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Summary

In Brief

  • 1 Night Launceston
  • 4 Nights Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
  • 1 Night Launceston
  • 1 Night Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

About

Recommended for:
Activity adventure | Escorted tour | Natural world

You'll stay overnight in a series of comfortable wilderness huts as you make your way through enchanting forests, and past towering mountain peaks that make up some of Australia's most spectacular landscapes. Your journey begins and ends with a stay at the luxurious Quamby Estate, just minutes from the city of Launceston and renowned for its wonderful cuisine that champions Tasmania's fantastic local produce.

Day by day itinerary

Day 1
Launceston

Arrive in Launceston and transfer to the beautiful Quamby Estate located just 25 minutes from the airport. This picturesque country estate, which features a nine-hole golf course, has been converted from a heritage-listed homestead into a luxurious boutique country hotel.

Stay: Quamby Estate (RO)

Day 2
Cradle Mountain

This morning a Cradle Mountain Huts representative will meet you at the Quamby Estate for the start of your six-day walking tour. After introductions and gear check its time to make your way to Walheim, the starting point for your first day's walk that will take you through beautiful temperate rainforest to Crater Lake before a steep section takes you up to Marion's Lookout, where you'll get some magnificent views of Cradle Mountain and Lake Dove. Finally you'll make your way around the base of Cradle Mountain, along the edge of a glacial cirque before dropping down into Waterfall Valley and your hut at the bottom of towering Barn Bluff where you'll spend the night.

Stay: Barn Bluff Hut (L,D)

Day 3
Cradle Mountain

Today's undulating walk takes you across the soggy expanses of Pine Forest Moor, a once notorious section now made easier with the introduction of a duckboard path that takes you across the mud. With the peaks of Barn Bluff and Cradle Mountain now behind you to the north and the stately Mount Pelion West directly in front, today's walk offers some scintillating views and majestic scenery. The day ends with a walk through an enchanting forest before you settle into your accommodation for the night.

Stay: Pine Forest Moor Hut (B,L,D)

Day 4
Cradle Mountain

Today begins with a long slow descent around the base of Mt Pelion West and down to the Forth River, which plunges into the wonderfully named Lemonthyme Valley. Take a rest at Frog Flats before a long but gentle ascent leads you onto the Pelion Plains where you'll get wonderful views of Mount Oakleigh. With mountains all around as well as swimming holes and a copper mine there are several options for some side trips, or you may prefer to settle back and relax at your hut, where you can soak in the fantastic views.

Stay: Pelion Plains Hut (B,L,D)

Day 5
Cradle Mountain

Your penultimate walking day begins with a few hours of easy trekking to Du Cane where a hut still remains from the long gone days of animal trapping. From there you'll make your way through some of the oldest forest in the National Park, where some of the King Billy Pines are as much as 2000 years old, before heading along the Mersey River that descends steeply towards the Bass Strait. Here you'll find three major sets of waterfalls with the chance to visit one or more of them. The afternoon sees you travel over Du Cane gap before descending beside Falling Mountain to Windy Ridge Hut.

Stay: Windy Ridge Hut (B,L,D)

Day 6
Launceston

On your last walking day you'll make your way to Lake St Clair, which is Australia's deepest natural lake. Your walk takes you through temperate eucalyptus forest to Narcissus at the northern end of Lake St Clair where you'll stop for lunch before boarding the Idaclair cruise boat for a spectacular 17 kilometre cruise to Cynthia Bay, where you'll have time to have a look round the visitors centre before heading back to Quamby Estate through the beautiful highland lakes.

Stay: Quamby Estate (B,L)

Day 7
Departure

Depart Quamby Estate and transfer to Launceston Airport for your onward flight.

(RO)

Day 8
Cradle Mountain

Today comprises of a three-and-a-half-hour walk to Kia Ora Hut via Pelion Plains leaving plenty of time for an optional five-hour climb to Mt Ossa or one of several side trips from Pelion Gap, a stunning spot offering fantastic views both to the north and south.

Stay: Kia Ora Hut (B,L,D)

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At Wexas, we specialise in bespoke travel experiences. Our itineraries are just samples of what we can arrange, and can be changed depending on your precise needs, finances and ideas by our experienced destination specialists.

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