Lake St Clair to Cradle Mountain via Queenstown.

Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair together form the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. However, there is no direct road linking these two ends of the park. 

The quickest way to drive in between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair is via Queenstown. This drive takes about 3 hours to complete. There are also many impressive attractions along the drive to keep you entertained.

Here is a list of attractions we came across during our drive from Lake St Clair to Cradle Mountain. Hopefully, you can find it useful.

King William Saddle Lookout

King Willian Saddle is a towering dolerite peak, which marks the Great East-West Divide. The lookout point for this peak is about 20 minutes drive west of Lake St Clair, just off Lyell Hwy.

To the east of this lookout is Tasmania’s lower and drier eastern half (Lake St Clair). To the west, you will be ascending through dense forests of the West Coast (Queenstown & Strahan). This is a great spot for taking more views in from the Central Highlands, before heading into the West Coast.

Frenchmans Cap Suspension Bridge

With an elevation of 1446 metres, Frenchmans Cap is the most prominent peak in Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. It is a multi-day trek to Frenchmans Cap. However, it only takes an easy 15 minutes return walk to visit the Frenchmans Cap Suspension Bridge from its carpark.

The carpark for Frenchmans Cap Suspension Bridge is about 20 minutes drive from the King William Saddle Lookout. The short walk to this suspension bridge is great for stretching the legs, enjoying a view of Franklin River, and admiring a cool bridge. 

Nelson Falls

Nelson Falls is a must-visit attraction during the drive between Lake St Clair and Queenstown.

It is only an easy 10 minutes stroll from the carpark to Nelson Falls. It is also a very well equipped and maintained park, offering the only public toilet we could find between Lake St Clair and Queenstown.

Nestled along the beautiful Nelson River, the Nelson Falls Nature Trail will bring you into a rainforest within minutes. Unsurprisingly, this trail is also one of Tasmania’s 60 Great Short Walks.

Towards the end of this trail, you will be greeted by a spectacular view of Nelson Falls. In my experience, this was the most beautiful waterfall I visited in Tasmania.

Linda Cafe & Ruins of the Old Royal Hotel

Linda Cafe could easily be one of the best cafes you may find along this drive. To make it more special, it is right beside the Ruins of the Old Royal Hotel.

Since the ruins is private property, you cannot actually enter inside (not safe either). Nonetheless, you can still appreciate this building and its history from the outside.

Iron Blow Lookout

The Iron Blow Lookout is a one of its kind attraction and definitely should not be missed. As a reminder of the short-lived gold and copper mining history of this region, the views from this lookout is impressive yet devastating.

From this lookout, you will immediately notice the vivid blue water from the Iron Blow, which is the result of high copper content. You will also notice the distinctive moonscape of this area, in comparison to the rest of the West Coast. These barren mountains and ghost towns are all resulted from human greed, during the mining boom in the early 1900s.

As you are leaving the Iron Blow Lookout, you will encounter a sharp yet breathtaking descent towards Queenstown. 

Queenstown

Once the world’s richest mining town, Queenstown offers some interesting historic buildings. In saying that, with the mining boom over, this town has long lost its popularity. Hence, you will also find some buildings in disrepair during your walks around here.

For those who enjoy a good train ride, West Coast Wilderness Railway offers scenic train rides from Queenstown. However, to avoid disappointment, advanced booking is suggested.

Tullah

Tullah is a peaceful lakeside village, on the shores of Lake Rosebery. It is a 40-50 minutes drive from Queenstown and Cradle Mountain, which makes it the perfect stop during this long drive. You can also get a coffee and/or use the public toilets if needed.

We also found a Wee Georgie Wood Steam Railway Station, just off Murchison Hwy in Tullah. It does have an interesting history and is worth a visit when in Tullah. Be sure to also check out the beautiful Lake Rosebery when you are here.

Black Bluff Lookout

Black Bluff Lookout is just 10 minutes away from Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre. There is a short upslope walk before you can reach this lookout point. Once you are at the lookout, you will be rewarded with a spectacular bird’s eye view of the Vale of Belvoir. 

Vale of Belvoir is a valley with rare grasslands, which makes it an important area for Australia’s biodiversity. From this lookout, you will get a view of this beautiful valley with rolling mountains in the distance.

Watch Lake St Clair to Cradle Mountain Road Trip on YouTube