Cradle Mountain

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Cradle Mountain
Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain, Central Tasmanian Highlands
Elevation	1,545 metres (5,068 feet)
Location	Tasmania
Coordinates	41°41′4.72″S, 145°57′4.59″E

Cradle Mountain forms the northern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, itself a part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. It is one of the principal tourist sites in Tasmania, owing to it's natural beauty, and because it lies at one end of the Overland Track. The mountain is composed of dolerite columns, similar to many of the other mountains in the area. It rises above the glacial formed Lake Dove (934m), Lake Wilks, and Crater Lake.

The area around the mountain has a large number of day walks, as well as being one terminus of the Overland Track. The mountain is climbed very regularly by tourists, and can be climbed virtually year round. It is a strenuous 6.5 hour return climb from the car park. The climb up the rocky part of the mountain involves scrambling over large boulders for 2 hours. The entire climb is exposed to any bad weather which may arrive at any time. From the summit, (where there is a trig point tower) there are spectacular 360° views, encompassing Dove Lake, Barn Bluff and Mount Ossa.

The area is covered in a wide variety of alpine and sub-alpine vegetation, most notably including the colourful deciduous Nothofagus gunnii (Deciduous Beech) and the Mesomelaena sphaerocephala (Button Grass) which dominates the alpine wet sedgelands.

[edit] Getting There

There is a parking area at Ronny Creek, the outlet of Lake Dove, which is approximately 7km from the national park visitors centre. A free shuttle bus runs between the two. Check HERE for the timetable.

Apart from private transport, or walking the Overland Track, there are public bus services to the Cradle Mountain Visitors Centre. Many tour companies stop here also.