3-Day Cradle Mountain Walking Expedition from Launceston

Launceston, Australia

Explore the lakes, rainforests and waterfalls of the World Heritage listed Cradle Mountain National Park. This three day trek will see you hiking through pine forest and alpine meadows, the highlight being an ascent of Cradle Mountain. This wilderness is one of the most spectacular in Tasmania, come and experience it today.

The beauty, the peace, the exhilaration - all the atmosphere of Cradle Mountain, a magnificent World Heritage area, is available on this excellent three day excursion. Carrying only a day pack, your days will be spent exploring the small lakes, waterfalls and rainforests of Cradle Valley.

Climb Cradle Mountain and wonder at the 360 degree panorama of Tasmania's highest mountains. As the last stage to the summit of Cradle Mountain is over rocky scree, and quite difficult, it is optional and weather dependant. Each night you will return to the simple but comfortable Waldheim Cabins within the National Park.

3-Day Cradle Mountain Trek includes 2 nights accommodation in cabins, Goretex rain jacket and waterproof overpants, sleeping bag with inner sheet, National Park fees, all meals, bus transfers and secure storage for excess luggage.

Day 1: Launceston / Cradle Mountain (L, D)
Meet at 8:30am for gear check and briefing. After a scenic drive to Cradle you spend the afternoon exploring the small lakes, waterfalls and rainforest of Cradle Valley. Visit the magnificent Ballroom Forest, a temperate forest of myrtle and pencil pine and walk beside the cool, silent waters of Lake Dove. The next two nights will be at simple but comfortable mountain cabins.

Walking: Half day

Overnight Accommodation: Black Jack cabins

Day 2: Cradle Mountain (B, L, D)
You walk toward the summit of Cradle Mountain via an ancient glacial cirque, now known as Crater Lake and return over Crater Peak and the Crater Plateau. The summit of Cradle Mountain is above 1500m, so the weather can be changeable as you walk across the button grass plains and alpine herb meadows. As you climb you can view the splendors of the rugged Tasmanian Highlands. The final leg over boulders to the summit is optional and quite challenging before returning to your cabin.

Walking: Full day (6-8 hours)

Overnight Accommodation: Black Jack cabins

Day 3: Cradle Mountain / Launceston (B, L)
After a leisurely morning there is time to inspect the Cradle Mountain Visitors Centre and take a stroll on some of the short but very scenic walks near the Centre. Today is your day to relax and absorb the atmosphere of this magnificent World Heritage area. You arrive back in Launceston about 5:00pm.

Walking: Half day

USD $939.48

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Carol Marie M, United States of America	March 2010
Tam was the best guide ever! She was very informative about plants and animals in the area and her enthusiastic passion for Cradle Mountain was evident. She was also a superb chef. The trip exceeded my expectations.

Review by: CAROL MARIE M	March 2010
Tam was the best guide ever! She was very informative about plants and animals in the area and her enthusiastic passion for Cradle Mountain was evident. She was also a superb chef. The trip exceeded my expectations.

Review by: Jackson T, Canada	March 2009
Fantastic experience. What a beautiful area to spend three days in. The scenery surpassed our expectations. The hike difficult in sections, but nothing to put you off (though you do need solid boots and rain gear). Guide was excellent, and the overall value here was tremendous. Highly recommended.

Review by: Diane S, Australia	March 2009
This trip 'does exactly what is says on the tin'... and more, so read the product details carefully and what you read is what you get! If I were to sum up the 3 days in 3 words, I would say surprising, challenging and brilliant. Why surprising? I am an animal lover and so I was very happily surprised by how much wildlife we saw. I am talking about wild wombats, echidnas and wallabies that literally just went about their business (which was usually eating a tasty treat that they had found) and paid little or no attention to passers-by taking snapshot after snapshot of them. Why challenging? Do not underestimate the sections of the product details that states 'the last stage to the summit of Cradle Mountain is over rocky scree and is quite difficult'. Being fit would definitely be an advantage for this section, but the challenge for me at this part was not so much physical challenge as technical challenge. You will see the track disappear from in front of you and from there you have to negotiate and maneuver your way over boulders. There are pole markers in the rocks for you to follow, but really you make your way from one pole to the next wherever you can pick a way over the rocks. This is where I have to say having a guide for this walk was invaluable. Our guide was brilliant, calm and reassuring at all the right moments and helped us find our footing on the more 'tricky' parts, especially on the descent. And why brilliant? The landscape covered within the space of 3 days was so diverse, with wildlife and great food (cooked for you by your guide) thrown in as a bonus! We went from walking round Dove Lake with the ominous Cradle mountain looming in the background, to walking over open plains where you could see for miles, to strolling through rainforests and listening to the rush of waterfalls. Although I cannot honestly say I enjoyed the top section of the climb to the summit (I was 'freaking out' about keeping my footing so high up on difficult terrain!) I a

Review by: Anonymous	March 2009
Fantastic experience. What a beautiful area to spend three days in. The scenery surpassed our expectations. The hike difficult in sections, but nothing to put you off (though you do need solid boots and rain gear). Guide was excellent, and the overall value here was tremendous. Highly recommended.

Review by: Jason D	March 2009
This trip 'does exactly what is says on the tin'... and more, so read the product details carefully and what you read is what you get! If I were to sum up the 3 days in 3 words, I would say surprising, challenging and brilliant. Why surprising? I am an animal lover and so I was very happily surprised by how much wildlife we saw. I am talking about wild wombats, echidnas and wallabies that literally just went about their business (which was usually eating a tasty treat that they had found) and paid little or no attention to passers-by taking snapshot after snapshot of them. Why challenging? Do not underestimate the sections of the product details that states 'the last stage to the summit of Cradle Mountain is over rocky scree and is quite difficult'. Being fit would definitely be an advantage for this section, but the challenge for me at this part was not so much physical challenge as technical challenge. You will see the track disappear from in front of you and from there you have to negotiate and maneuver your way over boulders. There are pole markers in the rocks for you to follow, but really you make your way from one pole to the next wherever you can pick a way over the rocks. This is where I have to say having a guide for this walk was invaluable. Our guide was brilliant, calm and reassuring at all the right moments and helped us find our footing on the more 'tricky' parts, especially on the descent. And why brilliant? The landscape covered within the space of 3 days was so diverse, with wildlife and great food (cooked for you by your guide) thrown in as a bonus! We went from walking round Dove Lake with the ominous Cradle mountain looming in the background, to walking over open plains where you could see for miles, to strolling through rainforests and listening to the rush of waterfalls. Although I cannot honestly say I enjoyed the top section of the climb to the summit (I was 'freaking out' about keeping my footing so high up on difficult terrain!) I am still glad I did it. And since this part is optional I would have no hesitation in recommending this trip to friends and family who fancy a little taste of the outdoors with the home comforts of a cabin and a roaring fire to go back to each night. All in all, a fantastic break from the city which I would highly recommend!