Cradle Mountain Lodge, Tasmania

During a trip to Tasmania in Winter, we drove from Launceston airport to Cradle Mountain (about a 2.5 hour drive) and booked into beautiful Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge where it had been snowing. We chose to stay in one of the Pencil Pine Cabins and loved it – very comfortable and warm.

After a friendly check-in at Reception in the main lodge building, we drove a very short distance across to our cabin and were able to park close by which was handy for transferring the luggage.

Our cabin had an entrance very similar to a ski lodge, with a little room to take off wet boots and hang our coats before entering the bedroom/living room.

The cabin had a lovely high ceiling and was tastefully furnished. We loved the large window looking out onto the bushland – and the gas fireplace. It was cosy and private.

There were excellent facilities including mini bar, plunger coffee and tea-making facilities, hairdryer, iron/ironing board, ceiling fan and CD player. There was a good-sized desk plus a day bed. The separate bathroom was well sized with plenty of hot water.

The main lodge is a picture postcard timber and stone building which includes reception area, the Highland Restaurant, Map Room Bar, a guest lounge with large comfy chairs in front of the fireplace, the Tavern Bar & Bistro and the Waldheim Alpine Spa.

We dined at the Highland Restaurant – a very enjoyable experience and the food was delicious. This is also where a delicious buffet breakfast is served each morning.

Cradle Mountain Lodge is right on the doorstep of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park World Heritage Area and many people visit this area for the walks.

There is a shuttle bus service into the National Park if you don’t have your own transport. At Dove Lake there are wonderful walks to take including the Crater Lake Circuit and the Cradle Mountain Summit. There is also a walk back to Cradle Mountain Lodge – much of it on boardwalks. Ask at Reception or at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre for details on all walks.

Back at Cradle Mountain Lodge, don’t miss the Enchanted Walk – a very pretty, relatively easy walk that follows a cascading creek. The area is known for wombat sightings and we saw quite a few on our visit.

We can highly recommend a stay at Cradle Mountain Lodge. There are a number of accommodation options with various standards of timber cabins, these include Pencil Pine Cabins, Family Pencil Pine Cabins, Spa Cabins, Family Spa Cabins, Spa Suites or the most luxurious of all – the King Billy Suites.