Climb Cradle Mountain: Tasmanian Wilderness Highlights Adventure

  • Cradle Mountain Summit, Waterfall Valley, Dove Lake Circuit: Two Nights and Two Days

  • Lake Saint Clair: Ferry across full length of the lake and then a beautiful trail and wilderness walk back. Magic!

  • West Coast including Ocean Beach, Macquarie Harbour, Sarah Island, Strahan, Queenstown

  • Gordon River Wilderness Cruise on “Spirit of the Wild.”

  • Small Group, Comfortable Transport, Day Walks only - all fitness levels and hiking experience welcomed.

  • Experienced Local Guide

We will have two days and two nights within a short climb to this perch

Cradle Mountain in the early light. We can be here for Sunrise and Sunset, even at night to search for an Aurora

Recharge and reconnect through magic moments of complete wilderness immersion, made accessible and affordable for anybody. Should you answer the call, you will be greatly rewarded. 

Designed for Humans seeking Wilderness and Wildlife, as well as

  • Temperate Forests.

  • Quite moments.

  • Exertion and exhilaration.

  • Starry Nights and Southern Lights.

  • Rugged Mountains, alpine lakes and windswept moors.

  • Embracing the elements - even sleet and snow.

  • A challenge.

  • Beauty.


On the way to Waterfall Valley. We can go here and return in one big, beautiful day.

Highlights across Five Days and Four Nights: 

  • Opportunity to summit Cradle Mountain and hike even further towards the Cradle Cirque overlooking Waterfall Valley, returning via Lake Rodway Track and Twisted Lakes. An epic Grade 4 day hike that is even bigger than day #1 of the Overland Track, allowing you to fully experience some of the very best sub-alpine wilderness in the world with just a day pack.

  • Two full days inside the National Park, based at Waldheim Cabins - walk out and walk back to Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake.

  • Walk/Run/Swim along Ocean Beach, and glide deep along the Gordon River on “Spirit of the Wild” with two walking tours (Heritage Landing and Sarah Island)

  • Walk the entire length of Lake Saint Clair and embrace the final leg of the Overland Track with a ferry ride and day pack. A remarkable full day slowly moving through an ancient and wild landscape.

  • Feed Devils and Quolls at Devils @ Cradle Sanctuary.

  • Hobart out and Hobart in with Day 1 early airport meet and go via café breakfast and Day 5 airport return possible making for a clean and full 5 days and 4 nights.

  • Small groups, comfortable beds, hot showers, healthy food.

  • Tackle Day One and Day Five of the World Famous Overland Track as Day Hikes - walk as much or as little as you like but still immerse yourself in the Wilderness.

  • Five unique, active, well balanced, memorable, nature focused, photographers dream locations, life affirming days.


    Wow!  Wilderness made so accessible.

Seriously, so much packed into 4 remote nights and 5 big days - perfect for Singles, Couples and Small Groups wishing to focus on fully experiencing the Wild Heart of Tasmania in a highly efficient way. Not rushed, well balanced, with the emphasis squarely on allowing you to connect with your Temperate Wild Side.

Our Nature & Wilderness focused small group guided tours are designed for people with at least moderate fitness and health in mind. Although some of the trails we tackle require good fitness and mobility to complete, if you don’t think you could tackle a steep hill or the whole 16 km (plus) rough trail, do not discount this wonderful opportunity to visit and experience some remarkable, remote and wild places. Even to sit, be still, far removed from your everything for a few hours is worth the effort, so please don’t feel as though you have to always be walking.

If you are experienced and confident, then you will have the opportunity to go further along the trails and see even more. Your guide, and no doubt the others as well, will provide you with gentle encouragement to keep on going should you need it.

Lake Saint Clair will provide its own Wild Beauty to capture your attention

Itinerary - simple

Day 1 - depart from Hobart early and drive to Cradle Mountain, two short walks on Central Plateau. Late afternoon walk close to Ranger Station. Devils and Quolls feeding tour. Waldheim Cabins settle in. Dinner in Cabin.

Day 2 - Hero Hike #1 early start and walk as far as your legs will allow. A circuit with a few good places to turn back. Dinner in Cabin.

Day 3 - sleep in, Dove Lake Circuit and additional trails. Depart for West Coast. Ocean Beach and dinner at Restaurant in Strahan. 

Day 4 - Gordon River Wilderness Cruise, two short walks, including Heritage Landing and Sarah Island. Leave Strahan early afternoon, pass through Queenstown, stop at Nelson Falls (2km), Donaghys Lookout (3km) arrive at Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel early evening. Dinner in the Tavern.

Day 5 - Hero Hike #2, 16km. Start with 30 minute Ferry to Narcissus Hut at northern end of Lake Saint Clair. Hike back to Cynthia Bay - the official final leg of the Overland Track. Arrive Hobart late afternoon.

We follow the A.B.O.U.T philosophy of multi-day active tours, and that is Always Be Outside Unless Tired.


Ready to book?

Scheduled Dates for 2024

30th July ~ 3rd August

27th August ~ 31st August

24th September ~ 28th September

29th October ~ 2nd November

Call or email Sam, Owner and Operator of Derwent Experience.

For solo and couples, we have limited availability. We aim to offer more departures in line with accommodation and availability of guides. 

This tour found expression in 2024, amidst weekly Hobart to Cradle Mountain Day Trips and plenty of Private Tours.

I have been thinking of doing this for some time now, even as I have been running my day tours for the past few years. I am confident that  - no matter the weather and conditions - you will have a truly remarkable and memorable time.

Read on for a detailed itinerary.

Accommodation:

The first two nights are in a newly renovated cabin with single bunks, surrounded by tall trees and looking out across button grass sweeping up to Cradle Mountain. Basic mattress with linen provided. Cabins are warm and cosy. Toilet and showers are in a separate building close by, where you may encounter possums and wombats in between. The original cabin built by Gustav and Kate Weindorfer in 1910, and a short forest walk is also here.

Dinner on the first and second nights will be prepared and enjoyed in the cabin. 

On the 3rd night we will stay in a Motel in Strahan that has an ensuite, and is in walking distance to the Gordon River Cruise waterfront departure point as well as the local pub or Thai Fusion restaurant for dinner that evening.

Our final night's accommodation is at the Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel, a short drive from Lake Saint Clair. The Tavern has a great menu, pool table and has the large double sided fire going all year round.

Meals:

For three meals per day, factor in the following:

(PYO means pay your own)

  • Breakfast #1 PYO (depart Hobart 9 - 9.30am)

  • Lunch #1 PYO (Bakery in Sheffield)

  • Dinner #1 Included - Vegetables, protein, pasta, sour dough.

  • Breakfast #2 Included - porridge, weetbix, sourdough, bacon and eggs

  • Lunch #2 Included - wraps, protein, trail mix, fruit, chocolate

  • Dinner #2 Included - Vegetables, protein, pasta, sour dough.

  • Breakfast #3 Included - porridge, weetbix, sourdough, bacon and eggs

  • Lunch #3 Included - wraps, protein, trail mix, fruit, chocolate

  • Dinner #3 PYO in Strahan

  • Breakfast #4 PYO - Bakery is open across road from Cruise, weetbix, fruit etc also available to access

  • Lunch #4 Included - a generous buffet lunch is part of the Wilderness Cruise

  • Dinner #4 PYO - Tavern.

  • Breakfast #5 Included - simple continental breakfast.

  • Lunch #5 Included - wraps, fruitcake, protein, chocolate etc.

  • Dinner #5 PYO - Hobart 

Along with a modest and healthy mix of food we will pre-plan and carry, fruit, water, tea and coffee, nibbles will also be available. A wee dram or a glass of wine with some dark chocolate will end most days.

Our transport for the duration

Itinerary - detailed

Day 1: 

We gather early morning in Hobart and ready ourselves for departure. With advance communication, a time and place will be nominated - likely a waterfront café. If you are arriving on a morning flight then we can meet you at the airport and your tour starts straight away.

Depart Hobart 9 am (aiming for) in our comfortable bus that has capacity for 11 people with luggage, but we are capping this at just eight people. Part way over the Central Plateau following the Highland Lakes Way we stop at The Steppes for half an hour for a 1km bushwalk through dry eucalyptus to a memorial honouring the wildlife and a Pioneer Family.

Travelling at over 1000m above sea level, around the Great Lake, passing through small villages and admiring the edge of the official Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and Great Pine Tiers, we stop and follow the boardwalk across a fragile sub-Alpine wilderness surrounded by ancient Pencil Pines to Pine Lake. Half an hour here and you will feel like you are in a completely different time in the earths history.

We stop for lunch at The Bakery in Sheffield, and also any final supplies needed at the IGA, Pharmacy or Outdoor & General Store. From Sheffield we head towards imposing Mount Roland, descend down a gorge to cross the Forth River, ascend back up to higher ground, vegetation ever changing, more ferns, birch and myrtle now, and soon after, arrive at the northern end of Cradle Mountain - Lake Saint Clair National Park.

It is mid-afternoon, and we have plenty of time to walk and explore the immediate area around Cradle Mountain Lodge and Rangers Station with a few lovely trails. A comfy chair by the log fire or wandering through the Interpretation Centre may also be enticing. 

At 5.30 pm we go together to Devils @ Cradle for  the evening Devils and Quolls feeding tour (included) Devils and Quolls are amazing carnivorous marsupials that are so cute, but definitely not cuddly (except for the ones in the gift shop) These shy creatures are so hard to see in the wild but here we will get very close indeed. This experience is interesting, engaging, and supports a great cause in the protection and understanding of our native wildlife. 

After Devils @ Cradle we will then head 5 km down to Ronny Creek and settle into our cabin at Waldheim. You will of course have the option to walk there via the Cradle Valley Boardwalk. Maybe its sunset. Maybe its a full moon. If the conditions meet your desire, then this has the potential to be a stunning walk to the cabin. Either way, it has been a big first day with so much more than just getting to our cabin ready for the next day's Hero Hike.

A hearty cabin cooked meal, night cap and a warm bunk bed rounds out a beautiful first day.

Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5

Day 2: Cradle Mountain - the big Walk, Horse Track, Summit, face track, Twisted Lakes, Hansons Peak


Day 3: Cradle Mountain - Dove Lake circuit. Drive to Strahan and settle in, dinner out and enjoy “The Ship that never was” an exciting and dynamic dramatic experience to thoroughly enjoy.


Day 4: Gordon River Cruise 8am. Finishes at 2pm, drive to Lake St Clair, stop for the Nelson Falls and Donaghy’s Lookout Walk with magnificent views towards Frenchmans Cap, Franklin River. Arrive at Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel and dinner in the Tavern by the open fire.

Day 5: Early ferry to Narcissus Hut (30 minutes across the full length of the Lake. One hour to wander, mediate, rejoice in the remoteness and quietness of it all before 16km walk back to Cynthia Bay. Return to Hobart.