An Amazing 1 Day Adventure! On this tour we venture to Tasmania's most iconic land mark, Cradle Mountain, for some hiking and siteseeing.
Guided by a local, during the hike witness spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes, spot a wombat or wallaby, and take your time breathing in the fresh air while admiring surreal landscapes. After, we will drop you directly back to your accommodation.
Days
- 1 day
Group size
- Small group
Start / finish
- Launceston / Launceston
- Launceston CBD, around 6pm
Return
- Launceston CBD, around 6pm
Transport
- Air-conditioned bus with an experienced guide. Accommodation transfers in Launceston from 7am.
Meals
- No meals included. There is a lunch break in the park, and stops at the ice creamery and raspberry farm on the way back, at your own cost.
Route
Included experiences
- Sheffield — the Town of Murals, with over 100 paintings on its buildings
- Cradle Mountain National Park — around four to five hours on the trails
- The Enchanted Walk — an easy 20-minute circuit along Pencil Pine Creek
- Dove Lake Circuit — a 6km track beneath Cradle Mountain, 2 to 3 hours
- Marion's Lookout — a 4km climb to 1,200m for 360 degree views
- Weindorfer's Chalet and Forest Walk — local history and ancient King Billy pines
- Cradle wombats — the famously friendly locals
- Van Diemen's Land Ice Creamery and Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm — stops on the way back
Itinerary
Cradle Mountain National Park is an area of iconic, World Heritage-listed scenery with a wide variety of walking trails. With around 5 hours in the park, we keep our walking itinerary flexible to suit our guests and the day's weather.
After departing Launceston, we enjoy a short stop in Sheffield — the Town of Murals, a quirky rural village and Tasmania's own outdoor art gallery, with over 100 paintings on the walls of buildings across town depicting the history of the Cradle Mountain region.
Arriving in Cradle Mountain National Park, we aim for around 4–5 hours to make the most of the trails. We begin with one of Tasmania's Great Short Walks — the Enchanted Walk, an easy 20-minute circuit following Pencil Pine Creek.
Today's main hike begins from Dove Lake, with two options. The iconic Dove Lake Circuit is a 6 km easy track (2–3 hours) that undulates around the lake beneath Cradle Mountain, passing buttongrass, myrtle, sassafras, fagus and King Billy pine, with epic mountain views. For keen hikers, the climb to Marion's Lookout (about 4 km, medium grade with steep sections) sits at 1,200 m and rewards you with breathtaking 360° views over the World Heritage wilderness.
We stop for a lunch break — rest by a quiet stream, watch the famous friendly Cradle wombats, or photograph the landscapes. Learn some local history at Weindorfer's Chalet and see the ancient King Billy pines on Weindorfer's Forest Walk.
On the return to Launceston, we refuel at the delicious Van Diemen's Land Ice Creamery and Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm, arriving back in Launceston around 6:00pm after an unforgettable Cradle Mountain day.
"This must be a National Park for the people for all time. It is magnificent, and people must know about it and enjoy it." — Gustav Weindorfer, from the summit of Cradle Mountain, 1910.
Reviews
4.8
Based on 39 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 39 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the guides, describing them as friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and informative, and appreciate the organised nature of the day trip from Launceston. The most frequently mentioned highlights include the walks at Cradle Mountain, particularly around Dove Lake and up to the lookouts, along with the stop at the mural town of Sheffield and a cheese tasting on the return journey. Several reviewers note that weather varied considerably, ranging from warm and sunny days with mountain views to cloudy, drizzly or snowy conditions that altered which walks could be completed. The most common caveat relates to the weather affecting visibility and walking options, with one reviewer also suggesting the Dove Lake track was hillier than they would have liked. One review appears to describe unrelated trips and a less experienced guide, which is not representative of the other feedback.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“Great tour.”
Jess is a great guide, full of passion and knowledge about Cradle Mountain and its animals — helpful and funny too. The weather was cold and rainy, but she still offered hiking options and took us to see wombats and other wildlife, and provided thick raincoats to keep us warm and dry. I'd love to come back and see Cradle Mountain in the sunshine!
“Plenty of choice and amazing views”
Our guide was fantastic — plenty of knowledge and expertise made it an unforgettable experience — with a great range of hikes and difficulty levels to choose from. Couldn't recommend it enough.
“Great way to spend day at cradle mountain and enjoy the views”
A great tour and an easy way to experience Cradle Mountain that leaves you wanting more. Elaine, our guide, was helpful and patient all day, and there were two hike choices depending on fitness (she helped us decide). We even stopped to see wombats. The tour ran promptly 7:30am to 5:30pm, everything on schedule, and good weather made the views even better. Well worth it.
I had Steve as our guide — punctual, incredibly informative about the history and surroundings, and a genuinely lovely guy. I was lucky to be in a small group of five, which made it feel personal, and we spotted lots of wombats (Steve even introduced us to Kevin, the local raven who eyes everyone's food!). The chicken wrap lunch with a hot drink and extra goodies was a thoughtful touch. A wonderful day, especially as a solo traveller — I'd love to come back and do my own walks.
“Cradle Mountain with Damian”
A beautiful trip to Cradle Mountain! Our guide Damian shared interesting information en route and offered specific walk suggestions to suit a variety of skill levels. We did the Dove Lake circuit and really enjoyed it — Damian was a thoughtful, knowledgeable guide who made it a very pleasant experience.
“Unforgettable experience”
An amazing, fun-filled trip. Our guide/driver Damien was absolutely amazing — we learned heaps about Launceston, Tasmania and Australia. My wife and I took the Marion's Lookout trail for a truly unforgettable experience; it's worth the hike. Highly recommend the team.
“Lucky Weather and Encounters”
A great option if you're up for a rewarding hike. A couple of things to note (both clear on the site): there are no cancellations after booking, and be prepared for possible strong winds and rain that can affect your gear and route. We were lucky with good weather and visited Marion's Lookout, with its great view of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake, then took a flatter route back past ponds, rivers and forests — letting us enjoy the diverse scenery without too much exhaustion, even as inexperienced hikers. A lucky encounter with wombats and wallabies afterwards was the perfect finish.
“Fabulous experience”
A fantastic tour. Graeme was an excellent guide, full of knowledge, with clear instructions for our hike up the mountain — among the best day tours we've ever taken. We took the option up to Marion's Lookout with our 10-year-old; challenging in parts but done fairly comfortably, and the chained link path down was relatively straightforward. Anyone reasonably fit can do it — the route is clearly marked with boardwalks and steps. Highly recommend this day trip; you'll sleep well afterwards!
“Great tour with a lot of hiking opportunities”
The best part of this tour is choosing which Cradle Mountain trails to hike — you don't walk as a group, so there's no waiting for slower walkers. It's a bit hectic, but you can do both the Marion's Lookout hike and the walk around the lake.
“Great overview of Cradle Mt”
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the region's Indigenous and modern history and kept us on a tight schedule so we could maximise the day. He provided extra clothing if needed and recommended the trails best suited to our individual needs.
“A great way to see Cradle Mountain from Launceston”
I was pleased to discover this tour was available, as Cradle Mountain is a long way west of Launceston, but it's worth the long drive (especially if someone else is doing the driving). The stop at Sheffield is definitely worth it, the painted murals impressive. We had 4 hours at the National Park. I didn't feel like the climb to the lookout on Mt Marion, so did the lake walk, but I did manage to get up to Wombat Peak overlooking Wombat Pool and Lake Lilla. The weather was unusually good, warm and sunny.
The driver/guide Graeme deserves a special mention. Not only was he tremendously chatty and full of information about all the places we were seeing, he also personally helped me out with a difficult situation. When I woke up the morning of the tour, I discovered I had been robbed overnight at the hostel, and Graeme slipped me some money to buy food for lunch. Immensely grateful.
“Day Trip”
While in Launceston we decided to take a day trip to Cradle Mountain which included a stop at the bakery in Elizabeth and the murals in Sheffield. It was great to see the murals, the artists are very talented. We had light snowfall when we got to the Rangers Station so didn't get to do the walk near there. We headed to Dove Lake and as it was still snowing only 4 of the group decided to do the 6km walk around the lake, the rest of us opted to stay with the tour guide and did the Glacier Rock and Boat shed walk instead. As we had time while waiting for the others Tony took us to Waldheim Chalet where we got an insight into the Cradle Mountain area and the history of the Chalet. Even though it was snowing on and off we had a wonderful time and for me the snow made it even more wonderful. We will definitely go back and do the Dove Lake walk.
Shout out to Tony our driver and guide who was great.
“Great hiking & sightseeing tour”
I was there in April and had Rod as our guide for the day. He was friendly, helpful and patient.
Unfortunately for us that day, the weather was cloudy and gray with slight drizzle. Rod still tried to make the day as enjoyable as possible.
We did a stop in Sheffield before going to Cradle Mountains. We did a nice hike around the lake. No mountain view that day :(
On the way back we stopped by a cheese factory to sample some cheese. I bought a few home.
All in all, I enjoyed the day. Met very nice people. And I know I will need to be back to see the Cradle Mountains again!
“Knowledgable guide”
Graeme was a great guide and good driver. We were lucky to have decent weather. Visited Sheffield quickly, Ashfield cheese shop/factory. Organized trip
“Day trip”
Left Launceston and stopped in the mural town of Sheffield on the way to Cradle Mountain. Lovely little town and the murals were wonderful. We reached Cradle mountain and went for a walk along dove Lake. Lunch which was supplied was eaten in a hut. This was followed by a look through Waldheim Chalet and a fantastic forest walk through Weindorfers Forest. on the drive back to Launceston we stopped at Ashgrove Cheese. Our bus driver Ben was great, very informative and friendly.
“Port Arthur and Tasman Peninsular”
We did three trips with Tours Tasmania and enjoyed them all, mainly thanks to the knowledgeable, passionate and funny guide-drivers. Graeme took us to Cradle Mountain — nothing was too much trouble, and when we hadn't seen a wombat in the park he stopped for one he spotted on the way back so we could photograph it. Mark guided us via Wineglass Bay, and Clint and Simon took us to Port Arthur, all clearly in love with Tasmania. I'd recommend Tours Tasmania — they made our stay a joy.
“Excellent one day tour! Highly recommended!”
I enjoyed myself during this tour. The guide (Rod) was friendly, helpful and informative. Although it's slightly challenging, but I'm glad I made it to Marions Lookout because the view was spectacular, with a great view of the lake and the Cradle Mountain. For those who are after an easy walk, there's an alternative walking route along the lake which I heard was also awesome.
BONUS: Free tasting at Ashgrove Cheese! You can also buy yourself an ice cream here to reward yourself after a long day.
“Insanely good fun”
Really enjoyed this trip. You guys did a great job - will recommend. Thanks
“The trip was great”
Really enjoyed it and all was very well organised.
I can't think of any suggestions to improve :)
“Overall it was ok”
Our experience overall was good. The catamaran trip we did with Captain Phil was absolutely incredible. The boat was very well maintained and the meals were prepared exactly to the menu provided and the itinerary was catered around the wind, to make the sailing as smooth as possible. Phil and his wife/first mate/chef Deb were awesome in all regards, hospitable, informative, fun, and professional. We had a chance to swim with turtles and beautiful fish explore coral gardens, and had a close encounter with a humpback whale cruising by our boat at night in a small cove. We have been traveling for many months now and have not been to a more spectacular beach than White Haven.
The trip to Uluru was equally as stunning but very different than the sailing trip. Unfortunately our guide wasn't the most experienced or informative. She didn't guide us through any of the walks at Uluru and only accompanied us for parts of the Kata Tjuta walk. We were pushed off our original camp site by another group and they took our firewood leaving us cold through the night. We would still recommend the trip and the booking process, just thought our particular guide could have been a bit more seasoned.
“Fantastic Experience”
We loved our trip to Cradle Mountain. The guide was very knowledgeable of the area and kept us informed all day of things to see and do. We were lucky and the weather on the day was perfect for this tour. We also loved the places we stopped at along the way there and back.
“Love our guide”
I really enjoyed the tour with Tours Tasmania today, Sunday, May 27. Our driver was amazing and very nice. He was very informative and he tried his best to accommodate everybody. I would book more tours with them when I come back to Tasmania.
“Great trip”
This trip started early. Graham was very informative and gave us a lot of information about the early European settlers and also about the first Australian history and liks to the land. The walk around Dove Lake was good however would like a better track or one that is not as hilly.
“A great day at Cradle Mountain”
My husband and I booked the Cradle Mountain day tour as we only had a week in Tasmania, and it gives you four hours in the park. Graeme picked us up on time (in shorts, despite 7 degrees!) and pointed out Launceston history as he collected our group of 12, then explained the day. After a stop at the Elizabeth Town bakery for lunch supplies and a look at Sheffield's murals, we reached Cradle Mountain (Tours Tasmania loan raincoats and beanies), saw our first wombat, did a short rainforest walk, then Graeme explained the options at Dove Lake. We hiked to Marion's Lookout — cold and snowy up top, so dress warmly — then did a lake circuit, dried off at a wilderness lodge and stopped at a cheese factory on the scenic route back. A great way to see Cradle Mountain; Graeme was friendly and knowledgeable, and pointed out every wombat all day.
“Two days with tours tasmania”
Two days with Tours Tasmania. We started in Hobart with a young guide who was very good on the history of the areas and very attentive — when I couldn't finish the climb to the Wineglass lookout he made sure I got back safely. The next morning Graham took us to Cradle Mountain on a perfect day for fantastic pictures (you'll need waterproof hiking boots — the trails were icy and snow-covered, melting in the sun). They provided coats, gloves and hats for those without, with well-placed stops for lunch, plus a winery and cheese shop. A great experience.
“Great day out”
My girlfriend and I did the Cradle Mountain day trip from Launceston, and despite rain for almost the whole walk and freezing temperatures by the lake, it was an awesome, informative experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable, and the small group made it intimate (though from the back of the bus it was sometimes hard to hear — a small speaker system would help). Even in poor weather this is well worth adding to your trip — just make sure you wear appropriate gear, as it gets incredibly cold.
“Cradle Mountain Day Tour from Launceston”
A fantastic experience — Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake are such a special area. Drizzly rain shortened our lake walk, but that was fine as we did other shorter tracks and saw beautiful sights; the flora and fauna and misty mountains were spectacular. I want to go back and see more. We were very well looked after by Tours Tasmania.
“Cradle Mountain Day of Amazing”
An early start and a honk from the bus. Our guide Graham seemed loud at first, but we soon realised it was a good voice to have — he told us about Launceston, the farms and every town we passed, and what to look out for, always clear on timings and facilities at each stop. We got a first walk in the national park (Graham walks quick, but there was a lot to see), then Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain, where he made sure everyone was prepared and we double-checked the safe, easy route for my pregnant wife. Cradle Mountain was amazing — a beautiful Dove Lake walk under a cloudless 22-degree sky. Graham made the day amazing and helped everyone as much as he could. A must.
“Amazing tour - highly recommended”
I booked my uncle on this tour as Cradle Mountain is one of my favourite places in Australia, and he had an amazing time. It was a small group and the guide was incredibly passionate and knowledgeable, even finding wombats and a platypus — the latter a rare wild sighting. Highly recommend. Thanks for making my uncle's experience as memorable as my own.
“So Helpful”
Right from the start, Jenny and Ellen at Tours Tasmania were so helpful — sorting out a double booking on my part and rearranging a cancelled tour quickly and without fuss. Heavy snow closed the roads to Wineglass Bay, so Clinton took me to other equally interesting places instead. Graham (Cradle Mountain) and Simon (Mt Field) were also fantastic — they know their areas, history and plant life well, and you can tell they're passionate about what they do. I have no hesitation recommending this company. Job well done.
“Three excellent day trips!”
A friend and I did three excellent trips with Tours Tasmania in May. The Tahune Airwalk and Hastings Caves trip with Clinton was great fun — knowledgeable and full of local stories (the caves were some of the most impressive I've seen). The Freycinet and Wineglass Bay trip with cheerful Pippa turned a grim, rainy start into a wonderful day, cleverly arranging the walks to dodge the worst weather. But my favourite was Cradle Mountain with Elly — good (if chilly) weather and a beautiful Dove Lake walk, with Elly knowledgeable about every town we passed and Tours Tasmania thoughtfully providing coats, hats and gloves that made all the difference. We even saw wild wombats up close. I can happily recommend all three, and especially the wonderful guides.
“Great way to explore Tassie!”
I had a great time on both the Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay tours. Ellie is a great guide — fun, knowledgeable and easy to talk to. I'm usually not a fan of guided tours, but these offered a good balance of guidance and independent exploration. Definitely recommend both!
“High qlty and fun tours”
We did Wineglass Bay out of Hobart with Pippa and Cradle Mountain out of Launceston with Graeme — both guides super knowledgeable, fun and genuinely keen for everyone to have a good day. Beyond the headline sights, each tour included extra stops (a cheese factory, a brewery, lovely towns and beaches). Excellent value, and because the tours run longer than most (around 7am to 7pm) you get much more time in the national parks — ample for a 3-hour walk at Cradle Mountain. Highly recommend.
“Awesome day tour with a wonderful guide to match!”
Two one-day tours to both Cradle Mountain and Wineglass Bay, and a great time — structure where you need it, plus the freedom to explore at your own pace at each site. Special shout-out to our guide Ellie: fun, knowledgeable, easy-going and a real joy to be around. Would definitely recommend Tours Tasmania day tours to anyone with a few days in Tassie!
“great experience”
A group of friends and I did the Wineglass Bay and Cradle Mountain tours from Launceston. Huge thanks to our guide Ellie, who made it so much fun — really knowledgeable, and the small groups keep it from feeling too touristy. I appreciated the options at each location, and definitely do the hike up to the Cradle Mountain lookout — the view is worth the walk!
“Amazing day at Cradle Mountain”
Unlike other companies that rush around cramming in pointless stops, this was a relaxed, enjoyable day focused on spending time at Cradle Mountain — the way it should be. The driver was interesting and enthusiastic, and kind when I started to feel sick on the drive. One of my favourite experiences from my whole month in Australia. Thank you!
“Overall a pleasant experience”
I did both the Wineglass Bay and Cradle Mountain tours, and both were pleasant with lots of time to explore and friendly guides. My one small suggestion would be to allow a full day at Cradle Mountain to reach the peak (though I'm a slightly faster walker than most). In general I'd recommend the tours — plenty of opportunity to explore on your own, and handy if you'd rather not deal with a car.
“Will recommend to friends”
Great tour, have a lovely day out in Cradle Mountain.
Good value for money - thanks guys
“Cradle Mountain Day Tour from Launceston - Excellent”
I joined the Cradle Mountain day tour from Launceston at the last minute and am so glad I did — one of the highlights of my trip. Good value, informative and fun, mainly thanks to our fantastic guide, who gave excellent commentary the whole 2-hour drive, very knowledgeable about the history, flora, fauna and wildlife and clearly passionate about his job. Once in the park we had four hours to wander, but he briefed us on the walks and levels, and I even bumped into him walking up to Marion's Lookout. A great day out — relaxed, well organised and led by a brilliant guide. Thank you Tours Tasmania!
