Cradle Mountain is a Top 5 Tasmanian attraction. If you’re in Launceston, we 100% recommend a trip. The good news? We live in these parts and know it well. So here’s an inside guide on how to do Launceston to Cradle Mountain return in one day. And how to turn it into a wicked road trip. Even if you don’t have a car, we share the best transport and tours to take you back and forth. This guide covers how to get from Launceston to Cradle Mountain – what to see, driving safety tips, and what it will cost. Updated for 2024. Huzzah!
How to get from Launceston to Cradle Mountain – summary
There are three ways to make the trip from Launceston to Cradle Mountain: 1) self drive road trip, 2) day tour, and 3) bus transfer.
What did we find when we compared all three?
- A road trip is the most cost efficient for 2 more people. It’s actually less expensive than bus transfers and easier to control costs.
- We share 7 awesome stop-overs en-route from Launceston to Cradle Mountain. The only way to explore them is by car.
- Bus transfers are surprisingly more expensive than day tours, but give you more time on Cradle Mountain. Some also pick up from Launceston Airport.
- Day tours are a good option to avoid the stress of driving on ice or snow.
| Launceston to Cradle Mountain 3 ways | Pros | Cons | Costs 2 persons | Perfect for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self drive Launceston to Cradle Mountain road trip | Freedom, flexibility, privacy, more exploring | Driving safety fears, planning effort, fatigue | $330 – $410 | Families, adventurers |
| Launceston to Cradle Mountain day tour | Convenience, comfort, social aspects, local insights, guided walks | Limited flexibility, crowds | $350 -$380 | Solo travellers, nervous drivers, chill holiday makers |
| Transport from Launceston to Cradle Mountain (bus transfer) | Flexible pick up drop off locations, More time on the mountain | No inclusions, expensive | $340 -$436 | Multi-day hikers, Cradle Summit climbers, |
What to know & do before you go to Cradle Mountain
- If you’re only here for a few days, you can hire a car from Launceston to drive to Cradle Mountain in a day.
- Plan your drive before you go based on weather, to stay safe on the roads. We share how, down below 👇🏽
- Plan your time around the Cradle Mountain Shuttle Timetable 👇🏽
- There are no shops inside Cradle Mt National Park. Take your own water and snacks. Or pick them up at Sheffield.
- Check out our list of what to wear & bring to Cradle Mountain. It covers summer, winter and in between.
- Buy your Parks Pass before getting to Cradle Mountain. This will save you precious time.
- Book any activities at the mountain before you go. Here’s our pick of the best things to do at Cradle Mountain, outside walking and hiking 👇🏽
How to stay safe & plan your drive
It can snow up at Cradle Mountain any time of year. Icy and snow covered roads can be dangerous to drive. In some weather, tire chains are needed. Some Tasmanian rental car companies – like AVIS – also require you to buy ‘snow cover’ if you’re travelling above the ‘snow line’.
You get the gist…
The drive up to Cradle Mountain can be dicy in the wrong conditions. So the safest way to plan your trip before you go is to:
1. check the Bureau of Meteorology for Cradle Mountain snow or frost
2. check the TasAlerts website for road closures and warnings, and
3. check the Cradle Mountain webcam.
If you’re worried about the drive to Cradle Mountain, we compare Launceston to Cradle Mountain day tours for a hassle free experience 👇🏽.
Cradle Mountain Shuttle timetable
Visitors take a shuttle bus from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre into Cradle Mountain National park, to reach all the trails.
Shuttles run every 10-15 mins, from 8:00am to 6:00pm in summer (1 October to 31 March), and every 20 mins, from 9:00am to 5:00pm in winter (1 April to 30 September).
If you miss the last shuttle out it’s a really long 4 hour walk from Dove Lake back to your car….
Transport from Launceston to Cradle Mountain – 3 ways
There are three options for transport from Launceston to Cradle Mountain:
- Road trip = greatest freedom, biggest adventure
- Day tour = greatest convenience, fun stops
- Bus transfer = longest time on the hiking trails at Cradle
Next, we run through each option, and compare cost. So you know which one suits you best.
And if you love a good road trip, we’ve got 7 awesome stops en-route from Launceston to Cradle Mountain that you won’t want to miss. 👇🏽
1. Launceston to Cradle Mountain day trip itinerary
If you’re on a self-driving holiday of Tasmania, you won’t regret squeezing in a Launceston to Cradle Mountain day trip. There’s so much to see and do on the way.
So what’s to see on the Launceston to Cradle Mountain drive?
As you reach Deloraine on the Bass Highway, Tasmania’s stunning rural landscape starts to unfold. With the Western Tiers mountains as backdrop, you’ll drive past rolling hills and green paddocks full of sheep and cows. You’ll see derelict timber apple sheds with their rusty roofs and quaint old farm cottages dotted through the landscape.
As you turn off the Bass Highway, you’ll venture deep into these landscapes. Towards imposing Mount Roland and quaint Sheffield. Into the heart of bucolic Tasmania, at its charming best.
On the ascent to Cradle Mountain the landscape changes. Into brush at first and then temperate alpine heathlands, carved up by icy streams, guarded by ghostly gums.
Beautiful. Surprising. Memorable.
Whirlwind Launceston to Cradle Mountain day trip return – 1 day
We recommend being selective about where to stop on the drive from Launceston to Cradle Mountain if you’re doing it in a day.
It’s a big drive. And with just one day to see all of Cradle Mountain, we’d plan it to spend as much time at the mountain as possible. Here’s how to do that, but still have a great road trip on the way:
8am Depart Launceston
The early you leave in the morning, the more time you have on the trails today 8am is the latest you’d want to leave it.
Cradle Mountain is 140 kilometres from Launceston (one way), with half of that on highway, half on winding rural roads. While Google says the drive is 1 hour 50 minutes, I recommend allowing 2 hours either way.
Launceston to Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door is your first leg. It’s a 44 minute drive down Bass Highway (National Highway 1) to just past Elizabeth Town. Easy peasy.
Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door (30 mins)
Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door is a big attraction in the north west.
Giant cheese wheels. Crackers. Wine. Ice cream. The north west’s creamy best.
Check out how they make their cheeses and maybe pick up some snacks later in the day. A creamy havarti on crackers sitting in nature on the trails at Cradle Mountain? Well that’s lifelong memories right there.
From Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door, double back the way you came along the Bass Highway for about 5 minutes until you reach the highway turn off towards Kimberley and Sheffield.
The 30 minute Elizabeth Town to Sheffield drive is one we’ve done many times. The road is sealed but can be potholed, flood damaged and gravel only in parts. It is extremely winding in parts with potential for tractors or farm animals to slow you down on the raods.
So it’s important you drive with caution and care
Sheffield (30 mins)
Arrive at Sheffield 10am.
Sheffield is know for three things:
- The incredible view of towering Mt Roland and beautiful surrounding countryside.
- The murals and artwork that dot the town.
- It’s role as the main service centre for Cradle Mountain and beyond.
There’s a supermarket, cafes, a bakery and pharmacy. Anything you need at Cradle Mountain, grab it here. Remember, shops are limited at Cradle Mountain Village, and there are no shops inside the World Heritage National Park. So stock up on snacks, water, or ready made lunches here at Sheffield. We recommend:
- the coffee at Paper & Cup cafe. Open every day except Tuesday and Wednesday.
- ready made lunches at Bossimi’s Bakehouse.
As you walk around, check out the cool murals about town that depict its heritage. You’ll find them behind the IGA, and also near the visitor information centre.
From Sheffield, its a 50 minute ascent to Cradle Mountain. This is where the drive becomes winding, traverses along mountain sides and can be icy or snow covered.
It’s really important to plan this part of your drive.
You can read about our tips to stay safe driving to Cradle Mountain if you’re heading in winter. But just be aware that ice and snow can occur at any time of year, especially on the roads up near Cradle Mountain National Park. So it’s probably good to read these winter driving tips, whatever time of year you go.
Arrive Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre
Arrive Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre car park at 11:30am.
To visit Cradle Mountain you need a Parks Pass plus a shuttle bus ticket.
To save time, pre-purchase your Parks Pass online. This way you only need to buy your shuttle bus ticket at this point.
Jump on the shuttle and spend the next 3 – 4 hours exploring world heritage listed Cradle Mountain. Here’s a guide on what to do at Cradle Mountain, including incredible nature-filled short walks you can fit into your day.
If you want to take part in any of the awesome things to do at Cradle Mountain, you’ll probably miss the next stop, which closes at 5pm.
But that’s ok! We’re all for making the most of your time at Cradle!
Cradle Mountain to Van Diemens Land Creamery
Arrive at Van Diemens Land Creamery before 5pm.
If you leave Cradle Mountain by 3:30pm for the drive back to Launceston, you’ll have time to stop half way to sample Tasmania’s best ice cream.
Van Diemens Land Creamery is on your way home, and boy if you’re an ice cream lover don’t miss it.
We’re regulars. Lovers of their flavours you’ll only ever find in Tassie. Grab a cone of the good stuff. Thank us later.
Arrive Launceston
Arrive Launceston just before 6pm.
5 alternative stops – Launceston to Cradle Mountain road trip
If you’re not into cheese or ice cream (whaaat…?), we recommend these alternative stops on your Launceston to Cradle Mountain day trip instead:
- Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm – good for a stop in the morning instead of Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door. There’s no end to the delicious raspberry products they sell, and in summer you can get fresh raspberries. Yummo!
- Plump Berries – a thriving berry farm in Barrington near Sheffield, pop in here and pick your own harvest of raspberries, blue berries and strawberries to devour on the trails. Only in summer.
- Champagne and Bridal Falls – if you’re extra keen to hit the trails these are a couple of wild & wonderful waterfalls accessed from the car park at Lemonthyme Lodge, on the way to Cradle Mountain. We have hiked in to the waterfalls and back in 1.5 hours. Leave Launceston early if you want to squeeze this in.
- Tasmazia – a whimsical family attraction in the foothills of Mount Roland, featuring one of the world’s largest maze complexes, and the quirky “Village of Lower Crackpot,” miniature town. It’s a fun and playful destination great for kids.
- Deloraine Bush Inn Brewery – good for a stop after your day of adventures on the trails. Excellent local ales and really great pizza with the chewiest yet lightest base – it’s heavenly! Enjoy them around the open fire inside – what a magic day of Tasmanian travel!
What will this self drive road trip cost?
| Expense | Cost 2 persons |
|---|---|
| Rental car | $150/day |
| Petrol | $50 |
| Parks Pass (Icon Daily Pass incl. shuttle bus) | $60 |
| Snacks, lunch, water | $50 |
| Stops en-route | $20 – $100 |
| Total | $330 – $410 |
Travelling from Cradle Mountain to Launceston?
If you end up travelling from Cradle Mountain to Launceston, you can absolutely do this self-drive road trip in reverse order.
Start at Cradle Mountain and make your way to Sheffield for a rest stop, coffee or even breakfast. From Cradle Mountain to Launceston, pick from the any of the stops above 👆🏼.
Want a Launceston to Cradle Mountain day tour instead?
If convenience, local insights and guided walks, low effort, and no driving sound good to you, then take a Launceston to Cradle Mountain day tour instead!
You don’t have to worry about your itinerary, where to go, or how to get there. You just get on the bus at one end, and off at the other. Plus, you meet other Cradle Mountain enthusiast along the way, and there’s no driving safety worries to contend with.
All you have to think about is soaking up the majesty of the mountain.
Finding a good Cradle Mountain day tour that operates from Launceston is confusing though. What’s the difference between them? What’s included and what’s not? Which is best>
We’ve compared 3 popular day tours to Cradle Mountain, using our local knowledge. Here’s what to know:
- Tours 1 and 3 spend more time at Cradle Mountain, and include both short walks and the Dove Lake Circuit.
- Tour 2 has more inclusions, especially food. No short walks at Cradle though.
- Tour 3 is the most active of the tours, with flexibility to level up the trails depending on guests on the day.
| Tours | Itinerary | Time | Inclusions / comments | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Cradle Mountain National Park day tour from Launceston | Hotel pickup Launceston -> Sheffield -> Cradle Mt (Enchanted Walk, Weindorfer’s Forest Walk, Dove Lake) -> Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door -> Launceston | 9.5 hours | ✅ Walking tours ✅ Bakery lunch, fresh fruit, water ✅ National Park Fees | $175/p |
| 2. Cradle Mountain day tour from Launceston with lunch | Hotel pickup Launceston -> Sheffield Mural Tour -> Cradle Mt (Dove Lake walk) -> Ashgrove Cheese Dairy Door -> Launceston | 10 hours | ✅ Walking tour ✅National Park Fees ✅ Sheffield murals tour ✅ Lunch, snacks, coffee /tea, water ❌ Short walks | $175/p |
| 3. Cradle Mountain active day trip from Launceston | Hotel pickup Launceston -> Sheffield -> Cradle Mt (Rainforest City, Pencil Pine Falls, Dove Lake / Marions Lookout (optional), Weindorfers Forest Walk -> Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm / Van Diemens Land Creamery -> Launceston | 11 hours | ✅ National Park Fees. ✅ More active walks ❌ Food | $165/p |
Launceston to Cradle Mountain bus transfers
Bus transfers are exactly that. A coach ride directly from Launceston to Cradle Mountain (some stop briefly in Sheffield).
So when do bus transfers to Cradle Mountain come in handy?
- for independent multi-day hikes in Cradle Mountain National Park,
- for hiking the Overland Track from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair.
- for private groups walking or hiking Cradle Mountain together.
Buses do run transfers around the Overland Track route: Launceston -> Cradle Mt / Lake St Clair -> Launceston
Some Launceston to Cradle Mountain bus operators will even pick you up directly from Launceston Airport, making a fly-in-fly-out Cradle Mountain multi-day hike easy to organise and pull off.
Bus operators also provide side services for multi-day hikers, such as rental or purchase of butane bottles, personal locator beacons, and luggage storage while you’re on the trails.
This is probably the only situation the bus transfer makes sense, because it’s more expensive than a Launceston to Cradle Mountain tour.
There are 4 companies that offer a Launceston to Cradle Mountain bus transfer service. We recommend eGuide Cradle Mountain Transfers. Here’s a summary of the bus transfer services available:
| Pick up times | Inclusions | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| eGuide | 6am – 6:20am | ✅ Transfer ✅ Launceston Airport or CBD hotel pickup ❌ National Park fee | $218 return |
| McDermott’s Coaches | 7:30am | ✅ Transfer ✅ Pick from select hotels in CBD only ❌ Airport pick up ❌ National Park fee | $180 return |
| Overland Track Transport | 6:15am – 6:45am 11:45am – 12:15pm (1 Oct to 30 Apr only) | ✅ Transfer ✅ Launceston hotel or Airbnb pick up ✅ Sheffield stop over ✅ Return from Lake St Clair option ✅ Airport pick up for lunch departure only ❌ National Park fee | $170 return |
| Cradle Mountain Coaches | Flexible pick up to suit you | ✅ Transfer ✅ Return from Lake St Clair option | Request Quote |
FAQs
How long do you need to visit Cradle Mountain?
Here’s how long you need to visit Cradle Mountain, based on what you plan to do there. Here’s a useful guide:
Popular walks / hikes in order of difficulty:
Enchanted Walk + Dove Lake circuit: 4 hours
Crater Lake Circuit + Ronny Creek: 4 hours
Crater Lake Circuit + Marions Peak: 5 hours
Cradle Mountain Summit: 9 hours
Part Overland Track: several days.
There are a so many really cool short walks to do at Cradle Mt. If you plan to add more walks to your day – you’ll need longer.
And if you plan to add any activities, like kayaking Dove lake, the Devils @ Cradle experience, or exploring in and around the village to spot wombats and playpus, we’d suggest staying overnight nearby.
Add your travel time to and from Cradle Mountain to these time frames above.
What is the distance from Launceston to Cradle Mountain?
It’s 141 kilometres from Launceston to Cradle Mountain by road. The most direct route is along the north along the Bass Highway from Launceston, passing through Elizabeth Town, Kimberley and Sheffield.
What’s the distance from Launceston Airport to Cradle Mountain?
Launceston Airport is 146 kilometres from Cradle Mountain, following the most direct route along the Bass Highway through Elizabeth Town, Kimberley and Sheffield.
How long to drive from Launceston to Cradle Mountain?
While Google Maps may tell you the drive from Launceston to Cradle Mountain takes 1 hour and 50 minutes, it’s a good idea to plan for a little longer. Why? Because around half the 2 hour drive is on country roads. If you’re not familiar with country driving in Tasmania, the roads are winding, sometime potholed or icy and often used by local farmers on tractors or for moving farm animals. Progress can be slower going than Google estimates. Plan for 2 hours 15 minutes just to be safe.
How far is Cradle Mountain from Launceston?
Cradle Mountain is 141 kilometres from Launceston following the most direct route by road through Elizabeth Town, Kimberley and Sheffield.
Is it safe to drive to Cradle Mountain?
It is safe to drive to Cradle Mountain most of the time. You need to be cautious driving to Cradle Mountain during icy weather or snow, which can occur any time of year at the mountain and on the roads up.
In some cases, weather will make the road to Cradle unsafe to drive, unless you are prepared with snow chains on your wheels.
The safest way to plan your trip is to:
1. check the Bureau of Meteorology for Cradle Mountain weather,
2. check the TasAlerts website for road closures and warnings, and
3. check the Cradle Mountain webcam.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Breathtaking Cradle Mountain in Winter
Is there a shuttle bus to Cradle Mountain?
There is a shuttle bus from Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre into Cradle Mountain National Park where you can access the walking and hiking trails. This shuttle bus leaves every 15 minutes from the visitor centre. There are several shuttle bus stops between the visitor centre and Cradle Mountain. Once you have a shuttle bus ticket you can get on and off the shuttle all day, as you please.
There is no shuttle bus to Cradle Mountain from outside Cradle Mountain Village. But there are coaches that provide transport to Cradle Mountain from Launceston, Devonport or Hobart.
