Cradle Mountain & the Lake St Clair National Park

The jagged contours of Cradle Mountain epitomise the feel of a wild landscape, while ancient rainforest and alpine heathlands, buttongrass, and stretches of colourful, deciduous beach provide a range of environments to explore.

Cradle Mountain, the start of the 65-kilometre (40-mile) Overland Track, is the northern end of the 161,000-hectare (397,840-acre) Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Tasmania’s highest mountain, 1,617-metre (5,305-foot) Mt Ossa, is in this park, while another prized national park, the Walls of Jerusalem, abuts its eastern boundary.

The magnificence of Cradle Mountain inspired Austrian-born Gustav Weindorfer to build a chalet of King Billy pine here in 1912 and work tirelessly for a decade to have the area declared a national park “for the people for all time”. His dream was realised in 1922, and today a quarter of all visitors to the State travel here to share his vision.

With icy streams cascading out of rugged mountains, stands of ancient pines mirrored in the still waters of glacial lakes, and a wealth of wildlife ensure there is always something to captivate you. The area is one of the most popular natural areas in Tasmania. Take one of the many short walks through the ever-changing vegetation of the shores and mountainside to gain a full appreciation of the magic of this area.

For more information please visit the Discover Tasmania website.

Image Credits: Tourism Tasmania, Pierre Destribats & Rob Burnett.