Dove Lake Circuit in Cradle Mountain - hiking guide (Tasmania)

Dove Lake Circuit in Cradle Mountain - hiking guide (Tasmania)

The Dove Lake Circuit is the most popular and easiest accessible hiking trail in Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Claire National Park, Tasmania. Read this full hiking guide with useful tips for arrival and photos of Dove Lake.

A visit to Tasmania is simply not complete without first visiting the legendary cradle country. This region is one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in Australia. One of the most popular ways to enjoy the beauty of the Cradle Mountain and its Alpine lakes is the short hike known as Dove Lake Circuit.

In this short guide, I describe everything you need to know about the hike, including useful tips on how to get to the national park, what awaits you and photos of my last visit.

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About the Dove Lake Circuit

The Dove Lake Circuit begins at the Dove Lake Parkplatz in Cradle Mountain - Lake St Claire National Park. The hike follows the scope of the Dove Lake and offers great viewpoints on the surrounding mountains, including Cradle Mountain, Hansons Peak and of course the beautiful Dove Lake.

How long does the hike on the Dove Lake Circuit take? The Dove Lake Circuit is a 5.7 kilometer loop on a wide, flat route. Expect about 2 hours to complete the Dove Lake Circuit hike.

How difficult is the Dove Lake Circuit? This hike is relatively flat and with only shot climbing sections on paved steps. The distance can also be mastered quite well for the leisurely bush hiker. Tasmania Parks evaluates the Dove Lake Circuit as a hike in class 3, which I don't quite understand.
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Related Post: Where to spend the night in Tasmania

How do you get to the Dove Lake and the Cradle Mountain?

The first step is, of course, to get to the visitor center of the Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Claire National Park. This park is quite remote and you have three options to get here. Below you will find links to book the three best rated day trips (shuttles) to the visitor center from various parts of Tasmania.

Otherwise, take a look at this detailed contribution for all options, which contains all options for the way to the Cradle Mountain.

• Cradle Mountain von Hobart
• Cradle Mountain from Launceston
• and Cradle Mountain from Burnie
• private charter option

Remember that you need a Tasmanian Parks pass to enter national parks in Tasmania. The costs for Cradle Mountain are higher at 25 USD per person (24 hours) or $ 40 per car (up to 8 people) than in the other parks. However, it is often cheaper to only buy a holiday or annual ticket if you want to spend a little more time in the national parks in Tassie.

Further information can be found on the Park Pass page.
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The Dove Lake Circuit-hiking guide

Hiking route: 5.7 kilometers (loop)
Duration: 2-3 hours
Height (wave)
difficulty: Simple

The Dove Lake Circuit loop begins at the Dove Lake bus stop. It is possible to drive from the visitor center to Dove Lake, but we recommend that you take the shuttle bus from the visitor center, which is free of charge (included in your National Pass). This reduced the number of cars on the already very narrow street. Just make sure that you plan your trip so that you have enough time to take the re -bus. Updated shuttle bus routes can be found in the visitor center.

As soon as you have arrived at Dove Lake, you can start the simple, landscape around the lake. The signage recommends hikers to go clockwise.
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highlights on the Dove Lake Circuit Loop

The truth is that the Dove Lake Circuit is a very simple hike. As one of the most popular hiking trails in the park, it is very well maintained and it is impossible to get lost.

Instead of bored with a step-by-step instructions, I would like to point out some of the highlights that you could expect on the Dove Lake Circuit in Cradle Mountain!

Pictured viewpoint at the lake (Glacier Rock)

One of the first highlights on the route is the Glacier Rock viewpoint. You can reach this place after only 10 minutes on foot. In my opinion, this place offers one of the best viewpoints on the Cradle Mountain, the boat shed and of course the beautiful mountain lake underneath. There are also several signs that give you a good insight into the glacier activities of the last ice age.
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The ballroom forest

Halfway around the Dove Lake you enter a dense forest with boards under your feet. This really breaks out the hike and offers the opportunity for great photos of local moss -covered trees.
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of the boat shed

The last highlight on the Dove Lake Circuit on the Cradle Mountain is the famous boat shed. This picturesque wooden shed has gained popularity on Instagram, but is really not much more than a small hut on the water. Apart from that, the position is perfect to take photos when it is your thing.
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Ultimate Tasmanian travel resource

I hope you like this blog post. Do not miss my ultimate guides below for further travel and adventure inspirations.

-62 Epic activities in Tasmania-Overnight stays in Tasmania (best locations)-26 amazing waterfalls in Tasmania-35 must-do hikes in Tasmania

Further activities on the Cradle Mountain

There is so much more to do and see and do in Cradle Mountain. Below you will find some of the best rated and inevitable activities for your next visit.

Overnight at the Cradle Mountain

Would you like to spend a few days to explore all the fantastic hiking trails in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park? Below are two great options, look at them!

Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village

The Wilderness Village is located directly on the edge of the national park belonging to the World Heritage Site and offers accommodation for self -catering in a rainforest environment.

With regard to the distance to the park, this is as close as possible. It is a 5 -minute walk from the visitor center and a 10 -minute drive from the start of the popular overland track.

Check the price and availability for your travel data
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Lemonthyme Wilderness Retreat

The Lemonthyme Retreat is a award-winning boutique game lodge with its own restaurant and is hidden in a peaceful rainforest, about 40 minutes from Cradle Mountain National Park.

This is a great retreat for travelers to Tasmania who want to escape everyday life and spend some time in nature. Nearby you will also find Bridal Veil and Champagne Falls - two of my favorite waterfalls in Tasmania.

Check the price and availability for your travel data
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Further travel and adventure ideas for Tasmania

I hope that you liked my short but useful guide to the Dove Lake Circuit Track in Cradle Mountain, Tasmania. If so, take a look at some of my other instructions.

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