Snow at Cradle Mountain makes the place more magical. You’ll see what we mean as we unlock the secrets of visiting Cradle Mountain in winter with this ultimate guide. Discover hidden trails, cozy retreats, and breathtaking snowy vistas. We’ll share when to go (and not to go!), what to do at Cradle Mountain in winter, what to expect when you get there, and even what to take and wear. Planning to visit Cradle in winter is not without it’s risks. But if you don’t go, you might just miss out on the adventure of a lifetime in this Tasmanian winter wonderland.
Visiting Cradle Mountain in Winter
Winter is our favourite season to visit Cradle Mountain. The air feels super crisp at the back of your throat. There’s an alpine village vibe about the place. People are happy to be there. Especially if you’re lucky enough to visit when it’s under snow.
When does it snow in Cradle Mountain?
The best thing about Cradle Mountain in winter is the snow! So when are you most likely to see some?
You can see snow at Cradle Mountain between May and October. Well, technically it can snow at Cradle any time of year. But you’re most likely to find yourself packing snowballs for an epic snow fight around mid year.
So how cold does it get in winter?
Temperatures at Cradle Mountain during the winter months are around 6 degrees in the day and overnight temps drop below zero. The winds are the unknown element when it comes to how cold it feels at Cradle Mountain in winter. If the Antarctic Roaring 40 winds pick up speed, it’ll feel 4 to 5 degrees colder on the ground than forecast. Brrr…
Getting to Cradle Mt on a snow day is not an exact science. You may get snow on the mountain and none on the trails. In which case, did you really hit a snow day at Cradle?
Or you may get in to the park just before a blizzard hits! There’ll be snow everywhere in that sitch. The mountains. The moorlands. And the trails.
That’s how changeable the weather is up there.
So lets talk likelihoods. Probabilities…
In winter, rainfall is lower on average in June. So the chances of snow are probably less likely then too. May, July and August are really rainy months and cold enough for snow to form.
In 2023, we were in a foot of snow on the low-lying Ronny Creek trail in late October! But spring winds start to pick up in September – October, making conditions tougher for hiking then.
All things considered May, July and August are the most conducive to snow conditions.
How will you know if there’s snow at Cradle Mountain the day you go? Check the forecast of course, and the Cradle Mountain webcam.
5 awesome things to do in Cradle Mountain in winter
1. Hike the snow covered trails!
There’s general consternation from visitors about whether you can even hike Cradle Mountain in winter. Of course you can! In fact, hiking Cradle Mountain in winter is super awesome fun! And stunningly beautiful to boot.
But there are a few things to know if you’re planning a trip to hike Cradle Mountain in winter.
The first is, you may not be able to get into the park when you need to.
On blizzard days, day trip visitors may only be able to get into the park in the afternoon. If the roads into Cradle Mountain’s hiking trails are deep with snow, you’ll have to wait until they’ve been ploughed and it’s safe for shuttles to operate.
The second is only the lower lying hiking trails may be attainable.
We visited the day after a blizzard. All of these low-lying walking trails were accessible:
- the Crater Lake Circuit,
- Ronny Creek,
- Dove Lake,
- the Enchanted Forest Walk,
- King Billy Walk
- Cradle Valley Boardwalk.
But Marion’s Lookout and Cradle Mountain Summit were not.
The higher you hike, the more stone steps and scrambles you come across. These turn to ice after snow, and then to small rivers flowing at pace down the mountain.
In these conditions it’s fine going up. But it’s dangerous and mighty slippery getting back down.
But go anyway! Just stay low…
We recently did the Crater Lake Walk in the snow and had a fantastic day. We got there early and some of the trails were untrodden by foot. Virgin snow I think they call it. The scenery was spectacular, with soaring mountain vistas covered in soft snow at the apex of the hike.
Hiking as it snowed felt like we were in Europe. We could still see down to Dove Lake, although much of the Overland Track was obscured by cloud and fog. We ate snow straight off the pine tree branches as we hiked. Nature’s slush puppy!
2. Get toasty around the fire at Cradle Mountain Lodge
If you’re visiting Cradle Mountain in winter and can’t get on to the hiking trails because of snow, all is not lost. You can always kick back and relax in the village.
Cradle Mountain Peppers Lodge in particular is a cosy spot for a beverage and maybe a game of pool to while the wintery hours away. There’s a big ol’ open fireplace surrounded by comfy lounge chairs. And another rotunda-shaped wood fire to perch around and sip mulled wine or one of Tasmania’s many craft beers. The vibe is relaxed and it feels all… alpine snow village.
The pizza is good at the Lodge and meals are reasonably priced at around $30 a main. Cheap compared to other village restaurants.
3. Visit Devils @ Cradle
Devils @ Cradle is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with Tasmania’s rarest and most enigmatic marsupial – the Tasmanian Devil
We see Tasmanian Devils around our house up close from time to time, and they’re incredible. Cute and scary at the same time. But it’s almost impossible to spot a devil in the wild unless you live near their habitat. Why? Because they’re only ever active after dark.
If you do want to see Tasmania’s most famous marsupial, then there’s two tours at Cradle Mountain we recommend:
- Devils @ Cradle gets rave reviews from our Tiny House Airbnb guests for the Devils after Dark Tour . The best bit of this tour? You get to see the devils feed – fascinating and horrifying all at once!
- If you’re not keen on driving Cradle Mountain after dark, there’s also a Day-keeper Tour that we highly recommend. If you get snowed off the trails, or even if you don’t, it’s a super interesting way to meet some Tasmanian devils and learn about their conservation.
Both tours are affordable, run in all seasons and a cool way to experience this endangered species up close.
The wildlife sanctuary is located in the village, before you enter Cradle Mountain National Park. You can drive in and park at the sanctuary.
General entry to the wildlife sanctuary at Cradle is from 9:30am or there are tours at 10:30 and 3pm. If you’re after a tour but just at Cradle Mountain for the day, book ahead.
4. Wombat spotting
Seeing a snow covered wombat boggles the mind if you’re an Aussie. We’re just not used to seeing our marsupials in snow. But it’s really the cutest thing to witness these fat little wombies padding through button grass that’s buried in a couple of inches if snow.
The good thing about the Wombats at Cradle is that they hang around a few key low-lying areas. Which makes Wombat spotting a legit and fun thing to do in winter at Cradle.
When you’re familiar with the park, you get to know exactly where to spot them. So get your snow gear on and get out on the trails. Here’s where the wombats will be waiting for you:
- Opposite Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge – walk down to the main road out of the park from the lodge and head up the hill towards the visitors centre. You’ll find a floating boardwalk down to Pencil Pine Falls. We always see wombats feeding here. Look hard, they blend in with the grass.
- Ronny Creek – our never fail wombat spotting location. Take the boardwalk through the moorlands and scan the landscape. You’re bound to see a wombat or two.
- Enchanted Walk – this can be a hit or miss kind of spot for Wombats. There are two or three burrows right by the trail and if you’re lucky, you may find a wombat or two coming or going.
There are wombats all around the park, evidenced by their weird little cubes of scat (poop) along the trails. But if you’re short on time and keen on wombats, these are the three locations you’ll most likely find one wandering in the snow.
5. Seek out snow capped waterfalls
If you’re a fan of waterfalls, a snow capped winter waterfall is next level beautiful. There’s an ethereal beauty about a snow-capped waterfall – watching icy cascades plunge into the pristine, white landscape, is mesmerizing to see and makes for an epic holiday pic.
It’s worth seeking them out if you’re at Cradle Mountain in the snow.
But where do you find them? Ah, we’ve got the juice again for you:
- There are a few within a very short walking distance from Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge – at the start of the Enchanted Falls Walk, the bottom of Pencil Pine Falls walk, and on the Rainforest Walk that loops around the Interpretation Centre.
- The Crater Lake Circuit – on the way up from Ronny Creek you pass Crater Falls, which turns into a magic fairyland under snow and is well worth the trek up.
Driving to Cradle Mountain in Winter
How to get to Cradle Mountain in winter can be a bit of ordeal. What everyone wants to know is, can you drive to Cradle Mountain in the winter time?
The answer is yes, it’s possible. But not all the time.
Snowfall levels are crucial to driving conditions at Cradle Mountain. And you’ll get these from the weather forecast.
Our experience living 30 minutes from Cradle is the lower the snowfall, the less chance you’ve got of driving in to the park.
Snow at 700 meters typically means it’s confined to the mountains – fine to drive. While at 600 meters, expect snow near the visitor centre and parking area. Park staff efficiently clear snow from the roads inside the park so driving in is also okay.
However, snowfall extending below 600 meters can mean snow is falling outside the park at lower altitudes. And starting to affect driving conditions into the park.
Driving is not advised if snow reaches as low as 400 meters, as much of Cradle Country – including the roads – will be covered in snow.
Ice is the other major element that impacts driving to Cradle Mountain in winter. Icy winding roads can be extremely dangerous from Sheffield or Wilmot up to the mountain. Black ice is very difficult to spot and to contend with.
Both snow and ice can cause road closures in and around the main Cradle Mountain access roads from Sheffield and Wilmot. We don’t recommend driving up to Cradle Mountain if there is a Bureau of Meteorology Road Warning for the area and you won’t get through if Tasmania Police have closed the road.
Can you drive a rental car to Cradle Mountain in Winter?
We’ve seen rental car roller derby on the winding and icy roads up to Cradle Mountain. So it makes sense that Tasmanian hire car companies have specific snow driving terms and conditions.
What are they?
Well, if you’re driving a hire car in Tasmania in winter, you’ll likely need to purchase a ‘snow pass’ or ‘snow cover‘ if you intend to drive above the ‘snow line.’
“What’s the snow line?”, i hear you ask.
This ‘snow line’ generally includes areas that can receive snow year-round or where snow chains are required. For some hire car companies, like Avis, this requirement does apply to Cradle Mountain.
The upshot is, read through the terms and conditions of your car hire before driving up to Cradle Mountain in winter.
So how do you know whether it’s safe to drive up to Cradle Mountain in winter?
- Check the BOM app for Road Warnings in Wilmot, Cradle Mountain, Moina, Cethana, Sheffield, Tullah, Guildford and Middlesex. These are the main access roads in. Don’t drive in when there’s a deep frost with icy roads.
- Road closures due to major incidents (like blizzard conditions or deep frost) may be notified by Tasmania Policy on the TasAlerts website – check before you head out.
The roads leading to Cradle Mountain are winding with some steep drop offs at the verge. Please, please drive with extra caution, especially early in the morning and at dusk. Avoid driving at night. We see and hear of accidents in these here hilly, winding roads all the time and most are around slippery or unexpected bends.
Where to stay in Cradle Mountain in winter
A wood fire and log cabin at Cradle Mountain in the snow is bucket list material. Most Australian’s would dig the experience. Cosy fireplace, toasty interior, glass of mulled wine, and snow falling gently outside the window.
You can stay in Cradle Mountain – Lake Sinclair National Park in winter. But there’s two things to know before you book.
You’re going to pay through the nose is the first. It’s not cheap to stay in the park. But you will have access to the park before and after the shuttle operates. Which means you’ll have the park to yourself in the morning and evening.
Second, you may become stranded in the park. Heavy snows or deep frost mean you wait for the roads out to clear or be re-opened by Tasmania Policy. Roads are ploughed. But only a certain distance outside the park itself. So it can be a little risky if you’re on a tight itinerary. You really need to know your hire car policy if you’re taking risks driving on icy roads.
Our favourite luxury accommodation inside Cradle Mountain Village is Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge. Stand alone cabins are best. We like it for:
- the premium location walkable to many trails,
- Highlander Restaurant fine dining & a bustling bistro bar scene..
- Big stone open fireplaces.
- Platypus in the pond behind the restaurant.
For something more affordable but still inside the Village, we’d go stay at Cradle Mountain Highlander. We like the Highlander Cabins for their:
- Authentic rustic mountain cabin feels.
- Wood heaters to cosy up.
- Wildlife and nature around the cabins.
Or you can come and stay with us in our Cradle Mountain Tiny House in Wilmot, 30 minutes drive to Cradle Mountain. We’d love to have you 😃
Staying outside but within an hour’s drive of Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre is another alternative. Most places around Cradle are at lower altitude. And although you may not get snow at your accommodation, you also won’t get stranded.
What to wear hiking at Cradle Mountain in winter & what to bring
Winter at Cradle Mountain is going to be cold, wet and windy. If you’re lucky, it’ll snow. So pack for those conditions.
Before we get into our list of what to wear and bring here are our top 3 must have items for winter at Cradle Mountain:
1.Quality waterproof hiking boots
We highly recommend some really good, tight waterproof hiking boots. If it rains or snows, the snowmelt will spin rivers of freezing cold water where hiking tracks once were. And you’ll be walking in them.
There’s no heading off the tracks at Cradle as it’s a World Heritage Wilderness Area. So plan to be a few centimetres deep in icy water at some point, on some track, somewhere.
A quality pair of waterproof boots will save your day in the winter. Shell out for some good boots and you’ll stay dry, warm and comfortable. Thank me later.
2.A waterproof jacket
We thought rain slicks were rain slicks, until we went hiking at Cradle. Unfortunately, this item comes from painful personal experience.
It turns out that some raincoats, like the type you get at Katmandu, are made for urban environments. They’re more rain-resistant than rain-proof. If you’re running from building to building in the rain, they’re fine.
But if you’re caught in cold, wet weather or snow at Cradle, you’re going to need the serious kind of rain slick. The kind you can wear for hours in wet conditions and keep you dry on the inside when you eventually take them off.
3.A waterproof daypack or bivvy sack / waterproof cover
If you’re out hiking trails for the day, you’ll probably want a daypack with provisions. Food, water, your phone and maybe other electronics. And so on. To stop everything getting soggy in the snow or rain, make it a waterproof one. Or get a waterproof cover.
Here’s the full list of what to wear hiking Cradle Mountain in winter and what to take with you:
- Thermals – top and bottom
- Beanie or ear muffs
- Sunglasses – the snow glare is next level
- Double layer or thick socks
- Gloves
- Waterproof padded or snow jacket
- Long pants
- Water proof hiking boots
- Waterproof daypack
- Water bottle
- 2L water per person
- Snacks or lunch
- Park map (mobile coverage is non-existent)
- Wet Ones or Wipes to clean hands
- Ziplock bags for rubbish, your phone, anything you need to keep dry
For more information here’s our page on visiting Cradle Mountain. You’ll find useful stuff like where to stay, the best road trip in to Cradle, and the best walks to do.
Last thoughts are just to get amongst it. Cradle country in winter is gorgeous. Don’t miss the chance to tick this one off your bucket list.
Cradle Mt in Winter – common questions answered
How long to drive from Launceston to Cradle Mountain?
The trip from Launceston to Cradle Mountain is around 2 hours and 15 minutes long. The best route is to drive along the Bass Highway towards Devonport for about 50 minutes. You’ll then see the Sheffield exit at Elizabeth Town. Take this exit. You’ll be on country roads most of the way from here. The route takes you into Sheffield, where you can pick up any supplies or stop for a bite to eat. This is the last shopping and services location on your route into Cradle Mountain.
From Sheffield its about another 50 minutes along winding roads through mountain areas before you’ll hit the Cradle Mountain national park. It’s a well sign posted road, but can be slow going if you’re not used to windy roads or driving in winter conditions.
How far is Cradle Mountain from Hobart?
Too far to go there an back in a day trip. It’s a 4 hour 20 minute drive from Hobart to the Cradle Mountain Visitors centre. It then takes about 30 minutes to get into the park itself (parking your car, getting your ticket, and jumping on a the next shuttle bus in).
All up, that’s 5 hours one way between jumping in your car in Hobart and stepping foot on to one of Cradle Mountain’s famous walking trails.
Then you have to get home again. 😮
Do you need a National Parks Pass for Tasmania?
Yes, if you plan on visiting Cradle Mountain you’ll need a National Parks Pass. All National Parks in Tasmania require a pass for entry. If you’re just going to Cradle Mountain you can buy your pass at the Visitor Centre when you arrive. Here’s what you’ll need and how much you’ll pay to visit Cradle Mountain for a one day trip:
Icon Daily Pass
– $27.95 Adult
– $11.2 Child
– $67.10 Family
The Icon Daily Pass covers the cost of the Shuttle Bus into the park.
This is not the most cost effective option if you’re visiting more than one National Park in Tasmania, on your holidays. The better option in this case is the 2 month Holiday Pass. It’s $89.95 for a vehicle of up to 8 people, and you get to go into any and as many parks as you like.
But! Tasmania Parks and Wildlife in 2023 introduced a NEW requirements that you also have to pay a shuttle bus fee for Cradle Mountain (only). The fee is $15 per adult. It applies on top of the National Parks Pass fee for all passes EXCEPT the Cradle Mountain Icon Daily Pass.
So if you buy the Holiday Pass, you’ll pay an extra $15 per adult at Cradle Mountain now.
Where should you stay at Cradle Mountain in Winter?
Stay with us! We have a boutique Tiny House accommodation in the closest town to Cradle Mountain – Wilmot.
Wilmot is also known as the Valley of Views and is a beautiful little spot. We’re also just 30 minutes from Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park.
You’ll find staying with us more affordable than staying at Cradle Mountain itself. You’re also less likely to get snowed in in Winter!
How many days do you need at Cradle Mountain?
You can see the many of the highlights at Cradle Mountain in just a single day. But it will be a full day, so plan to start early. Here’s what you could fit in to one day at Cradle Mountain:
– The Enchanted Walk
– Pencil Pine Falls
– Wombats
– Dove Lake Walk or Crater Lake Circuit or Marions Peak
Generally, you can do one of the longer walks (a few hours) – Dove Lake, Crater Lake – plus 2 or 3 of the short walks (from 10 mins to 40 minutes). To fit this in, you’ll need to be inside the park most of the time. There’s no shops inside so remember to pack your own provisions for lunch or snacks.
Many of the guests that stay in our Tiny House accommodation near Cradle Mountain spend just the one day there. They come back pretty chuffed at the experience.
Here’s some more FAQs to help plan your trip to Cradle Mountain.
Recap
Visiting Cradle Mountain in winter will be one of the highlights of your Tassie Trip. We promise. For many, it’s a bucket list experience. But before you book that trip, know that snow days are not a science. You may get lucky, you may not. Before hitting the road to Cradle Mountain check the weather forecast and TasAlerts for road closures due to snow. Don’t risk the drive in low level snow conditions. But do come prepared! The weather in Cradle Country is wild. But that’s also what makes winter here so majestic – and definitely worth your time to plan the trip.
