Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park

Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park is a popular destination in Tasmania known for its rich history, geology, and diverse flora and fauna.

The park is home to Cradle Mountain, the sixth-highest mountain in Tasmania, and offers stunning views of Dove Lake, Lake Wilks, and Crater Lake. The park is located in the local government areas of Meander Valley, Kentish, and West Coast, and is around 109 kilometers away from Westbury. The park attracts climbers from around the world who come to see the four named summits of Cradle Mountain.

In terms of history, Cradle Mountain was originally inhabited by the Aboriginal Tasmanians. Geologically, Cradle Mountain is a result of an igneous dolerite sill that intruded the Permian-Jurassic sedimentary layers. Glacial erosion during the Pleistocene glaciation shaped the mountain and surrounding peaks.

The park offers various day walks, including the famous Overland Track, which stretches for around 80.8 kilometers and ends at Lake St Clair, the deepest lake in Australia. Cradle Mountain is a popular destination for hikers and climbers throughout the year, but the hike from the car park at Dove Lake can be challenging, especially during winter when there is ice and heavy snow.

The park experiences a hemiboreal, subpolar oceanic climate with heavy precipitation year-round. The area receives an average of 47.9 snowy days annually, even occurring in every month of the year.

Cradle Mountain - Lake St