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Length: 10km
Duration: 3-4hrs
Grade: 3
Style: Circuit
Start: Dove Lake Carpark
End: Dove Lake Carpark

Location: Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park
Closest Town: Cradle Mountain Village
Distance from CBD: 320km
State: TAS
Latitude: -41.65130428
Longitude: 145.9614089

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Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park...

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Dove Lake Circuit and Marions Lookout is a 10km, grade 3 circuit hike, located in Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania. The hike should take approximately 3-4hrs to complete.

Hike Summary

The Dove Lake Circuit and Marions Lookout hike is a great intro to Cradle Mountain area. It will take you around Dove Lake and then up to Marions Lookout On a good day the views are absolutely breathtaking.

Start at Dove Lake Carpark then head left to start the circuit around the lake. Continue along this, take time to check the view from Glacier Point. Then shortly after this you will see the junction to either head up to Hansons Peak or continue along the Dove Lake trail. Head right. The trail then follows around the Lake. Take time to admire the views. At roughly halfway around the Lake you will see the junction to head up Lake Wills. Disregard this and continue right to take the Dove Lake circuit.

When you see the turnoff to your left to Marions Lookout take this. From here it heads very, very steeply uphill and requires rock scrambling for most of the way. It is very steep going, but the view is well worth it. Make sure you take the left at the junction near to the top to take you to the lookout.

Once you have admired the stunning views retrace your steps back down to Dove Lake. When you reach the Lake circuit go left. After you pass the famous Boat Shed take the junction to the right to return to the car park.

About the region

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park is located in the Central Highlands area of Tasmania (Australia), 165 kilometres northwest of Hobart. The park contains many walking trails, and is where hikes along the well-known Overland Track usually begin. Major features are Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff in the northern end, Mount Pelion East, Mount Pelion West, Mount Oakleigh and Mount Ossa in the middle and Lake St Clair in the southern end of the park. The park is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Getting there

Cradle Mountain lies at the northern end of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. It is 1 1/2 hours from Devonport via the B19 and B14 south to Sheffield, then C136 and C132 to the park entrance.
From Launceston, it is a 2 1/2 hour drive on the Bass Highway (A1), then the signposted route via B13 and C156 through Sheffield.

From the west, drive 2 hours along the A10 and C132 from Queenstown or 1 1/2 hours from Burnie via B18 through Ridgley, then the A10 and C132 to reach the park.

From the Village either take the Shuttle Bus or drive all the way to the Dove Lake Carpark.

Tips

The circuit can be taken either way. You could do Marions Lookout first. Either way is very enjoyable.
Ensure you know the weather forecast for the day and be prepared for any conditions as the weather is very unpredictable at all times of the year.
Hiking poles will be very useful for this.