DESCRIPTION
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Experience a diverse range of walks with your family
- Enjoy close encounters with native wildlife
- Embrace the opportunity to summit Cradle Mountain
- Be invigorated and inspired by breathtaking views and fresh mountain air
- Relax each evening in unique accommodation surrounded by wilderness
- Enjoy the hassle-free family time a professionally operated tour offers
The iconic Cradle Mountain National Park is yours to share with your family on this short and exciting walking holiday.
We start our adventure with a visit to the Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary, a great introduction to our Tasmanian Devils and other native animals followed by a visit to the fascinating limestone caves of the Mole Creek Karst National Park. It’s then on to the Cradle Mountain National Park high country where you’ll have a number of impressive walks to choose from over the next 2 days, you can even tackle the summit of Cradle Mountain (weather permitting). Sharing the views from Cradle Mountain’s peak with your children will inspire them to want to explore even more; the 360-degree panoramic outlook onto Tasmania’s highest mountains and surrounding wilderness area is simply unbeatable. Before heading back to Launceston we visit the fun and exciting Tasmazia – home to a mix of 8 exciting mazes designed to delight and challenge you!
With healthy meals, comfortable accommodation, 24-hour emergency backup, and professional guides provided, you will be able to focus on enjoying quality family time. This is a fantastic introduction to active travel for the whole family.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Launceston to Cradle Mountain National Park via Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary & Mole Creek Caves
Your adventure begins when we pick you up from your accommodation in historic Launceston around 8 am. Leaving the beautiful city behind, we head west through lush farming country to the picturesque township of Deloraine, stopping for a coffee and a complete trip-briefing (please see notes above for full briefing details). We then make our way to the Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary, a privately-owned wildlife sanctuary in Mole Creek where native Tasmanian fauna and flora thrive. It is here that the world’s largest heritage population of Tasmanian Devils reside alongside an extensive range of marsupials, birds and reptiles. After a half hour guided tour around the sanctuary, you will then have time to explore at your leisure before lunch. In the afternoon we visit the incredible Maracoopa caves of the Mole Creek Karst National Park. The cave system is home to a range of fascinating animals which have evolved over thousands of years to allow them to live comfortably in these lightless environments. You will also have the chance to see the largest glow worm display in any public access cave anywhere in Australia! From here we drive up into the high country to Cradle Mountain National Park. If time permits, we will have the opportunity to take in some of the shorter walks in the stunning World Heritage Area before retiring to our accommodation for the evening at Waldheim Cabins, nestled on the rainforest’s edge and surrounded by wombats and wallabies.
Walking time: 2-3 hours | Driving time: 3 hours
DAY 2: Exploring Cradle Mountain National Park
Today we are spoilt for choice with a plethora of awe-inspiring walks that leave from the very doorstep of our accommodation. If weather permits the main objective for the day is to summit Tasmania’s most well known and loved landmark – Cradle Mountain. This iconic day walk takes you to the top of the island’s sixth highest peak, providing magnificent views of the glaciated landscape and the mass of surrounding mountains. The last section of the climb to the peak is rock-scrambling over dolerite boulders, using hands and feet. Kids love this section of hands-on climbing and always manage to do it with more grace than the adults! The whole family will be flooded with a feeling of elation upon reaching the summit of Cradle Mountain and looking out on one of the best views in Tasmania. Alternatively, we can explore the ancient rainforests of Dove Lake, Marion’s Lookout, and Hanson’s Peak, amongst many others. After our day of exploring we make our way back to the Waldheim Cabins to enjoy a well-earned dinner prepared by our wonderful guides.
Walking time: up to 10 hours
DAY 3: Cradle Mountain National Park to Launceston vis Tasmazia
Today we enjoy another sumptuous breakfast before heading out of the National Park and towards the wonderfully named Promised Land in the heart of Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain and Lakes district. It is here that we will spend the morning exploring the famous Tasmazia – home to a mix of 8 exciting mazes designed to delight and challenge you. At its time of planting, the Great Maze was the world’s largest maze! Each maze will bring you to the quirky model village of Lower Crackpot – with buildings built to 1/5 scale. After our final lunch together in this beautiful part of Tasmania with views out to Mt Roland we make our way back to Launceston.
Walking time: up to 3 hours | Driving time: 2 hours
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Professional guide/s
- 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, snacks and hot drinks
- 2 nights accommodation at Waldheim Cabins
- 30 minute guided tour of Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary followed by free time to explore the park further
- Private tour of the Mole Creek Maracoopa Caves
- Entrance to Tasmazia
- Transport by private minibus
- National Park fees
- Emergency communications & group first aid kit
- Linen & Towels
