Luxury Accommodation at Cradle Mountain

Cradle Mountain luxury accommodation comes down to one thing above all: where you wake up. The mountain rises 1,545 metres above Dove Lake, and the better stays here put you among bush, rainforest and mountain ranges rather than behind glass in a town.

This page looks at what an indulgent visit can include, which premium tours on our site bundle in lodge stays, and when the weather suits a slow trip. For the full range of places to sleep, see our Cradle Mountain accommodation page.

The setting that makes a stay feel special

Cradle Mountain is a locality and mountain in the Central Highlands, in the northern half of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. About 66 people were recorded living in the state suburb at the 2016 census, so quiet is the default. The road in, Route C132 (Cradle Mountain Road / Dove Lake Road), runs south from the north and ends at Dove Lake.

The scenery is what you are paying for. The mountain stands above the glacially formed Dove Lake, Lake Wilks and Crater Lake, and it has four named summits: Cradle Mountain, Smithies Peak, Weindorfers Tower and Little Horn. Valleys around it hold thick temperate rainforest of myrtle beech, pandani, sassafras and King Billy pine, with dense, mossy undergrowth. Higher up, the colourful deciduous beech is a rarity, since most Australian native plants are evergreen.

Wildlife turns up without effort. Wombats are a common sight, and pademelons, Tasmanian devils and echidnas can also be seen. Tiger snakes live in the area too, so keep to the tracks.

What an indulgent stay can include

Our earlier accommodation notes for the area describe luxury chalets, a chateau, spa suites and premium spa cottages. Features mentioned include open log fires, sunken double spas, underfloor heating, bath robes, gourmet hampers and champagne on arrival. Some stays have a day spa or a fine dining restaurant. Treat those as the style to look for, and confirm what each place actually offers before you book.

We can point you to three listings on this site: Cradle Chalet Boutique Luxury Lodge, Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge and the Cradle Mountain resorts page. Our Cradle Mountain specials page is the place to ask about packages that bundle rooms with meals.

Not everyone wants a spa suite. If you would rather bring your own van or take a cabin, the site also lists Discovery Resorts - Cradle Mountain, with powered sites and cabins, and Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, listed with powered sites and cabins. Neither lists a price, so contact them for rates and availability.

Premium tours with lodge stays built in

If you would rather have someone else sort the logistics, several guided options include accommodation or sit at the premium end. Prices are listed as from, per the tour pages.

The four-day walking tour

This is the serious one. Based from Launceston, two experienced guides lead you across alpine moorland and ancient buttongrass plains, staying in comfortable lodges and eating well between days on the trail. It is described as serious walking in raw landscape, not a gentle stroll.

The photography workshop

Over three days you shoot Dove Lake at dawn and dusk, track Tasmanian devils at a wildlife park, and photograph moss-draped rainforest and heritage mountain structures. A professional guide handles logistics, and accommodation, meals and transport are included.

The charter and the two-day option

The nine-hour charter leaves Launceston, passes through Sheffield's mural-lined streets and takes about two and a half hours to reach Dove Lake, where you choose your own walking route. The two-day tour from Hobart runs in small groups of up to 13, with a lakeside lodge stay and a return to Hobart by day three. At AUD 445 it is the gentlest entry point, and we reckon it suits most people better than a long charter.

Day trips if you sleep elsewhere

Staying in a lodge is not the only way to treat yourself. Guided days include a Dove Lake guided hike with lunch (10 hours, from AUD 265), a Devonport sightseeing tour (6 to 7 hours, from AUD 270) and a day trip from Hobart (15 hours, from AUD 250). The Hobart trip is long, and a night near the mountain would spare you most of it.

Getting there and how far things are

Without a car, Tassielink buses run to and from Devonport and Queenstown/Strahan, and McDermott's run buses between Cradle Mountain and Launceston, though not every day. For wider trip planning, the Discover Tasmania site is the official state tourism resource, and our Cradle Mountain destination guide covers the area itself.

Best months for an indulgent stay

The area has a subpolar oceanic climate with cool summers and cold, very snowy winters. Rain is heavy all year and peaks in winter. Snow can fall in any month, with about 48 snowy days a year. The figures below come from the 1991-2020 normals, taken at 903 metres on the exposed western slopes.

For walking between meals, February is the driest month on these figures at 55.9 mm over 9 rain days, with highs around 20 degrees. January and March are close behind. If your idea of luxury is a log fire and a view of snow, July and August are the wettest and coldest months, with highs near 8 degrees. That suits a stay where you do not plan to go far.

Walking cautions apply whatever the season. Climbing the mountain itself is a strenuous return hike from the Dove Lake car park, with a recommended six and a half hours and boulder scrambling on the upper section. The whole climb is exposed to weather that can arrive quickly, and winter ice and snow make the upper slopes dangerous. Easier options include the Dove Lake loop, a 6 km guided circuit on one of our tours. More background is on Wikipedia: Cradle Mountain, and our Cradle Mountain activities page has more to do.

Frequently asked questions

Which tours include a lodge stay?

The four-day hiking tour from Launceston uses comfortable lodges, the two-day tour from Hobart includes a lakeside lodge, and the photography workshop includes accommodation, meals and transport.

When is the best time to visit?

February is the driest month and mild, with January and March close. Winter is wetter and colder, with snow possible in any month.

How far is Cradle Mountain from Launceston and Hobart?

Launceston is 149 km away, about 125 minutes by road. Hobart is 329 km, about 259 minutes.