Cradle Mountain is one of the most awe-inspiring places to visit in all of Australia. The area has been protected as a National Park since 1922, and today one quarter of all visitors to Tasmania take the time to visit the park as part of their exploration of the island. When you talk about pristine wilderness, it really doesn’t get much better than this.

There are tons of short walks that allow visitors to enjoy Cradle Mountain’ s allure. With meandering rivers and dense old-growth forest only twenty minutes along the short Enchanted Walk, everyone can take part in the nature experience. For intrepid hikers, Cradle Mountain’s summit beckons. This is also the beginning of the Overland Track, a 65 kilometre walk that finishes six days later at Lake St. Clair. You don’t have to rough it, however, with catered huts available for eating and sleeping along the path.

The area is well-known for its natural features, including stunning glacial lakes, alpine vegetation, and millennium-old rainforest. This is the only forest in Australia with deciduous trees, including the deciduous beech, unique to Tasmania. These trees are particularly impressive in the fall months, when the leaves begin to turn from gold to a deep red shade.

Cradle Mountain owes its designation as a national park to Austrian-born conservationist Gustav Weindorfer. You can view his contribution at the exhibit in Weindorfer Chalet, minutes off the road to Dove Lake. Stop at the visitor centre, where the natural history of the park is shown in displays. There’s a shuttle bus that leaves each day throughout the year.

It’s important to remember that Cradle Lake is located in an alpine zone. That means that the weather is subject to quick shifts. Remember to pack a change of clothes, as well as raingear, map, flashlight, and sturdy walking boots.