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Launceston to Cradle Mountain: Drive Time, Best Stops & Campervan Camping
Updated: 3 days ago
The drive from Launceston to Cradle Mountain is one of Tasmania's great road trips. It's only about 140–150 kilometres and 2 to 2.5 hours without stops, but it packs in rolling Meander Valley farmland, the heritage town of Deloraine, limestone caves, a mural town and finally the alpine country of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. With so much to see you'll want to take your time – we recommend at least a full day on the road, or an overnight stop on the way.
This guide is written for campervan travellers: which route to take, where to stop, where to camp (including free spots), where to charge an electric campervan and – importantly – how parking and the Dove Lake shuttle work when you arrive in a van.
Fast facts
Distance | About 140–150 km, depending on your route |
Drive time (no stops) | About 2 to 2.5 hours; allow a full day with stops |
Routes | Route A via Deloraine and Mole Creek (caves) or Route B via Elizabeth Town and Sheffield (murals). Both join the Cradle Mountain Road (C132) at Moina. |
Best season | Spring (Sep–Nov) and autumn (Mar–May); summer is busiest; snow is possible on the C132 in winter |
Last big supermarket | Deloraine |
Park entry | Cradle Mountain Icon Daily Pass $30.70 per adult including the shuttle, or a Holiday Pass ($98.35 per vehicle, up to 2 months) plus a $15.50 shuttle ticket per adult (Parks prices, July 2026) |
Campervans at Dove Lake | Not permitted on Dove Lake Road at any time – park at the Visitor Centre and take the shuttle |
EV fast charging | Elizabeth Town (Bass Highway, Route B) and the Cradle Mountain Hotel car park |
Camping bookings from 3 Nov 2026? | No – Cradle Mountain and Mole Creek are not in Parks' Phase 1 online booking list |
Planning your trip from Launceston to Cradle Mountain
Best time to visit Cradle Mountain
Spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May) are our favourite times for this road trip: the weather is mild, the farmland is green and the crowds are thinner. In late autumn the native deciduous beech (fagus) around Cradle Mountain turns gold. Summer (December–February) is stunning too and has the longest shuttle hours, but you'll share the boardwalks with a lot more people. Winter can be magical with snow-capped peaks, but the Cradle Mountain Road can be icy or closed – in July 2026 two-wheel-drive vehicles were stranded by snow near Cradle Mountain. Check road conditions before you go. For a month-by-month view, see our best time to visit Tasmania guide.
Campervan options
A campervan is the best way to enjoy this drive: you can stop wherever the view is good, cook your own meals and wake up close to the trailheads. Our off-grid campervans are fitted out with Tasmanian timber, and five of them are electric. All Tasvanlife campers can be made self-contained by adding the toilet option to your rental, which opens up campsites like Lake Gairdner that only accept self-contained vehicles. Lake Gairdner is our favourite camp on the way to Cradle Mountain – at sunset we've watched platypus surfacing on the lake, fitting if you're travelling in Larila, the van named after the platypus in palawa kani.
Prefer a ready-made plan? Our 2–3 day Cradle Mountain self-drive tour has the route, stops and camps mapped out.
Packing essentials
Tasmania's highland weather changes fast, even in summer. Pack layers, a waterproof jacket, a warm hat, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, a reusable water bottle and a camera. Our campervans come with spare duvets, binoculars and sunscreen, so there's no need to bring extras.
Stock up on groceries in Launceston or Deloraine – Deloraine is your last major supermarket stop on Route A (on Route B, Sheffield also has a supermarket), and shopping around Cradle Mountain is limited and more expensive. Fill up with fuel (or charge) before the final climb, too.
Launceston to Deloraine (both routes)
Follow the Bass Highway (A1) west from Launceston for about 45–50 minutes to Deloraine. The drive is a visual treat: rolling farmland stretches to the Great Western Tiers, with the tranquil Meander River weaving through the valley. Keep your camera ready, and look out for grazing sheep, native birds and safe spots to pull over and take in the view.
Deloraine: a charming riverside town with a vibrant artisan community, galleries and the annual Tasmanian Craft Fair. Its preserved colonial-era buildings are a testament to the craftsmanship of early settlement, and the riverbank parkland is a good spot to stretch your legs.
Frank and Lotti Espresso Bar (Emu Bay Road, Deloraine): for coffee lovers, a must. Known for expertly brewed coffee and a cosy atmosphere, it's a warm welcome and a caffeine boost to fuel your road trip.
From Deloraine, choose your route. If you have two days, go one way and come back the other.
Route A: via Mole Creek – caves, truffles and the Alum Cliffs
Leave Deloraine on Mole Creek Road (B12). This leg delves deeper into the forests and limestone country at the foot of the Great Western Tiers, about half an hour to Mole Creek. The forests and caves around Mole Creek are home to wombats, echidnas and many bird species – pause to enjoy the quiet.
The Truffle Farm (Mole Creek Road, near Deloraine): dive into the world of gourmet truffles. Join a truffle-dog hunt with tastings or browse the farm-gate shop – fresh truffles are in season for most of the year, roughly December to September. Book ahead.
Alum Cliffs (tulampanga): one of Tasmania's 60 Great Short Walks – 1.6 km return and 40–50 minutes on an easy track to a lookout high above the Mersey River gorge. The site is significant to Aboriginal people for its ochre. It's signposted off the B12 between Chudleigh and Mole Creek.
Mole Creek Karst National Park caves: Tasmania Parks runs 45-minute guided tours of Marakoopa Cave (underground rivers and glow-worms) and King Solomons Cave (chambers decorated with stalactites and stalagmites). Tickets are $32 per adult, $16 per child or $80 per family; book by phone on (03) 6363 5182 up to 14 days ahead. You don't need a parks pass for the cave tours.
For something wilder, Honeycomb Cave's limestone formations and crystal-clear streams can only be visited on a guided wild-cave tour (minimum age 14, pre-booking essential) with Wild Cave Tours.
Mole Creek has long been a centre for farming and cave exploration – its rich soils and limestone have shaped the area's history. From Mole Creek, follow Mersey Forest Road and then the signs across Lake Cethana to join the Cradle Mountain Road (C132) at Moina, about an hour from Cradle Mountain.
Route B: via Elizabeth Town and Sheffield – raspberries, murals and waterfalls
Stay on the Bass Highway past Deloraine to Elizabeth Town, then head north-west via Railton to Sheffield, and take the C136 through Gowrie Park and Cethana to Moina on the Cradle Mountain Road (C132). It's the route most hotels and tour operators recommend: about 142 km and 2.5 hours from Launceston.
Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm Cafe (Elizabeth Town): a sweet stop just west of Deloraine on the Bass Highway. Indulge in fresh raspberry desserts, jams and drinks while soaking in the picturesque surroundings.
Sheffield, the "Town of Murals": more than 60 murals painted on buildings around town since 1986, with Mount Roland as the backdrop.
Mount Roland: rising majestically above Sheffield and Gowrie Park, this 1,234 m peak is a striking landmark on the road to Cradle Mountain, and a photographer's delight in the late afternoon light.
Bridal Veil Falls: a rainforest waterfall walk near Moina, where the sound of rushing water and the cool, misty air are wonderfully refreshing. The track starts from Lemonthyme Wilderness Retreat (sign in at reception) and is about 5 km return.
The final climb to Cradle Mountain
Both routes finish on the Cradle Mountain Road (C132), a winding ascent into the alpine country around Cradle Mountain. As the landscape changes from farmland to buttongrass and snow gums, you'll feel the anticipation build. This stretch is perfect for wildlife spotting, particularly near dusk – look out for wallabies, wombats and even the elusive Tasmanian devil. Slow down after dark: wildlife is everywhere on the road.
Arriving at Cradle Mountain in a campervan
Park at the Visitor Centre. Campervans, motorhomes and caravans are not permitted on Dove Lake Road at any time. Park at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and take the shuttle bus, which stops at the Ranger Station, Snake Hill, Ronny Creek and Dove Lake.
Shuttle hours change through the year – for example about 8:15am–5:30pm in October and November, and 8:10am–7pm from late December to February. Check the Parks website before you go.
Passes: the Cradle Mountain Icon Daily Pass ($30.70 adult, $12.30 child, $73.75 family) includes entry and the shuttle and is sold at the Visitor Centre. If you're visiting several parks, buy a Holiday Pass online with the "hire and drive" option so it covers your hire van, then add a 72-hour shuttle ticket ($15.50 per adult; under-18s ride free).
Top things to do at Cradle Mountain
Dove Lake Circuit: the classic 6 km loop around Dove Lake beneath Cradle Mountain, about 2–3 hours, mostly on boardwalk.
Enchanted Walk: an easy 1.1 km, 20-minute loop along Pencil Pine Creek near the Visitor Centre, with a wombat-burrow tunnel kids love.
Ronny Creek: the boardwalk here is one of the best places in Tasmania to see wombats grazing in the open, especially late in the day. See our wombats guide.
Waldheim: the trails at Cradle Mountain owe their origins to Gustav Weindorfer, a passionate conservationist who built his chalet, Waldheim, here and envisioned the area as a national park. His legacy lives on in the park's pristine beauty and well-kept paths.
For a detailed itinerary including where to eat and sleep, see our 2–3 day Cradle Mountain self-drive tour below.
Where to camp near Cradle Mountain
Lake Gairdner (free, self-contained only): our favourite. A large private paddock on the edge of Lake Gairdner, just south of Moina off the Cradle Mountain Road, reached by a few kilometres of unsealed, winding road to a white bridge. There are no facilities – no toilets or water – so you'll need a self-contained van (add the toilet option to your Tasvanlife rental). Maximum stay 72 hours, and it can be cold, wet and windy. It's roughly half an hour to the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre. Keep an eye on the water at dusk for platypus.
O'Neills Creek Reserve, Gowrie Park (low cost): on the C136 south of Sheffield, with toilets, barbecues and a shelter for a small fee per night. No bookings.
Mole Creek options (Route A): Mole Creek Caravan Park has powered and unpowered sites. The Mersey River campsite near Liena, inside Mole Creek Karst National Park, is free (parks pass required) with pit toilets, but sites are small and the last stretch is unsealed – better for small vans.
Discovery Parks Cradle Mountain (paid): right at the park entrance on Cradle Mountain Road, with powered sites and amenities – the easiest choice in bad weather or if you want an early start on the shuttle.
Do you need to book? Tasmania Parks' new online booking system starts on 3 November 2026 for selected fee-charging national park campgrounds. Cradle Mountain and Mole Creek are not on the Phase 1 list, and free camps like Lake Gairdner stay first-in, first-served. See Tasmania national park camping bookings for the full list, and our top free campervan-friendly campsites for more ideas.
Charging an electric campervan on the way
If you're driving one of our electric campervans, the two key fast chargers on this drive are at Elizabeth Town on the Bass Highway (Route B) – a good top-up before the climb – and in the Cradle Mountain Hotel car park (Electric Highway Tasmania, via the Chargefox app). Devonport also has a fast charger if you're coming off the Spirit of Tasmania. Check the charging apps for live status before you set off, and see our EV rental guide for more tips.
Map of the Launceston to Cradle Mountain route
To help you plan, here's a map of the route from Launceston to Cradle Mountain with the key stops mentioned above. It works in reverse too.
Tips for driving Launceston to Cradle Mountain
Start early: the drive is short, but the stops (caves, truffle hunt, Alum Cliffs, Sheffield) easily fill a day.
Make it a loop: go via Mole Creek and return via Sheffield (or the other way round) to see both sides of the Great Western Tiers.
Do your shopping in Deloraine, and fuel up or charge before the final climb.
Book cave tours and the truffle hunt ahead, especially in school holidays.
Plan to park at the Visitor Centre – vans can't drive to Dove Lake.
Avoid driving the last stretch after dark: wombats, wallabies and devils are on the road at dusk.
In winter, check road conditions for the C132 before you set off and pack warm layers.
Arrive early at first-in, first-served camps like Lake Gairdner, and add the toilet option so you're self-contained.
Mobile coverage is patchy on the back roads – download offline maps.
Launceston to Cradle Mountain FAQs
How long is the drive from Launceston to Cradle Mountain?
About 140–150 km, or 2 to 2.5 hours without stops, whether you go via Mole Creek or via Sheffield. With stops, allow a full day.
Can you drive a campervan to Dove Lake?
No. Campervans, motorhomes and caravans are not allowed on Dove Lake Road at any time. Park at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and take the shuttle bus.
Can you do Cradle Mountain as a day trip from Launceston?
Yes, but it's a long day: around 5 hours of driving return, plus 2–3 hours for the Dove Lake Circuit. Staying a night nearby gives you sunrise or dusk at Dove Lake and the best chance to see wildlife.
Which route is better, via Sheffield or via Mole Creek?
Via Mole Creek suits cave lovers and walkers (Marakoopa and King Solomons caves, Alum Cliffs, the Truffle Farm). Via Sheffield has the murals, Mount Roland, Bridal Veil Falls and an EV fast charger at Elizabeth Town. Both take a similar time – do one each way.
Where can I camp for free near Cradle Mountain?
Lake Gairdner near Moina is free for fully self-contained vehicles (maximum 72 hours, no facilities). The Mersey River campsite in Mole Creek Karst National Park is free with a parks pass and suits small vans.
How much does it cost to visit Cradle Mountain?
The Cradle Mountain Icon Daily Pass is $30.70 per adult and includes the shuttle. If you're visiting several parks, a Holiday Pass ($98.35 per vehicle for up to two months) plus a $15.50 shuttle ticket per adult is usually better value (prices as of July 2026).
Can I charge an electric campervan near Cradle Mountain?
Yes – there are fast chargers in the Cradle Mountain Hotel car park and at Elizabeth Town on the Bass Highway (Route B).
Set off on an unforgettable road trip through Tasmania's farmland, caves and alpine wilderness. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveller, the drive from Launceston to Cradle Mountain – and a night or two camped nearby – is sure to be a highlight of your Tasmanian journey. Carrying on west? See Cradle Mountain to Strahan or Cradle Mountain to Stanley.
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