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| • To help plan
your visit to the Cradle Mountain
wilderness area we have
assembled the most commonly asked
questions asked by potential vistors
with the answers covering the essential
aspects of experiencing Cradle Mountain,
Moina and the Cradle Chalet
difference. |
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Q1.
Is Cradle Lodge in the Cradle
Mountain National Park? |
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| A1.
No, as a National Park, there are
no lodges or hotels in the park.
All of the accommodation options
in the region are a short trip from
the actual park, and then it is
a walk to Cradle Mountain. |
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Q2.
What services are there in
the National Park? |
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| A2.
There are no hotels, lodges, pubs,
shops or general services of any
kind within the park. Some visitors
to Cradle Mountain hope for hotels,
lodges and château’s
perched high on the mountain with
spectacular views of pristine lakes
and ample café’s and
restaurants. However, this is not
the case - all services, including
accommodation, are located outside
the actual park, at least 10 kms
away from the actual mountain. |
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Q3.
What services are available
just outside the National
Park? |
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A3.
In the immediate region outside
the park there are only accommodation
facilities - there is no local town
centre as such. All services are
therefore usually limited to what
is on offer where visitors stay.
As there are no local shops or pubs
in the immediate area many visitors
find it useful to stay at accommodation
that also provides a restaurant
for (at least) evening meals. |
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Q4.
Where are the nearest towns
and shops to Cradle Mountain? |
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A4.
Cradle Mountain is literally at
the end of the road and there are
no shops close by.
Sheffield is the central hub of
this region for shopping. The wilderness
location of Moina is a popular choice
as a place to stay for many visiting
Cradle Mountain as it is central
to both the National Park and the
regional towns of Sheffield, Wilmot
and Mole Creek – making it
a good base to travel between the
services of the towns and the wilderness
of the park. |
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Q5.
What are the regional attractions
in Moina? |
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| A5.
From Moina it is possible to experience
a wilderness boardwalk, a unique
waterfall, visit Tasmania’s
highest winery, photograph an international
rowing course, get lost at Tasmania’s
largest maze complex, visit the
local cheese factory, indulge yourself
with truffles at the chocolate factory,
visit a honey farm, a raspberry
farm, a wildlife park, walk to Devils
Gullet and still be back for dinner.
– more on local attractions |
A6.
Many visitors to the region find
that Moina is a preferable place
to stay rather than closer to Cradle
Mountain. Moina is only a short
20 minute drive to Cradle Mountain
but it is closer to shops and facilities.
Moina is a unique wilderness location
in its out right with beautiful
views to Black Bluff Mountain and
is surrounded by lakes, mountains
and forests. It also appeals to
visitors who are looking for something
a little removed from the larger
tourism lodges – somewhere
smaller, more personal and less
crowded. |
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Q7.
What’s to see in Moina? |
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A7.
Moina is on the edge of an escarpment,
forming part of the plateau that
leads to Cradle Mountain. At 580m
above sea level Moina is in the
heart of the forests, treeferns
line the roads in all directions,
Snow Gums and giant Acacias grow
taller here that anywhere in Tasmania.
These forests are home to wallabies,
wombats Tasmanian devils and many
bird species.
There are three fresh water lakes
for fishing; including Tasmania’s
famous international rowing course
and mountains in all directions.
Moina is also right on the snow
line so annual falls transform the
landscape into picture-perfect post
card scenes. |
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Q8.
How would you describe the
road to Cradle Mountain? |
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| A8.
Leaving Moina the forests soon disappear
and the ferns and the lush forests
are replaced by a vast wilderness
wasteland. This abrupt change in
landscape is the wilderness plateau
that leads to Cradle Mountain on
its way towards Tullah and Strahan.
This area resembles a Luna landscape,
and here the temperature can be
as much as 10 degrees cooler than
Moina with the weather changing
without notice. The driving time
to the edge of the park from Moina
is approximately 20 minutes. |
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Q 9.
What are the weather conditions
likely to be? |
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| A9.
Tasmania’s mountainous state
areas are often subject to weather
changes without warning. Moina often
receives snow in late August early
September – so it can be beneficial
to ring ahead to check likely conditions. |
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Q10.
What are the road conditions
likely to be? |
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A10.
It is not necessary to
have a four-wheel drive as all the
main roads are sealed and in good
condition. It is however always
good practice to allow plenty of
time to arrive at your point of
destination because of the windy
mountainous roads.
If possible it is also best to plan
ahead to arrive before dark, it
is easer to find your way in the
daylight and there is less chance
of running over our nocturnal wildlife.
Also check your fuel supply before
you leave the major towns because
the windy roads will consume more
fuel and it is cheaper to fill up
in the cities. |
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Q11.
Is it possible to drive to
the top of Cradle Mountain? |
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A11.
There are actually no roads accessing
any part of the mountain - only
walking tracks. Dove Lake is located
at the very base of Cradle Mountain,
on the opposite side of Dove Lake
is the car park this is the end
of the road (C132) the closest point
by car. Cradle Mountain is 1545m
above sea level, Dove Lake is 934m
above sea level, Crater Lake is
1035m above sea level, and your
climb to the summit will be 611m
from the Dove Lake car park.
It is useful to understand the features
of the park before you enter (the
best walks, lookouts, waterfalls,
best direction, walking times etc)
because the Cradle Mountain Information
Centre is located on the edge of
the park about 10kms away from the
mountain.
Cradle Chalet has
produced an excellent map of Cradle
Mountain – available to our
guests, along with plenty of local
knowledge about the best walks and
visiting times. |
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Q12.
When is the best time to visit
Cradle Mountain? |
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| A12.
Cradle Mountain attracts visitors
for most of the year with the peak
period between September and May.
While the coastal regions slow over
winter Cradle Mountain usually enjoys
a brief snow season between July
and September. The National Park
is also spectacular in early May
as Nothafagus - a deciduous beech
found only in Tasmania -blankets
the slopes of the mountain in glorious
autumn colours. |
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Q 13.
What is different about Cradle
Chalet? |
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A13.
Cradle Chalet Boutique Luxury Lodge
is not a commercial lodge that is
connected to a chain of hotels that
cater for the masses. Instead it
is a privately owned and operated
luxury lodge which accommodates
less than 20 guests and has been
purpose built to create Cradle Mountain’s
only wilderness retreat/mountain
getaway for couples, singles and
other adult groups wanting to enjoy
a peaceful and relaxing place to
stay.
Cradle Chalet does
not cater for children.
Cradle Chalet also
features its own fully-licensed
restaurant and is an accredited
4.5 star getaway (AAA Tourism STAR
rating) |
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Q 14.
How do I get to Cradle Chalet? |
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| A14.
Moina is centrally located in the
northwest of Tasmania on the main
touring route between the northeast
and the southwest. It is also at
the centre of the Cradle Mountain
region. Cradle Chalet
is located at 1422 Cradle Mountain
Road, Moina – see location
map. |
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