Cradle Mountain OMG! Hobart to Cradle Active Day Trip
Description
Want the biggest, boldest day trip from Hobart? Join our small group road trip to one of the world’s most breathtaking places — Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. We leave early for a fun, safe, efficient full-day adventure focused entirely on Cradle Mountain. No overnight stay needed — just bring your day pack. Enjoy a stunning drive through Tasmania’s heart: charming towns, farmland, forest, mountains, lakes and rivers. You’ll see more of the island in one day than most do in a week — with thoughtful commentary and plenty of quiet time to take it all in. At Cradle Mountain, we guide you inside the National Park for up to 5 hours — perfect for hiking, photographing, or simply breathing in the alpine magic. We depart Hobart at 6am and return by 9pm. Book direct with Sam at Derwent Experience. Discounts may apply for groups or multiple bookings.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our guests will enjoy up to five hours inside Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park - at the Cradle Mountain / Dove Lake end. This time will go quickly as either independently, or with your Driver/Guide, you will walk the trails, hike up to high lookouts, walk around Dove Lake, visit the Interpretation Centre or just sit down and soak up the natural beauty (or a comfy chair by the fire at Cradle Mountain Lodge.) This "Big Day Out" is for lovers of nature who want to access somewhere remote but without the costs and extra packing associated with accommodation, overnight stays.
we stop in delightful Deloraine for breakfast at Mumma Buzz cafe - a fantastic menu, a beautiful country town cafe. A good breakfast here at 9am will power you through the day.
On the return leg to Hobart, we enjoy our evening meal at Empire Hotel - a great menu and really nice food, serving Travellers and Locals here for over 150 years.
When we cross in the morning - signifies leaving Greater Hobart and when we cross it again in the evening, it means we are almost back to your comfortable bed after an awesome day. Yay!
We get close to here on our first stop in the picturesque village of Ross
cross over - entrance to Ross
walk past on morning stroll
Our morning "comfort" stop. 15-20 minutes here to stretch, stroll, toilet. One of Tasmania's prettiest Towns. The Village Bakery is also a chance to grab coffee/muffin/pie to go, and also one of the best gift shops for Tasmanian gifts anywhere - if you need a Tassie Devil, postcard or fridge magnet you can easily grab your gift or memento here
up to 3.5 hours allow for this hike.This is one of the hiking trail options available - classified as moderate
Allow up to 3.5 hours for this hike. This is one of the hiking trail options available - classified as difficult
THis is where our brilliant day hikes finish and I meet you. This is where we always see Wombats as well.
Yes! this is the main focus of our wonderful, Nature and wilderness focused day. Approx 5 hours in total to experience the highlights as part of a guided experience
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We start early and return late in the day where we can drop you back to the same location. Pickup details are confirmed with you 24-48 hours prior by SMS/WhatsApp or through Viator. Sometimes we ask guests to walk a short distance to consolidate a pickup. This tour requires a minimum of 4 passengers to proceed.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(148)
Oh amazing day trip until night when Sam our driver and tour guide host planned to pull over the van somewhere in Meander Valley for our group to experience the stunning and breathtaking star gazing! First-ever to experience everything today! And it’s magical. Thanks heaps mate! ✨
Thank you so much Anna ✨ Sometimes Tasmania decides to add a little extra magic to the itinerary, and I'm so glad we pulled over to enjoy it. Knowing it was your first-ever stargazing experience makes it even more special! Thanks heaps for coming along for the adventure, mate — a pleasure sharing a memorable Tassie day with you! 🌟 Sam
It was a long day trip from Hobart to Cradle Mountain, but Sam was well organised and made everything easy and convenient for everyone. He made the tour enjoyable and worth the long journey. Sam was amazing!
Thank you so much Rachel for the lovely words! 😊 It certainly is a long journey from Hobart, so I'm really pleased you felt it was worth every kilometre! I count myself very blessed to be able to work in such an extraordinarily beautiful part of the world and, even better, to share places like Cradle Mountain with wonderful people from all over the world. Thanks again for coming along for the adventure — it was a pleasure having you with us! Sam
I was looking for a tour that would be TO AND FROM Hobart, since so many tours are not round-trip. This was perfect. Great day, luckily we had great, clear weather. The breakfast and dinner stops were DELICIOUS. The hike to the lookout was challenging, but WORTH IT. If you're someone who looks at the bad reviews like me, to the one lady with car-sickness: Sam was very sensitive and accommodating to me. I was worried over this with no reason to be. He took care of all his guests and was compassionate and made sure I was alright. As mentioned, the frequent stops are helpful and well timed. HIGHLIGHT of my entire trip was stopping for a minute to see the NIGHT SKY! We had a remarkable, cloudless view so I appreciate the stop for something I'll never be able to see in the U.S.! Thank you Sam. I highly recommend this tour if you want to see Tasmania outside of the city! Just do it!
Thank you so much for a wonderful review Jennifer! 😊 I'm delighted that the whole day came together for you: beautiful clear weather, great food, conquering Marion's Lookout and, of course, that incredible Tasmanian night sky to finish! I especially appreciate your kind words about how I look after everyone along the journey. It's a big day and a long way to travel, so making sure everyone feels comfortable, relaxed and cared for is really important to me. That "incident" was truly a one off anomoly. And I love the "Just do it!" recommendation! Thank you for trusting me with one of the highlights of your time in Tasmania. It was an absolute pleasure having you along. Sam
Great day out to Cradle Mountain! Despite the rain, I enjoyed the walk around Dove Lake, watching the clouds whip past the mountaintops. Sam took great care of us covering great distances across the island and ensuring we were fed.
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the Dove Lake walk and the journey across Tasmania with us. Thanks for embracing the weather and coming along for the adventure! All the best, Sam
I’ve been to 35 countries and this is the best tour so far. Very well planned, each and every stop is carefully thought of so the journey to the mountain is in itself enjoyable as well. The stargazing at night on our way back was memorable for life. The restaurants are absolutely lovely, and would worth a visit on their own even not for the trip. The mountain is stunning and the hiking trails are very navigable even if you don’t exercise regularly. You wouldn’t want to miss this. You won’t be able to find similar landscapes anywhere else, and not on other parts of tassie neither.
Thank you for such an incredible review. To hear that this ranks as your favourite tour after visiting 35 countries is truly humbling. I'm delighted that you enjoyed not only Cradle Mountain itself, but also the journey, the local food, and even the night sky on the way home. What I'll remember most, however, is the magical moment at Wombat Pool when you proposed to your girlfriend. It was a genuine privilege to witness such a special occasion in such a beautiful place, and I'm honoured that Cradle Mountain will forever be part of your story together. Thank you again for joining me, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness, adventure, and unforgettable memories.
I was worried about the long day I was about to embark on but Sam had it broken up so with numerous stops along the way. Breakfast was absolutely delicious. Then onto Cradle Mountain for the Most amazing day ever. We finished our day with dinner at a country pub. The food was yum yum. I can’t rate Sam highly enough, experienced driver, excellent guide and all round a very nice person. If you are looking for a fun filled day this is your trip.
Thank you so much, Bev. Cradle Mountain has a way of rewarding those willing to make the trip, and I'm delighted it turned into such a memorable experience for you. Thank you for your kind words. Safe travels and enjoy the rest of your Tasmanian adventure!
This was the best tour experience we have ever had. Don't be afraid of the long day. Our tour guide Sam was very skilled at making strategic stops along the way to and from Cradle Mountain National Park so the drive did not feel too long. His music playlist was wonderful and I wish I had asked him for a copy. The trip is so well planned you never feel rushed or 'stuck'. It was perfect. Once you arrive at Cradle Mountain you have lots of options of hiking, strolling or hanging out at the lodge. You could also ride the park shuttle bus to each stop and get out to explore each area. We chose to walk around the lake, about a 3 mile trip. It was so beautiful and very manageable for two 70+ year olds. Don't miss out on this wonderful experience. On the way home we stopped for dinner at a local restaurant. Sam called our orders in ahead so dinner was ready when we arrived. This was so helpful in keeping the drive back to Hobart on schedule. We got back at 9-9:30 pm. Yes it is a long day but you won't regret taking this tour. It is our favorite memory of our time on Tasmania.
Thank you so much, Margaret. I'm delighted that this became your favourite memory of Tasmania. It was a pleasure sharing the day with you both, and I'm especially pleased to hear that the Dove Lake walk was enjoyable and manageable. Thank you for your kind words about the tour, the music, and the planning behind the day. Wishing you many more wonderful adventures ahead, and thank you for choosing to explore Cradle Mountain with me. Warm regards, Sam
I really enjoyed this activity! Sam was very friendly, and his explanations were excellent. He also gave us helpful route suggestions. Many thanks to him!
Thank you very much. I love helping Solo TRavellers discover and explore this amazing wilderness place - efficiently and safely as well.
Although a very long day, Sam made it easy. Lots of rest stops. Delicious places for breakfast and dinner. Even though one of the main hikes was closed for the day, Sam immediately had new recommendations. He even stopped briefly before our return to Hobart to show us the Southern Cross in the night sky. You will not regret this amazing day with Sam.
Thank you Joanne and Gary. Long but easy, delicious and surprising - thank you for your lovely review of yes a very big day. I really appreciate that you feel its was worth the effort as well
As of my opinion , this is the best trip and should not miss in Tasmania trip. Tour Opearator Mr Sam so good , very informative and friendly. Its offcourse a very long day started 6.00 am and return back to Hobart by 9.30 pm but we didnt feel that long travel . The trip van is very comfortable and Tassi roads are excelent quality and also due to Mr sam's skillfull driving. In Cradle mountain we took longer and harder trucking path but it was realy worth to do because of beautiful scenaries. Luckly got very good weatheron that day . One of the best day trip in my life time. Thanks to Viator and also to the tour opearator Mr Sam of Derwent Express.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. I am so glad that you enjoyed the big day and experience.
