Cradle Mountain, the start of the 65-kilometre (40-mile) Overland Track, is the northern end of the 161,000-hectare (397,840-acre) Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Tasmania's highest mountain, 1,617-metre (5,305-foot) Mt Ossa, is in this park, just off the Overland Track, while another beautiful national park, the Walls of Jerusalem, abuts its eastern boundary.

The sheer magnificence of Cradle Mountain inspired Austrian-born Gustav Weindorfer to build a chalet of King Billy pine here in 1912 and work tirelessly for a decade to have the area declared a national park "for the people for all time". His dream was realised in 1922, and today a quarter of all visitors to the state travel here to share his vision.

Take one of the many short walks through the ever-changing vegetation of the shores and mountainside to gain a full appreciation of the magic of this area.

Key Attractions of Cradle Mountain National Park

Perhaps the most distinctive flora of the area are the pandani and the fagus – the former for its paradoxical palm-like appearance, the latter for its status as Australia's only deciduous tree. Fagus, also know as deciduous beech (Nothofagus gunnii), is endemic to Tasmania and has a magnificent autumn display, ranging through gold to deep red from late April to May.

Stroll from cascading rivers to dense, old-growth rainforest in just 20 minutes on the Enchanted Walk, or take most of the day to tackle the summit.

The history of the Weindorfers' devotion to Cradle Mountain and their successful efforts to ensure its preservation as a national park is told in Weindorfer's Chalet, just off the road to Dove Lake.

If you have your heart set on the Overland Track, you don't have to do it all yourself. Guided walks are available, some staying in catered huts along the way. (See Cradle Huts).

If you are interested in the natural history of the park, you'll enjoy the displays and interpretation at the Visitor Centre, which you pass as you travel towards Dove Lake.

Short Walks in Cradle Mountain National Park

• Dove Lake Loop Walk (one-two hours)
• Cradle Mountain Summit (six-eight hours)
• Crater Lake Circuit (two hours)
• Enchanted Walk (20 minutes)

Long Walks in Cradle Mountain National Park

• Overland Track and its side trips (approximately six days)

Cradle Mountain Accommodation

Dotted along the Overland Track  are huts and camp sites. You must book if you plan to walk the Overland Track between 1 November and 30 April.

At Waldheim, which is situated beside lush rainforest, you can stay in simple cabins equipped with basic cooking utensils, a gas stove and heating. The amenities block has showers and flushing toilets.

Just outside the park you'll find more accommodation to suit most budgets, from luxurious highland chalets to powered and unpowered camp sites.

What is Near Cradle Mountain National Park

A range of tours are offered from Cradle Valley, just outside the park boundary, including horseback trail rides, and helicopter flights over the region's rugged mountains.

How to Get to Cradle Mountain National Park

The northern end of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is approximately 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Burnie, a 90-minute drive via the B18, the A10 and the C132.

The park is also 90 minutes from Devonport - take the B19 and the B14 south to Sheffield, then the C136 and the C132 to the park entrance.

The park is a 2.5-hour drive from Launceston via the Bass Highway (A1) and the signposted route along the B13 and the C156 through Sheffield.

A shuttle service operates from the information centre at the old airstrip most times of the year.