Tasmanian Wilderness

The vast majority of people turn up at Dove Lake, do the loop around it and go home satisfied. My hand is up, that's exactly what I did first time. However, that represents about 10-15% of what's on offer and the shots of the iconic boatshed lead people to thinking it's unique. However, if you to the Crater Lake walk, you'll not only come across other lakes (Lilla, Crater and Wombat Pool) and tarns, but also another boatshed on Crater Lake, as shown here. It's a great walk, takes about 3 hours and is scenic all the way.
The vast majority of people turn up at Dove Lake, do the loop around it and go home satisfied. My hand is up, that's exactly what I did first time. However, that represents about 10-15% of what's on offer and the shots of the iconic boatshed lead people to thinking it's unique. However, if you to the Crater Lake walk, you'll not only come across other lakes (Lilla, Crater and Wombat Pool) and tarns, but also another boatshed on Crater Lake, as shown here. It's a great walk, takes about 3 hours and is scenic all the way.
Then the top of Little Horn peeps up on the horizon, maybe I’m getting close I think. Within another 20 metres the whole purpose of the excursion becomes apparent. The vista before me is simply breathtaking. Twisted Lakes is but a mirror, everything I’d hoped and planned for has come to fruition. When you come upon something as good as this, it’s overwhelming. The sheer majesty of the panorama engulfs you, its power makes you feel so humble in its presence, there’s a distinct aura of “something else”, but it’s indefinable. It’s all my grey matter can do to remind me that I’m here to actually take photos. You just don’t want to stop looking for fear that it will all go away and you’ll be denied any more pleasure; but it stays as I set up the tripod. It’s not often I put myself in the picture, but here I feel it’s a must. Then I can look at it and remember just where I sat and how good it was. There are many angles to be had here. Faint trails indicate where other photographers have been, little flattened sections indicative of footfalls. It takes me around 15 minutes to get what I came for and then I sit down and enjoy breakfast, although “enjoy” seems like a totally inadequate verb in this case, there is a higher plane involved here, one you get to experience so few times in life. The cloud has started to form more seriously now, as predicted, and it adds a little to the experience. Changing lens and shifting position constantly I can but hope I’ve got it covered and, even as I’m moving around, the first gentle ripples of the day’s breezes disturb the surface. Had I been here any later I would have missed it. You like to think it’s good fortune but reflect on that fact that you’ve planned it for a week, constantly following the weather patterns, in the hope that you’ll get it right and leaving early enough to avoid all the problems that occur later. #Nature
Crater Lake was the first of my expeditions away from Dove Lake. It's just as pretty but the walk is tougher and longer. You can hike there and back (roughly around 3 hours) or you can do a loop and get picked up by the service bus. That takes around the same time but you get to see more and varied scenery.
This is the shot most people take of Dove Lake. I just happened to get up a lot earlier than most to attain the best lighting. The walk around takes around 2 hours but is easy and you're on boardwalk or even ground most of the way. I'll post some other places that I think you should consider if you go there because Cradle Mountain N.P. is a whole lot more than just Dove Lake.

Plan a trip to see Tasmanian Wilderness

Price found within the past 48 hours. Click for updated prices.
Nightcap at Riverside Hotel

Nightcap at Riverside Hotel

3.5 out of 5
Riverside
Price was ￥50,390, price is now ￥39,248 per person
￥39,248
per person
Mar 19 - Mar 23
found 18 hours ago
Roundtrip flight included
Melbourne (MEL) to Launceston (LST)
8.4/10 Very Good! (813 reviews)
Good customer service . Great hospitality and nice restaurant . They also gave complementary drinks or juice on check in . Thanks Ash

Reviewed on Jan 17, 2026

Balmoral On York

Balmoral On York

4 out of 5
Launceston CBD
Save 100% on your flight
Price was ￥73,422, price is now ￥53,841 per person
￥53,841
per person
Mar 19 - Mar 23
found 18 hours ago
Roundtrip flight included
Melbourne (MEL) to Launceston (LST)
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
Good staff, good breakfast and the upgrade to cooked breakfast was only $15. Rooms are dated, but good, clean, well furnished. Bathroom could use an update but was totally fine. Good location to shops, botanic gardens, restaurants. Good parking too.

Reviewed on Jan 27, 2026

Change Overnight

Change Overnight

3.5 out of 5
Launceston CBD
Save 100% on your flight
Price was ￥101,249, price is now ￥74,937 per person
￥74,937
per person
Mar 19 - Mar 23
found 18 hours ago
Roundtrip flight included
Melbourne (MEL) to Launceston (LST)
9.2/10 Wonderful! (249 reviews)
I really liked the room and the location. What I didn’t like was the constant noise of kids running around, yelling and thumping around in the halls and rooms. The first night was really quiet, the second was bad. Maybe we were just unlucky.

Reviewed on Jan 22, 2026

Popular places to visit

Gordon Dam, Tasmania, Australia. To believe how big is this you’ll have to see it with your eyes and most important is that the road with leads to this place is so beautiful and peaceful... must see in Tasmania #australia #tasmania #dam #outdoor #roadtrip #nature #manmade #beautifuldestination #ontheroad

Gordon Dam

5/5(1 review)

You can find out about the history of Southwest with a stop at Gordon Dam. You can enjoy the restaurants while in the area.

Gordon Dam
Australia featuring general coastal views and waves

Southwest National Park

Explore the great outdoors at Southwest National Park, a lovely green space in Southwest. Wander the rainforest and waterfront while you're in the area.

Southwest National Park
Macquarie Heads featuring a beach, a lighthouse and a river or creek

Southwest Conservation Area

Explore the great outdoors at Southwest Conservation Area, a lovely green space in Southwest. Wander the rainforest and waterfront while you're in the area.

Southwest Conservation Area
Mt. Field National Park

Mount Field National Park

5/5(1 review)

A glorious mix of fern forests, alpine heathlands, pristine waterways and cascading waterfalls, all accessible via pretty pathways, await in this park not far from Hobart.

Mount Field National Park

Teds Beach

Explore the great outdoors at Teds Beach, a lovely green space in Southwest. While you're in the area, stroll along the beaches.

Teds Beach

Lake Pedder Lookout

4/5(1 review)

Learn about the local history of Southwest when you spend time at Lake Pedder Lookout. You can enjoy the restaurants while in the area.

Lake Pedder Lookout

Best Lodging Options Near Tasmanian Wilderness

Gold Rush Inn

Gold Rush Inn

3 out of 5
65 Batchelor Street Queenstown TAS
Gold Rush Inn
Strahan Village

Strahan Village

4 out of 5
The Esplanade Strahan TAS
Strahan Village
BIG4 Strahan Holiday Retreat

BIG4 Strahan Holiday Retreat

3 out of 5
8-10 Innes St Strahan TAS
BIG4 Strahan Holiday Retreat
Huon Bush Retreats

Huon Bush Retreats

3.5 out of 5
300 Browns Road, Ranelagh Ranelagh TAS
Huon Bush Retreats
Franklin Manor

Franklin Manor

4 out of 5
75 Esplanade Strahan TAS
Franklin Manor
Mövenpick Hotel Hobart

Mövenpick Hotel Hobart

4.5 out of 5
28 ELIZABETH STREET Hobart TAS
Mövenpick Hotel Hobart
ibis Styles Hobart

ibis Styles Hobart

4 out of 5
173 Macquarie Street Hobart TAS
ibis Styles Hobart
Doubletree By Hilton Hobart

Doubletree By Hilton Hobart

4 out of 5
179 Macquarie St Hobart TAS
Doubletree By Hilton Hobart
Allurity Hotel

Allurity Hotel

3.5 out of 5
96 Bathurst St Hobart TAS
Allurity Hotel
See all 1,412 properties in Tasmanian Wilderness
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.