Written by Callum Taylor, Camille Laurent, Marika Maslanka
21/08/2025
Jörn Brauns, Wikimedia Commons
Major transport hubs for reaching Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park include Launceston, Hobart, and Devonport, which are accessible by air and sea.
By Car:
Renting a car offers flexibility for exploring Tasmania. Car rental services are available from airports in Hobart, Launceston, and Devonport.
From Hobart: The drive typically takes approximately 4 hours, covering 304 to 330 kilometres.
From Launceston: The journey is generally between 1.5 to 2.5 hours, covering 114 to 141 kilometres.
From Devonport: The drive is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
By Bus/Coach Services:
Several private operators provide transfers to Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
McDermott's Coaches:: Operates daily bus services from Launceston to the Cradle Mountain Information Centre, with a journey time of around 3 hours and a cost of approximately $90.
Overland Track Transport:: Offers daily services from Launceston CBD to Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre (approximately 3 hours). They also provide services from Lake St Clair to Launceston and Hobart.
Cradle Mountain Coaches:: Provides door-to-door services from Lake St Clair, Launceston, Devonport, and Hobart.
Area Connect:: A bus service operates from Hobart to Derwent Bridge Wilderness Hotel twice weekly (Tuesdays and Fridays), taking approximately 3 hours 15 minutes and costing around $20.
eGuide:: Offers private and group transfers from various locations including Launceston, Devonport, Sheffield, Deloraine, and Lake St Clair, with connections to Hobart.
Tassielink (Tiger Wilderness Tours):: Reportedly runs buses to Cradle Mountain from Hobart, Launceston, and Devonport, with summer Overland Track services available.
Internal Park Shuttle Bus:
A mandatory shuttle bus operates within Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park from the Visitor Centre to Dove Lake.
A fee of $15 applies for adults (18 years and over) for a 72-hour ticket, in addition to a valid Parks Pass, effective from November 15, 2023. Children under 18 travel free.
Private vehicle access on the internal park road is restricted during shuttle operating hours, generally 8: 00 AM to 6:00 PM in summer (October to March) and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in winter (April to September).
Check out our other pages on Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
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