Wilderness Walks- Cradle Mountain, Moina, Tasmania

• Much of the spectacular mountain wilderness near Cradle Chalet can be enjoyed without having to scale mountains or even walk long distances. Cradle Mountain and many of the other significant areas listed below can be accessed by car and a short walk or day trip.

Cradle Chalet is conveniently located in the very centre of Tasmania’s most spectacular region for mountain and wilderness walks. The average elevation of this area is 600m above sea level and there are eight distinct mountains surrounding Moina and Cradle Chalet - Black Bluff, Bell Mt, Mt Roland, Mt Claude, Mt Vandyke, Gog Range, Western Bluff and Cradle Mountain
( » see map at bottom of the page).

These mountains create some truly spectacular and unique alpine scenery and most can be accessed by car on sealed roads. This access makes the region a great place for touring by car - and Cradle Chalet a great centralised base to rest and relax in 4.5 star luxury between walks, hikes and trips » see chalet and suite options

1. Canyon Lookout - Leven Canyon

Leven Canyon is a picturesque mountain canyon that has been carved by the Leven River. A short 600 metre rainforest walk will reward you with spectacular views of the Leven River over 200 metres below. The lookout consists of a metal platform suspended over the edge of the canyon to create a spectacular view.

2. Winterbrook Falls - Day Walk

Winterbrook Falls is home to the most northern stand of King Billy Pines in Tasmania. This area was subject to logging in the early part of the last century where they used bullock drawn tramways for harvesting. Some of these trees escaped the loggers axes and now exceed 1000 years of age.

This rainforest walk also includes Mountain Laurels, Sassafras and Myrtles which create a magical back drop to Winterbrook Falls, cascading from the peaks of Black Bluff and falling more than 200 metres to the forest floor.

3. Bell Track/Lookout - Bell Mountain

Bell Mountain is only a short 20 minute climb but is said to be more challenging than either Cradle Mountain or Mt Roland for its relative size.
At 803 metres above sea level the climb is steep, with branches and limbs along the way to assist your climb.

The Bell Mountain Track is a unique climb and will reward you with the best views of this mountainous region in a very short space of time. Spectacular views include Mt Roland, Mt Claude, Mt Vandyke, the Great Western Tiers, Cradle Mountain and Black Bluff.

4. Roland Track - Mt Roland - Day Walk

Mt Roland is often snow capped in winter with mist and fog clinging to the rugged peaks of dolerite and the valleys below to create a photographer’s paradise. Lush, fertile farms form a quilted patchwork of agricultural colours from the peaks above.

When sailing to Tasmania, Mt Roland dominates the coastal sky line, at 1233m it is often mistaken for Cradle Mountain. There are two summit tracks to Mt Roland, Mt Claude and Mt Vandyke and these walks are classified as day walks. There are no roads to the summit of these mountains.

5. Alum Track/Lookout - Alum Cliffs

Alum Cliffs is another excellent example of the beauty of this region. From the lush gardens of Mole Creek there is a short drive towards the Gog Range. This road climbs steeply past small farms to the car park, the track then leads uphill through light bush for about 25 minutes.

The reward is a view 200 metres below to the Mersey River, with deeply sheared twisted and forested cliffs. This is a place of inspiration and a magnificent timber decking complements the artistic creative seat designed buy local artist Ambrose McDonald called 'The Welcome Chair'.

6. Devils Gullet Track/Lookout - Devils Gullet

Devils Gullet Lookout looks out over the the Central Plateau Conservation Area, in one spectacular panoramic view.

Devils Gullet Track is a short but rewarding 20 minute climb and is regarded as one of the best views in the north west of Tasmania with views of Tasmania’s tallest mountain, Mt. Ossa at 1640m, Barn Bluff 1559m, Cradle Mt. 1545m and Mt. Pelion East 1461m

7. Walls Track - Walls of Jerusalem - Day Walk

The Walls of Jerusalem is an area 40 km long and 12 km wide and is part of the World Heritage listed National Park. It includes more than four thousand lakes and tarns and there are five main peaks surrounding a central basin which is called the Walls of Jerusalem.

This central basin plateau, at 1200m above sea level, is subject to extreme weather conditions and it is more suitable for summer walks. The National Park features alpine vegetation, pure pencil pine forests, cushion plants, pristine glacial moraines, tarns and lakes.

Note: To access this location requires an over night stay, camping then returning the next day, with careful planning.

8. Cradle Track - Cradle Mountain - Day Walk

Cradle Mountain at 1545m above sea level is Tasmania’s most visited National Park. World Heritage listed in 1998 it is Tasmania’s tourism icon.

While some visitors presume that they can drive to the summit it is actually only possible to drive to the northern side of Dove Lake where all roads cease and visitors can view Cradle Mountain at the southern end of Lake Dove. Here at the entrance to Cradle Mountain National Park - known as Pencil Pine - is the Visitors Centre and from this point to Dove Lake is approximately eight kms.

At the base of Cradle Mountain is one of Australia’s most spectacular board walks, the Dove Lake Circuit. This boardwalk around Dove Lake is a comfortable 2 hours walk and is only one of many walks in the park. The Dove Lake walk is a unique wilderness experience, passing through terrains of pandanus, Tasmanian myrtles, King Billy Pines, cascading waterfalls and the Ballroom Forest with mirror images of Dove Lake.

Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake are within a World Heritage listed National Park and all accommodation and services are located outside the park boundary which is more than eight kilometres away from the actual mountain. (There are no actual lodges, hotels, chalets, or chateaus overlooking the lake or mountain).

» more on Cradle Mountain

9. Bluff Track - Black Bluff - Day Walk

Black Bluff, at 1340m above sea level, is the highest peak along the 76 km Penguin Trail which starts in the northern coastal town of Penguin. Following the Leven River southward through Leven Canyon over Black Bluff Range to Cradle Mountain, this trail connects with the Overland Track.

Black Bluff is a true alpine mountain experience which includes a glacial cirque tarn called Paddy’s Lake ( a rounded like basin surrounded by cliffs). This is the northern most feature of its kind in Tasmania. Black Bluff summit track starts 2 km passed the Loongana Bridge and climbing to 980 metres it is about a 7 hour - 12km walk.

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