Tour from AUD: Price available upon request
This is your chance to leave everything behind and immerse yourself in the spectacular surrounds of Cradle Mountain National Park.
Over four days, expert guides will lead you across this ancient landscape, seeking out some of the park’s hidden highlights. Experience the rare beauty and diversity of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area as we traverse sections of the iconic Overland Track. This stunning wilderness region features a huge diversity of ecosystems, from glacially-carved lakes, ancient rainforests and fragrant eucalypt forests to golden buttongrass moorlands and beautiful alpine meadows. With an abundance of wildlife, you’re likely to encounter Tasmanian devils, quolls, platypus, echidna, wombats and the highly inquisitive black currawong, as you explore mountainous terrain and marvel at magnificent vistas.
We know travel is better when you can give back as much as you get. That’s why we have designed our trips around contributing, supporting and participating in local projects and community initiatives that have a positive social and environmental impact.
Each of our tours provide a unique way to get up close and personal with the destination and incorporate a fundraising target or donation into the travel costs, which enables travellers to connect, give back and travel with purpose.
If you are a charity, corporate or a private group interested in trekking Cradle Mountain, please email us at info@soulfulconcepts.com.
Accommodation: Hotel Grand Chancellor or similar
Upon arrival, you’ll have a chance to gear up before heading out on our main walk for the day – the Cradle Valley Boardwalk.
A nice introduction to your trekking challenge, we’ll head into the park along the Cradle Valley Boardwalk, following the course of the Dove River which features a vast assortment of native flora. From there we will head up to Ronny Creek car park where you are likely to see wombats grazing on the flat grassy plains. We then continue onto the historic Waldheim Chalet, where we enjoy a short walk through an ancient forest of myrtle beach and King Billy pine, before making our way back to the bus for afternoon tea.
If time permits in the afternoon we will undertake a series of short walks that will showcase the unique rainforest, waterfalls and magnificent King Billy pines that Cradle Mountain National Park has to offer.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Discovery Holiday Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Trekking distance: 9km (4 hours, easy)
This section of the iconic Overland Track will have you traversing across buttongrass plains and deciduous native forests, steadily climbing to the glacially formed Crater Lake. From Crater Lake the ascent becomes steeper and the views become grander as we continue onto Marions Lookout. In fine weather, the views are magnificent and far reaching – with Cradle Mountain itself dominating the panorama.
The track’s gradient eases as we continue across the alpine landscape to Kitchen Hut – our intended lunch and turn around point. After lunch, we wave goodbye to the towering dolerite cliff lines of Cradle Mountain, and return via the Horse Track. This unique aspect affords us views deep into some of the even more remote areas of the park, and is often less frequented than other tracks.
There is an excellent rocky outcrop which gives an elevated view straight down to Crater Lake far below. From here we descend back to Ronny Creek where our bus awaits.
After a long day of trekking, we return to our accommodation for another delicious dinner prepared by our guides.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Discovery Holiday Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Trekking distance: 10km (6–7 hours, hard)
We begin today’s trek at Dove Lake, taking the Lake Rodway track up and over Hansons Peak – which provides us with a completely different view of Cradle Mountain and the surrounding lakes.
The climb to the top of the peak is at times steep and uneven underfoot, and a chain is provided on nearing the summit to assist walkers. Once over the other side, we pick up our return route via the Twisted Lakes and Lake Hanson – remnants of glacial scouring from previous ice ages. These pools are very tranquil and are encompassed by endemic pencil pines and fagus. This section is normally very peaceful, a bit of a hidden gem, and we will find ourselves a nice rocky outcrop for lunch while we soak up the views.
If energy and time permit – an hour and a half extension can be made to visit the eastern face of Cradle Mountain, and the reflective waters of Artists Pool. We loop back to the Lake Rodway Track, completing the circuit before reversing our inward journey and returning to Dove Lake to meet the bus.
Tonight, we enjoy a delicious team dinner together.
Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Discovery Holiday Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Trekking distance: 10km (5–6 hours, hard)
Along the way, there is a great mix of terrain including scrubby button grass, sandy beaches, cascading streams and a very special rainforest known as the Ballroom Forest. We finish our loop atop the impressive formation of Glacier Rock, which provides us with a final vista across the landscapes we have explored for the past four days.
After lunch, we jump back on the bus and start our return journey back to Launceston. En route, we will stop in the lovely little town of Sheffield, where we will have time for a break and a chance to wander around the muralled streets. Returning to Laucestion at approximately 4–4.30pm. Please make sure you book flights that depart after 6:30pm.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Trekking distance: 6km (2 hours, easy)
*Please speak with the Soulful Travel team if you would like to extend your stay in Tasmania.
* Travellers are responsible for valid visas throughout the duration of the trip
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