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Cradle Mountain lies at the northern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. It is 1 1/2 hours from Devonport via the B19 and B14 south to Sheffield, then C136 and C132 to the park entrance.
From Launceston, it is a 2 1/2 hour drive on the Bass Highway (A1), then the signposted route via B13 and C156 through Sheffield.
From the west, drive 2 hours along the A10 and C132 from Queenstown or 1 1/2 hours from Burnie via B18 through Ridgley, then the A10 and C132 to reach the park.
There is no direct road link through the Cradle Mountain- Lake St Clair National Park to join the two ends of the park. Visitors may most easily reach Lake St Clair via the Cradle Link Road (C132) and the Muchison and Lyell Highways (A10).
Please note that buses over 8 tonnes (28 seater) and campervans over 5 metres must be left at the Cradle Mountain Visitors Centre and Transit Terminal carpark and a shuttle bus or approved tour bus must be used for accessing Dove Lake.
Road Conditions
For information on roads leading to Cradle Mountain, and access within the park, please see the
DIER website.
For a larger version, click on the mapCradle Shuttle Bus
McDermotts Coaches operates a shuttle bus service on behalf of the Parks and Wildlife Service. The shuttle bus service operates between the Visitors Centre and Transit Terminal, located at the former airstrip to Dove Lake. The service is aimed at protecting the important values of the World Heritage Area while also preserving the visitor experience.
The service has been highly successful in reducing visitor traffic on the road to Dove Lake by one-third. It has attracted a highly favourable response from Tasmanian, interstate and overseas visitors since its introduction.
The shuttle service operates seven days a week. See the timetable for the Cradle Shuttle Bus (PDF 889 Kb). In addition to your Park Pass fee, a charge for the use of the shuttle bus service may apply.
Due to the high visitation at Cradle Mountain throughout the year, visitors are encouraged to leave cars at the Visitors Centre and Transit Terminal (located 2km before the park boundary) and take the shuttle bus service to the Interpretation Centre and Ranger Station, Snake Hill, Ronny Creek, Waldheim, and Lake Dove. A boom gate controls vehicle access to the park and on days of high visitation all visitors (including those with an annual pass) are encouraged to return to the Transit Centre and use the shuttle bus service.
Public transport and tours
Visitors wishing to use public transport or tours to access the park should visit our web page on Access to Tasmania's National Parks, Reserves and Walking Tracks.