Cradle Country
The north-west corner of Tasmania drops away from the Central Highlands in a series of sharp ridges and deep valleys that seem to have been carved by some ancient, impatient hand. This is Cradle Country, where the dolerite columns of Cradle Mountain rise above buttongrass plains and temperate rainforest gullies that have remained largely unchanged since Gondwana split apart. The region takes its name from the distinctive twin peaks that dominate the skyline, but its character extends far beyond this single landmark into a landscape of alpine tarns, ancient pines, and farming valleys where the soil runs red with iron oxide. What sets this corner of Tasmania apart is its particular balance between wilderness and cultivation. Fourth-generation farmers still work the rich volcanic soils around Sheffield and Railton, their properties backing onto national park boundaries where wombats emerge at dusk to graze alongside Hereford cattle. The Cradle Mountain Glamping Pods reflect this tension beautifully—offering visitors a way to sleep within earshot of currawongs and Bennetts wallabies while maintaining the comfort expected by travellers who might otherwise choose the heritage rooms at Cradle Mountain Lodge. Both venues understand that luxury here means proximity to untamed country rather than distance from it. The seasonal rhythm here follows Tasmania's southern swing between extremes. Summer brings the walking season, when the Overland Track opens fully and day visitors arrive in steady streams along the Claude Road from Devonport.
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Highlights
A selection of standout places across Cradle Country
King Island Dairy
King Island Dairy has been making cheese on King Island since 1891, through…
CraftThe Distinctive Centre
The Distinctive Centre stands as a testament to Tasmania's wood and furniture…
CultureThe Hive Museum
A regional cultural centre run by the Central Coast Council on Ulverstone's…
Fine GroundsTasmanian Organic Coffee Co
Cyriel runs what it bills as Tasmania's only certified-organic coffee roaster,…
Small BatchRusty Roof Vineyard
Rusty Roof Vineyard is the family-owned vineyard and cellar door agronomist Tim…
RestCradle Highlander Cottages
Sixteen self-contained cabins on Cradle Mountain Road, individually designed…
Small Batch
Alchymia Distillery
Table Cape, TAS
Matt and Sarah sold everything in 2019 and drove to northwest Tasmania in a ute with a rooftop…
Buttons Brewing
Cradle Country, TAS
Josh Roberts started Buttons Brewing in Ulverstone after his first home brew — Hazard Pale Ale,…
Communion Brewing Co
Burnie, TAS
On Wilmot Street in Burnie, this brewpub pours its own — Ninja Ginja, Paper Maker, Local Expert…
Cradle Mountain Honey and Meadery
Cradle Country, TAS
Lindsay Bourke started with 200 hives in 1966 while working for the Tasmanian Fire Service. Today…
Fine Grounds
Infuse Coffee Roasters
Cradle Country, TAS
Award-winning blends sit alongside rotating single origins and Papua New Guinean peaberry at this…
Leaping Goat
TAS
Leaping Goat takes its name from Kaldi's legendary goats, said to have found coffee by leaping…
Tasmanian Organic Coffee Co
TAS
Cyriel runs what it bills as Tasmania's only certified-organic coffee roaster, working from a…
Culture
Bass Strait Maritime Centre
Tamar Valley, TAS
Inside a heritage-listed harbourmaster's cottage from 1920, this Devonport foreshore museum anchors…
Burnie Regional Art Gallery
Burnie, TAS
Tasmania's first purpose-built regional arts centre, opened in 1976, the Burnie civic complex…
Burnie Regional Museum
Cradle Country, TAS
Burnie Regional Museum tells the story of north-west Tasmania through social history collections…
Circular Head Heritage Centre
TAS
A relocated heritage centre showcasing the history of Circular Head through extensive collections…
Craft
Blue Tree Gallery
TAS
A shipping container off Cradle Mountain Road houses Tasmanian artist Aimee Rowland's evolving…
Dean Walker Designs
TAS
Thirty years of jewellery-making on Wilmot Street, Burnie. Dean Walker's small-city studio handles…
Impress Print
TAS
Printing on Tasmania's north-west coast since 1887, Impress has outlasted the newspaper it once…
Nicole Viney Jewellery
Cradle Country, TAS
Nicole Viney works from Turners Beach on Tasmania's northwest coast, making jewellery in gold and…
Rest
Coastal Pods Wynyard
Cradle Country, TAS
Two decommissioned shipping containers, converted by owners Cyndia Hilliger and Justin McErlain…
Cradle Highlander Cottages
TAS
Sixteen self-contained cabins on Cradle Mountain Road, individually designed and hand-built from…
Cradle Mountain Lodge
Cradle Country, TAS
Rustic luxury cabins nestled in ancient rainforest at the doorstep of Cradle Mountain. Wood fires,…
Eagles Nest Retreat
Cradle Country, TAS
Des Brown bought this 20-hectare property in 1973, farmed it for four decades, then spent two years…
Field
Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair
North West Tasmania, TAS
Tasmanias most iconic alpine landscape, where the jagged dolerite peak of Cradle Mountain rises…
Crater Lake Circuit
Cradle Mountain, TAS
A peaceful walk around a glacially formed lake nestled in ancient rainforest near Cradle Mountain.…
Dove Lake Circuit
Cradle Mountain, TAS
A world-class walking track circling the mirror-still waters of Dove Lake beneath the jagged peaks…
Enchanted Walk
Cradle Mountain, TAS
A magical short walk through a mossy myrtle rainforest beside Pencil Pine Creek in the Cradle…
Table
Cradle Coast Olives
Cradle Country, TAS
Carol and Tony O'Neil planted their first trees at Abbotsham in 1996, eventually settling on five…
King Island Dairy
TAS
King Island Dairy has been making cheese on King Island since 1891, through several owners and one…
Wild Harvest Restaurant
TAS
Ian Johnson came to King Island at twenty, took up bricklaying, then started cooking for visitors…
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