotel to Cradle Mountain.
The walk today through the valley up to Waldheims is a great area to spot wombats, native hens, echidnas and of course an opportunity to explore Waldheim Chalet. The walk at Enchanted Forrest is surreal, as you travel through a beautiful moss-covered rainforest featuring old King Billy Pines. We extend the day a little by taking the King Billy Track back to the hotel.
Walking: Easy / 5km / 2.5 hrs
Meals: A la carte dinner at your choice of restaurant at Peppers
Accommodation: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in ensuite rooms
Today’s hike on the Face Track is a world-class walk and is somewhat challenging, but the payoff is immense as awe-inspiring views dominate virtually the whole journey. The walk begins in a pleasant gully of beech forest and small waterfalls and ascends to the alpine plateau via Crater Lake and a button grass moorland. At Kitchen Hut, beneath the summit is a magic place to take lunch and admire the view over the lake and the magnificent valley below. Here’s your chance to summit Cradle Mountain, however it requires scrambling, a head for heights and a high level of fitness, so it is not recommended unless you are strong and fit. We head home via the Face Track passing Lake Wilks while taking in the alternate magnificent views out towards the Walls of Jerusalem. If you wish, there are further options to continue walking.
Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 12km / 6–7 hrs / shorter or easier option available
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and à la carte dinner at your choice of restaurant at Peppers
Accommodation: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in ensuite rooms
It’s another iconic Cradle Mountain hike today at Dove Lake, which has fabulous views of the lake and the mountains beyond. The walk makes its way through a magnificent cool rainforest around the lake and right up close to the mountain. The boardwalk through Cradle Valley is a nice contrast to the first walk as we make our way to Ronnie Creek where you can take the opportunity to dip your feet in the crystal-clear mountain water. It is also undoubtedly one of the best places in Australia to spot wombats. In the afternoon we move on from Cradle Mountain and travel to Lake St Clair.
Walking: Easy to Moderate / 11.2km / 4–5 hrs / short version available
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast, walkers lunch and à la carte dinner at your choice of restaurant at Peppers
Accommodation: Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in ensuite rooms
Today we start the day after breakfast with a transfer to Lake St Clair at 9:30 am. In the afternoon we loop together three of Tasmania’s Great Short Walks. We start with the Platypus walk, with the hopes of spotting one of two of these very shy monotremes. The Aboriginal Cultural Walk and then the Watersmeet Track.
Walking: Easy / 5km / 2 hrs
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast and walkers lunch
Accommodation: Lake St Clair Wilderness Lodge in the upgraded Lakeside ensuite rooms
Today’s walk is a real adventure because not only do you get to be entertained with enlightened commentary as you are ferried out to Narcissus Bay on Lake St Clair, but you also get to walk the entire day on the south end of the Overland Track. This delightful walk takes us back along the lake to Cynthia Bay and the lodge. The walk starts out in an ancient rainforest, amongst a world of lichens and mosses. As the day progresses, we walk out of the Sassafras and Myrtle Beech and into the more open Sclerophyll forest dominated by black peppermint and other eucalypts.
Walking: Moderate / 17km / 5–6 hrs / shorter 11km option available from Echo Point
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast and walkers lunch
Accommodation: Lake St Clair Wilderness Lodge in the upgraded Lakeside ensuite rooms
Today’s walk is on the Shadow Lake circuit. Pademelons, Antarctic Beech Forest (Myrtle Beech), Alpine moorland, pineapple grass, cushion plants, and high alpine moorland, this is just the beginning of what you will see today. Among the highlights are the magnificent views as you walk, of course, the lake and the dense verdant Tasmanian rainforest. The walk is followed by a transfer back to Launceston leaving at 2.30 pm and arriving approx 5.30 pm. For a transfer to Hobart, please contact the office as this may incur an additional cost as the service does not run daily.
Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 13km / 4–5 hrs
Meals: Chef-cooked breakfast and walkers Lunch
Both Wilderness Lodge accommodations are truly excellent and have a 4 or 4.5-star rating. Above all, the accommodation locations are superb. They are both on the national park boundary and provide a welcoming and comfortable base to relax and recount the day’s highlights. All rooms have their own ensuite. The rooms we use at Lake St Clair are Studio Cabins which have their own balcony and a king size bed. At Cradle Mountain lodge we use The Pencil Pine Cabins which offer a Queen sized bed, gas fire place and beautiful views looking out over the Cradle Mountain wilderness.
All the meals are chef-prepared by the in-house lodge chefs. Then included dinners are a la carte – with your choice of restaurant at Peppers Cradle Mountain either the Rustic Bistro or the high end Highlands Restaurant. The cooked breakfasts are the perfect preparation for each day’s walk. There’s an emphasis on local produce and wine from the region. We have not included dinner for the two nights at Lake St Clair Lodge to give you more freedom as there is an onsite restaurant and also a cafe.
Each day whilst you’re walking, you’ll be provided with a packed walkers lunch, and more importantly, you’ll get to eat it at a fabulous location on the track. A walker’s lunch is varied and may include a high protein type salad, roll or a wrap, muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit.
Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Peppers is a 4.5 star luxury accommodation right in the middle of the National Park. The rooms have amazing views over the wilderness and have all the modern conveniences you’d expect in luxury accommodation.
Lake St Clair Lodge is a 4-star accommodation right on the water at the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Reserve of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This place has outstanding natural beauty and is located on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake Lake St Clair. The rooms are large, well-appointed and have beautiful outlooks over the lake and the surrounding area.
Lake St Clair Lodge is a 4-star accommodation right on the water at the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Reserve of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This place has outstanding natural beauty and is located on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake Lake St Clair. The rooms are large, well-appointed and have beautiful outlooks over the lake and the surrounding area.
Lake St Clair Lodge is a 4-star accommodation right on the water at the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Reserve of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This place has outstanding natural beauty and is located on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake Lake St Clair. The rooms are large, well-appointed and have beautiful outlooks over the lake and the surrounding area.
Lake St Clair Lodge is a 4-star accommodation right on the water at the heart of the Tasmanian World Heritage Reserve of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. This place has outstanding natural beauty and is located on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake Lake St Clair. The rooms are large, well-appointed and have beautiful outlooks over the lake and the surrounding area.
The holiday starts and finishes in Launceston, we pick you up from the airport or your hotel (more information below). While the walking terrain is mostly easy to navigate, there are a couple of days where the walks are long. On one of the Cradle Mountain hikes, there are some rocky sections and involves a very small amount of scrambling over rocks. There are other options this day. The walk is rated as moderate overall as there are options to shorten the walking on each day.
We can recommend that you incorporate an extra day at Cradle Mountain to visit other tourist attractions, enjoy a spa treatment, tackle more of the fabulous walking or simply rest and relax.
For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.
The walk starts in Launceston at 11:30 am. 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.
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.
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.
If you have any questions about the Cradle Mountain walks or any other of the walks or logistics, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com
Please note there is a surcharge for High Season
WITH USE OF OWN CAR. Please note there is a surcharge for High Season
Please note there is a surcharge for High Season
WITH USE OF OWN CAR. Please note there is a surcharge for High Season
We thoroughly enjoyed our self-guided Stroll 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 Stroll.
Just completed the Lake St Clair/Cradle Mountain self guided walk with Stroll. 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
Joshua B
We thoroughly enjoyed our self-guided Stroll 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 Stroll.
freodoc
Just completed the Lake St Clair/Cradle Mountain self guided walk with Stroll. 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