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Dove Lake Circuit in Cradle Mountain – Hiking Guide (Tasmania)
The Dove Lake Circuit is the most popular and accessible trail in Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Claire National Park, Tasmania. Read this complete hiking guide with useful tips for getting there and photos of Dove Lake. A visit to Tasmania simply isn't complete without first visiting the fabled Cradle Country. This region is one of Australia's most spectacular wilderness areas. One of the most popular ways to enjoy the beauty of Cradle Mountain and its alpine lakes is the short hike known as the Dove Lake Circuit. In this quick guide, I'll cover everything you need to know about the hike, including...
Dove Lake Circuit in Cradle Mountain – Hiking Guide (Tasmania)
The Dove Lake Circuit is the most popular and accessible trail in Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Claire National Park, Tasmania. Read this complete hiking guide with useful tips for getting there and photos of Dove Lake.
A visit to Tasmania simply isn't complete without first visiting the fabled Cradle Country. This region is one of Australia's most spectacular wilderness areas. One of the most popular ways to enjoy the beauty of Cradle Mountain and its alpine lakes is the short hike known as the Dove Lake Circuit.
In this quick guide, I'll describe everything you need to know about the hike, including useful tips on how to get to the national park, what to expect, and photos from my recent visit.
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About the DOve Lake Circuit
The Dove Lake Circuit begins at the Dove Lake car park in Cradle Mountain – Lake St Claire National Park. The hike follows the perimeter of Dove Lake and offers great viewpoints of the surrounding mountains including Cradle Mountain, Hansons Peak and of course beautiful Dove Lake.
How long is the Dove Lake Circuit hike? The Dove Lake Circuit is a 5.7 kilometer loop on a wide, flat track. Allow approximately 2 hours to complete the Dove Lake Circuit hike.
How difficult is the Dove Lake Circuit? This hike is relatively flat with only gradual uphill sections on paved steps. The distance is quite manageable for even the most leisurely bushwalker. However, Tasmania Parks rates the Dove Lake Circuit as a Class 3 hike, which I don't fully understand.
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RELATED POST: Where to Stay in Tasmania
How to get to Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain?
The first step, of course, is to get to the Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Claire National Park Visitor Center. This park is quite remote and you have three options to get here. Below are links to book the three top rated visitor center day trips (shuttles) from different parts of Tasmania.
Otherwise, for all the options, check out this detailed post that includes all the options for getting to Cradle Mountain.
- Cradle Mountain von Hobart
- Cradle Mountain von Launceston
- Und Cradle Mountain von Burnie
- Private Charteroption
Remember that you need a Tasmanian Parks Pass to enter national parks in Tasmania. The cost at Cradle Mountain is higher than the other parks at $25 per person (24 hours) or $40 per car (up to 8 people). However, it is often cheaper to just purchase a holiday or annual pass if you want to spend a little more time in the national parks in Tassie.
For more information, see the Park Pass page.
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The Dove Lake Circuit – Hiking Guide
The Dove Lake Circuit loop begins at the Dove Lake bus stop. While it is possible to drive to Dove Lake from the visitor center, we recommend taking the shuttle bus from the visitor center, which is free (included with your national park pass). This reduced the number of cars on the already very narrow street. Just make sure you plan your trip so that you have enough time to catch the return bus. Updated shuttle bus routes can be found at the visitor center.
Once you arrive at Dove Lake, you can begin the easy, scenic loop around the lake. The signage recommends hikers to walk the circular route clockwise.
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Highlights on the Dove Lake Circuit Loop
The truth is that the Dove Lake Circuit is a very easy hike. One of the most popular trails in the park, it is very well maintained and impossible to get lost.
So instead of boring you with a step-by-step guide, let me point out some of the highlights you might expect at Cradle Mountain's Dove Lake Circuit!
Scenic Lake Viewpoint (Glacier Rock)
One of the first highlights on the route is the Glacier Rock overlook. You can reach this place in just 10 minutes on foot. In my opinion this location offers one of the best viewpoints of Cradle Mountain, the boat shed and of course the beautiful mountain lake below. There are also several signposts that give you a good insight into the glacier activity of the last Ice Age.
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The Ballroom Forest
About halfway around Dove Lake, you enter a dense forest with boards underfoot. This really breaks up the hike and provides the opportunity for great photos of native moss-covered trees.
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The boat shed
The final highlight on the Dove Lake Circuit at Cradle Mountain is the famous boat shed. This quaint wooden shed has gained popularity on Instagram, but it's really not much more than a small cabin on the water. Other than that, the position is perfect for taking photos if that's your thing.
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Ultimate Tasmanian travel resource
I hope you enjoy this blog post. For more Tasmania travel and adventure inspiration, don’t miss my ultimate guides below.
– 62 Epic Things to Do in Tasmania – Where to Stay in Tasmania (Best Places) – 26 Amazing Waterfalls in Tasmania – 35 Must-Do Hikes in Tasmania
MORE ACTIVITIES AT CRADLE MOUNTAIN
There is so much more to do and see and do in Cradle Mountain. Below are some of the top-rated and unmissable activities for your next visit.
Overnight stay at Cradle Mountain
Want to spend a few days exploring all the amazing hiking trails in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park? Below are two great options, check them out!
Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village
Located right on the edge of the World Heritage-listed national park, The Wilderness Village offers self-catering accommodation in a rainforest setting.
In terms of distance to the park, this is as close as it gets. It's a 5-minute walk from the visitor center and a 10-minute drive from the start of the popular Overland Track.
Check price and availability for your travel dates
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Lemonthyme Wilderness Retreat
Lemonthyme Retreat is an award-winning boutique wilderness lodge with an on-site restaurant, tucked away in a peaceful rainforest about 40 minutes from Cradle Mountain National Park.
This is a great retreat for travelers to Tasmania who want to get away from it all and spend some time in nature. Nearby you'll also find Bridal Veil and Champagne Falls - two of my favorite waterfalls in Tasmania.
Check price and availability for your travel dates
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More travel and adventure ideas for Tasmania
I hope you enjoyed my short but useful guide to the Dove Lake Circuit Track in Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. If so, check out some of my other guides too.
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