Crater Lake Circuit Hike (7.3km)

The Crater Lake Circuit offers a scenic and fascinating journey through the heart of Tasmania's alpine landscape. This 7.3km loop track takes you past a series of beautiful lakes, each showcasing the powerful effects of ice and snow that once dominated the area. Along the way, you'll encounter unique alpine vegetation and enjoy a relatively sheltered environment, making this hike a great option when higher tracks are experiencing heavy rain or low cloud. The track is graded 3 and typically takes around three hours to complete, making it suitable for a wide range of walkers.

The highlight of the walk is Crater Lake, a striking example of a cirque lake, formed by glaciers that gouged out a hollow now filled with water. The lake sits at the track's halfway point and is surrounded by steep, dramatic slopes. The smaller lakes, Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool, each offer their own charm and tranquillity. While parts of the track can be steep, the walk itself is accessible to all age groups, with the added bonus of being accompanied by the sounds of a cascading river and the sight of wombat burrows along the way.

One of the unique features of the Crater Lake Circuit is that it sits at a lower altitude than many other tracks in the Cradle Mountain area. This makes it an ideal choice on days when the higher tracks are battered by cold winds and rain. In autumn, the landscape surrounding the lake is particularly stunning, with the slopes ablaze in the fiery colours of fagus. The dark waters of the lake are tinted by tannins from the surrounding buttongrass and tea tree vegetation, adding to the area’s mystique.

As you make your way along the track, you’ll also pass the picturesque boatshed on Lake Dove’s northwestern shore. Built in 1940 by the first ranger at Cradle Mountain, Lionell Connell, the boatshed remains a popular photographic spot. It was originally constructed from King Billy pine and has been largely unaltered since its restoration in 1983. Although boating on the lake ceased in the 1960s, the boatshed still evokes a sense of history, reminding visitors of the earlier days when Gustav Weindorfer ferried passengers across the water.

Near the lake, Crater Falls adds another touch of natural beauty to the walk. Set in a gully, this waterfall flows through a gallery rainforest filled with species like sassafras and myrtle-beech, which have managed to survive the fires that have swept through the region. The rainforest here is a living example of Tasmania's cool temperate ecosystems, offering a peaceful contrast to the open alpine landscape.

Overall, the Crater Lake Circuit is a rewarding hike that combines stunning natural beauty with historical charm, making it a must-do for anyone exploring Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.