If it’s your first time visiting Cradle Mountain and the kids are coming along for the ride, you might be wondering which walks are suitable for your family. The good news is, you don’t need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy the national park’s dramatic mountain scenery.
Whether you’re visiting with toddlers, school-aged children or teenagers who enjoy exploring the great outdoors, there are walking trails to suit a range of ages and adventure levels. Some follow pram-friendly boardwalks through moss-covered forest, while others throw in a few uphill challenges (but with fantastic rewards).
After years of guiding guests to Cradle Mountain on transfers and tours, our top tip for a successful family visit is to choose a walk (or walks) that matches your children’s abilities.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of our 5 favourite Cradle Mountain walks for families to help you find one that’s right for yours.
1. The Enchanted Walk
Distance: 1.1 kilometres
Time: Around 20 minutes
The Enchanted Walk is one of the best places to start when exploring Cradle Mountain with children. This short circuit winds through a beautiful tract of temperate rainforest, following Pencil Pine Creek past moss-covered trees, ferns and small cascades.
In our opinion, the forest has a storybook-like atmosphere, with twisted tree roots, fallen logs and colourful fungi to look out for along the way. We also get a kick out of the wombat burrow tunnel built into the track - it’s a playful element that kids always love!
As you walk, encourage the little ones to try and spot wombats and pademelons near the forest edges, as well as fungi that spring up during the cooler months. Remember to always observe wildlife from a respectful distance and never feed or touch Cradle Mountain’s native animals, no matter how cute they might look!
The Enchanted Walk is suitable for most ages and it’s pram and wheelchair-friendly for its first half. However, once you get beyond the bridge, there are steps, so having a baby carrier is recommended if you want to do the entire walk.
Shuttle bus stop: Interpretation Centre
2. Rainforest Walk
Distance: 430 metres
Time: 10 minutes
If you’re travelling with very young children or want an easy walk that still delivers beautiful scenery, this is an excellent choice. Beginning near the Cradle Mountain Interpretation Centre, this short boardwalk trail takes you into a wonderful forest of pencil pines and myrtle trees.
The highlight is Pencil Pine Falls, a picturesque cascade that tumbles along a meandering creek. We love the combination of rushing water, mossy vegetation and towering trees - it provides a quick “forest bathing” experience if you don’t have much time to spare.
The Rainforest Walk track is flat and even, with no steps or steep sections, making it suitable for prams, strollers and wheelchair users. That said, the wooden boardwalk can become slippery (or even icy) in cold or rainy weather. Push with care if that’s the case!
Shuttle bus stop: Interpretation Centre
3. Weindorfers Forest Walk
Distance: 750 metres
Time: 20 minutes
If you want to combine a beautiful nature trail with a dose of local history, the Weindorfers Forest Walk offers a glimpse into the early conservation story of Cradle Mountain. It’s a great option for primary school-aged kids who are inquisitive about wilderness protection.
The trail passes through a forest filled with distinctive Tasmanian vegetation, including ancient-looking King Billy pines and pandani. Depending on the season, you may also see the colourful leaves of Tasmania's native deciduous beech, known as fagus, which turns shades of gold, orange and red in autumn.
The walk is associated with Gustav Weindorfer, an Austrian-born naturalist and former lodge-keeper who, together with his wife Kate, helped promote the protection of this wilderness area.
Not to miss is Waldheim Chalet, a replica of the couple’s rustic home built using traditional bush carpentry techniques. Inside, you’ll find a visual and audio display about the history of the chalet and the influential lives of Gustav and Kate Weindorfer.
Shuttle bus stop: Ronny Creek
4. Dove Lake Circuit
Distance: 6 kilometres
Time: 2–3 hours
The Dove Lake Circuit is one of Cradle Mountain's most famous walks, so much so that it almost doesn’t need an introduction! This is a go-to option for families who are comfortable exploring for a couple of hours and want those signature views of Cradle Mountain itself.
The track loops around the glacial lake beneath the dramatic peak, passing through a mixture of forest and alpine vegetation (ask the kids if they can notice the differences). It takes in several viewpoints and the famous Dove Lake Boat Shed, a popular spot for photographs.
Although the distance itself is manageable, the track has uneven surfaces, steps and some short, steep sections. Because of that, it’s not an easy stroll for very young children and it’s unsuitable for prams, strollers and wheelchairs.
If you’re unsure about completing the entire circuit, you can opt for a short out-and-back walk from the Dove Lake shuttle drop-off point. We’d recommend walking anti-clockwise towards the boat shed, then return the way you came when the kids are starting to struggle.
Shuttle bus stop: Dove Lake
5. Crater Lake Walk
Distance: 5.7 kilometres
Time: 2 hours
If you’re travelling with older kids who are up for an adventure, the Crater Lake Walk is a great way to escape the Dove Lake Circuit crowds. It takes in some beautiful alpine scenery and a series of glacial lakes, including Lake Lilla, the Wombat Pool and the namesake Crater Lake (it’s located at roughly the halfway point of the walk).
The trail starts at the northern end of Dove Lake and there’s the option to take a short detour to the boat shed en route. However, it’s worth noting that the Crater Lake Walk includes sections of uneven ground and steep, uphill walking, so it’s a bit more strenuous than the Dove Lake Circuit.
Aside from Crater Lake (with its lonely boat shed), a highlight of the walk is Crater Falls, which tumbles into a gully flanked by sassafras and myrtle beech trees. The walk also passes through sections of cool temperate rainforest and alpine heath. In short, it’s a fantastic introduction to Cradle Mountain’s diverse vegetation.
Shuttle bus stop: Dove Lake
Tips for Walking at Cradle Mountain with Children
A little planning can make a big difference to the experience you have at Cradle Mountain, particularly if you’re travelling with young kids.
Read on to discover our top tips for exploring the national park with children, based on our extensive experience guiding guests here. We’d also recommend checking out our list of travel mistakes to avoid at Cradle Mountain.
• Dress for changing weather. Conditions in the Tasmanian highlands can change quickly, even in summer. Pack waterproof jackets, warm layers and sturdy footwear. Discover more things to bring on a Cradle Mountain hike here.
• Bring snacks and water. Regular breaks to refuel will help to keep children motivated, particularly on longer routes. We always bring a stash of muesli bars and fresh fruit.
• Make the walk an adventure. Encourage children to look for fungi, listen for birds, identify different leaves and notice changes in the landscape. They’ll have a lot more fun if they’re actively engaged in the natural world.
• Keep wildlife wild. Wombats and pademelons are regularly spotted around the park and this is usually a highlight for kids. Always keep your distance and never feed or touch them.
• Stay on marked tracks. Alpine vegetation and rainforest habitats are incredibly sensitive. By following the designated trails (and encouraging your kids to do the same), you’ll be helping to protect the environment and keep your family safe.
• Allow extra time. Walking estimates given here don't include snack breaks, wildlife watching, photographs or those curiosity tangents that kids are prone to taking.
Getting Around Cradle Mountain
If you weren’t already aware, shuttle buses now transport guests from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre to the trailheads, stopping at the Interpretation Centre, Snake Hill, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake.
So when you arrive at Cradle Mountain, park your car at the Visitor Centre and head inside to purchase your Parks Pass (if you don’t already have one). This is required by every visitor to the park aged 5 or over.
To use the shuttle buses, a $15.50 additional fee applies for anyone aged 18 or over. Alternatively, you can purchase a Cradle Mountain Icon Parks Pass, which includes use of the shuttle buses and a parks pass.
Current prices for Cradle Mountain Icon Parks Passes are:
• Adults (18+): $30.70
• Children (5–17 years): $12.30 (under 5 years are free)
• Family (2 adults, 3 children): $73.75
Once you have your passes, head to the shuttle bus pickup point. Be sure to check which stop(s) you need to get off at for your chosen walk(s). Hint: we’ve listed them underneath each of the walks detailed above.
Remember, you can hop on and off the shuttle buses throughout the day to explore as much of the national park as possible. If you’re visiting during school holidays or peak summer periods, there may be queues. But the shuttle buses operate frequently, so it’s rare that the wait is long.