Dove Lake Circuit
Dove Lake Circuit
4.7
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Is the picturesque lake that has Cradle Mountain in the back ground, part of the Tasmanian World Heritage Wilderness Area in Tasmania.
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4.7
2,137 reviews
Excellent
1,682
Very good
383
Average
54
Poor
13
Terrible
5
Julia Z
Noosa, Australia44 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Park at the info centre, purchase your national park pass (we had already purchased a national park holiday pass about $90) as well as shuttle bus ticket $15 each. Short 15mins on the shuttle bus which has 5 stops along the way, Dove Lake circuit being the last stop. Shuttle busses run often every 15-20mins. It took us about an hour and a half to complete. Beautiful views all the way around, some incline walking with stairs and narrow sections with low branches, boardwalk was well maintained. Would recommend taking lunch to enjoy at one of the seated areas or at least a few snacks! We were starving by the time we arrive back at info centre, cafe was expensive. We also stopped on the way back to see the wombats in the arvo come out next to the boardwalk!
Written 12 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
b_long176
Sydney, Australia1,179 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
Stunning views around the lake, and such an easy walk as well. Although its rated the same grade as the Crater Lake circuit, they are chalk and cheese. The Dove Lake one has a few stairs, but it was a fairly even grade throughout, with no really steep sections, and the views...... even on a not so beautiful day, the views were spectacular.
Keep your eyes peeled for some of the native wildlife as well. A must do, and totally worth the drive and the additional shuttle bus trip.
Keep your eyes peeled for some of the native wildlife as well. A must do, and totally worth the drive and the additional shuttle bus trip.
Written 24 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiona G
Adelaide, Australia340 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
The dove Lake circuit is an easy about 6 km loop walk. It has ups and downs but nothing extreme. It is a board walk most of the way. There are clear views of cradle mountain from the lake. There are a few potential rest points along the way. Quite crowded.
Written 30 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zanzibar138
Perth, Australia726 contributions
Oct 2024 • Solo
I only had time to do 1 walk at Cradle Mountain, so of course chose this one. No regrets at all, it was stunningly beautiful. There were lots of people going to the glacier rock and the boathouse, but hardly any doing the whole circuit, so I mostly felt like I had the whole place to myself! I'd thought it wouldn't possibly take more than 2 hours to do the 6kms, but couldn't help stopping every few steps for more photos, and ended up taking slightly longer. I couldn't believe for a 6km circuit how many different types of vegetation there was! The first half was very easy walking, the second half slightly more intense with a few steps. There were even a couple of stunning waterfalls in the distance - not sure if there was a way to get closer to them, maybe on one of the different walks. It was unfortunate that the boatshed was so crowded, but I managed to get some nice photos from different angles which avoided all the people.
Written 15 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suzanne2303
Labrador, Australia1,391 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
We were blessed with blue skies! Fantastic photos of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake.
This took us about 2 and a quarter hours, raking it easy and taking lots of photos. Mostly graded as easy with one section as moderate with lots of steps heading up.
One is rewarded with views of Cradle Mountain for much( of the track, and then at the end ( walk clockwise) there’s the iconic boat shed. This was one of the highlights of our Tasmanian adventure.
Have good shoes with grip ( not necessarily hiking boots) , a hat, water and May be a snack and a wet weather jacket just in case, an of course your camera.
This took us about 2 and a quarter hours, raking it easy and taking lots of photos. Mostly graded as easy with one section as moderate with lots of steps heading up.
One is rewarded with views of Cradle Mountain for much( of the track, and then at the end ( walk clockwise) there’s the iconic boat shed. This was one of the highlights of our Tasmanian adventure.
Have good shoes with grip ( not necessarily hiking boots) , a hat, water and May be a snack and a wet weather jacket just in case, an of course your camera.
Written 22 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
porchapoo
Hawera, New Zealand35 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
This a nice 2-3 hour walk that circumnavigates Dove Lake. We are not regular hikers and did this at a leisurely pace taking 2 1/2 hours to complete. Note that you must take a 20min bus to get to the start point departing from the visitor centre and costing $15 per person (return). There is a large carpark at the visitor centre with a cafe to pick up lunch etc for your day on one of the many tracks. The lake circuit is moderate and you need to be reasonably fit to undertake this. The track does have some nice boardwalk sections but is mainly gravel and stone with several sections that climb up a number of steps. We had sneakers on because it was a beautiful nice day but I would recommend some hiking style footwear is better suited. The track could get wet and slippery with rain. Travel clockwise is recommended because you get great views of the spectacular Cradle Mountain as you walk towards it. There is a mixture of alpine and rain forest sections which makes it interesting. You are literally directly below the mountain at the far end of the lake. It was busy and therefore not too much in the way of wildlife to be seen.
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah T
Australia359 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Sensational views, facilities, walks and bus services. We bought a 72 hr ticket and took a bus from the Visitor Centre from there took a shuttle up to Dove Lake. We did this a few times and had lovely bus drivers who were kind, funny and informative. The buses run regularly and they slow down to point out animals that show up from snakes to wombats. We did the short walks with Miss 12 and Miss 9.
We topped up water near the bus stop at Dove lake near the toilets. Highly recommend bringing your own water, tastes better. But as Miss 12 said water is better than no water, she was thirsty.
At the Visitor Centre there are accessible Water bottle fill stations and bathroom facilities. Hubby got some lightly sparkling water as he didn’t realise there are three taps offer different water types. Note the cafe may sell coffee and tea, but you can’t take it on the shuttle buses. The shuttle buses have seat belts that you must use, however they also take standing room when these are occupied.
Enjoy your next adventure!
We topped up water near the bus stop at Dove lake near the toilets. Highly recommend bringing your own water, tastes better. But as Miss 12 said water is better than no water, she was thirsty.
At the Visitor Centre there are accessible Water bottle fill stations and bathroom facilities. Hubby got some lightly sparkling water as he didn’t realise there are three taps offer different water types. Note the cafe may sell coffee and tea, but you can’t take it on the shuttle buses. The shuttle buses have seat belts that you must use, however they also take standing room when these are occupied.
Enjoy your next adventure!
Written 27 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jolinpl
Singapore550 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
You take a shuttle bus to reach here . Bus rides are included in the entry ticket to the park $40 per vehicle or $82 for two months for all the national parks . The last shuttle out of dove lake is at 530 pm and they run every 10-15 minutes .
There is. a beautiful new shelter built at dove lake together with a sheltered bus stop . Parking is extremely limited . You can only drive in outside of the bus operating hours . The way in and out is sometimes limited to a one lane road and the bus drivers communicate to each other to give way to each other . There are three stops . The first one is at the cradle mountain shop , second stop has a 20 min hiking trail and the third one at Dove Lake. The journey to Dove lake takes about 20 minutes .
At Dove Lake , the weather is unpredictable and can change from raining to sunny all within the hour .
The circuit is partially closed for upgrading so we only did the boat shed circuit that took 20 minutes . Walk is easy and the views are incredible .
No food nor drinks sold at the visitor centre . Toilets are available next to bus stop.
There is. a beautiful new shelter built at dove lake together with a sheltered bus stop . Parking is extremely limited . You can only drive in outside of the bus operating hours . The way in and out is sometimes limited to a one lane road and the bus drivers communicate to each other to give way to each other . There are three stops . The first one is at the cradle mountain shop , second stop has a 20 min hiking trail and the third one at Dove Lake. The journey to Dove lake takes about 20 minutes .
At Dove Lake , the weather is unpredictable and can change from raining to sunny all within the hour .
The circuit is partially closed for upgrading so we only did the boat shed circuit that took 20 minutes . Walk is easy and the views are incredible .
No food nor drinks sold at the visitor centre . Toilets are available next to bus stop.
Written 5 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrell P
Epsom, UK46 contributions
Feb 2023
We visited Cradle Mountain visitor centre today with the intention of completing the Dove Lake walk. Parking was ample and the visitor centre recommended the ‘holiday pass’ for our trip as we were going on to other locations during our stay in Tasmania. It cost $82.40 for 2 people (valid for 2 months) including a car which we thought was very reasonable.
There is a regular (every 10 minutes) shuttle bus service that takes you to Dove Lake (20 mins journey time) and also drops off and picks up from 3-4 different locations along the way. The bus driver (Bob!) was cracking jokes all the way and telling us about the walks.
At the Dove Lake drop off there are toilets, so go beforehand as there are no other facilities along the way.
The walk is well signposted and is mostly on well constructed wooden boards and stone shingle. There are many gentle climbs with steps and one big climb on the homeward stretch. It took us 2 1/2 hours to complete with a 15 min lunch stop and many breaks for camera shots.
The walk takes you into tropical forest and into small beach inlets where you can have a swim, or just rest. At the very end of the lake is Cradle Mountain. On the day we visited it was quite rainy so we saw the mountain in between clouds. Prepare yourself for changing weather conditions.
The walk is 6km in length and very worth while completing.
There is a regular (every 10 minutes) shuttle bus service that takes you to Dove Lake (20 mins journey time) and also drops off and picks up from 3-4 different locations along the way. The bus driver (Bob!) was cracking jokes all the way and telling us about the walks.
At the Dove Lake drop off there are toilets, so go beforehand as there are no other facilities along the way.
The walk is well signposted and is mostly on well constructed wooden boards and stone shingle. There are many gentle climbs with steps and one big climb on the homeward stretch. It took us 2 1/2 hours to complete with a 15 min lunch stop and many breaks for camera shots.
The walk takes you into tropical forest and into small beach inlets where you can have a swim, or just rest. At the very end of the lake is Cradle Mountain. On the day we visited it was quite rainy so we saw the mountain in between clouds. Prepare yourself for changing weather conditions.
The walk is 6km in length and very worth while completing.
Written 18 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liisa and Dave B
Adelaide, Australia4,247 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Such a beautiful place with picturesque views. We visited Dove Lake in the evening and the following day, we walked around it. The path is easy to follow with mesh on it to avoid slipping. Approximately 6.5 km circuit. There are multiple viewing points. There is also a few places with picnic table and bench. We didn’t see much wildlife when hiking around the lake. Some sections reminded me of an enchanted forest. The black currawong bird can be notably bold & aggressive. We witnessed one snatching food from a lady causing her to bleed. Be careful of this bird if eating. The shuttle bus goes here every 10-15 minutes. Plenty of toilets at the entrance. Registration books are provided to enter your details prior to walking. There is a water station near the toilet block.
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hi, i would like to check whether it is possible to complete dove lake walk and enchanted walk in an afternoon
For the dove lake walk, just plan to walk till the boatshed
Written 9 June 2020
Hi all, is this circuit suitable for 5 year old and 18 months old? Assuming we let her walk a bit and carry her in the carrier. Thanks!!
Written 21 November 2017
The early part of the walk is relatively easy and would present no problems, however the middle and homeward sections do have some steep sections and a number of stairs. I would not feel comfortable or recommend attempting this walk with two small children. Would suggest that you could walk as far as Glacier Rock and perhaps a little further along the boardwalks. Then return to the start and walk the first stage of the reverse walk to the Boat Shed. Covering these sections will give you more than ample views of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake, as well as many photo opportunities.
Written 22 November 2017
Does the ticket you buy to visit dove lake include a park entry and free shuttle to the lake?
Written 1 January 2017
Hi I would advise getting a National Parks Pass usually valid for 2 months thus giving you entry and free shuttle bus!
Written 1 February 2017
Hi!
1) We are staying 2 nights at Discovery Park at Cradle mountain in early Dec.
Is the main attraction Dove Lake in Lake St Clair National Park?
2) How far is it from our accomomodation?
3) Can we also cover Marion's Lookout on the same day?
4) We are staying at Strahan after Cradle MT. Do you suggest we cover Marion from Strahan??
5) Do we buy a day pass for each park or is there a pass for all the national parks?
Hope to hear from you soonest. Thank you
Written 27 October 2016
Hi there. I'm sorry I have only just seen your questions. I'm not the person to ask, but we stayed two nights in the Highlander Chalets and did several quick walks in one day in the one National
Park.
Written 12 November 2016
Hi, is this something we can do in winter? Do you need to book a tour or can we do it on our own?
Written 21 April 2016
Yes, you can do this in winter. Make sure you have your waterproof boots, pants and gloves. As it can be wet if it is raining. It is not that hard, just a circle around Dove Lake, you can do it on your own. Bring water and some snack with you.
U need to pay the park visit at the entrance and take the shuttle bus in ( last stop) . Allow at least 3-4 hours in the park.
Written 29 August 2017
Is Cradle Mountain something you do on your own or is a tour required?
Written 17 December 2015
You could do it on your own, a tour is also good as the tour guide will explain the terrain and the many lookout points and other interesting monuments along the way and the history of the place.
Written 27 April 2017
Hi, what is the access like for wheelchairs? My dad has Parkinson's and some days he can walk and some days his legs stop. I would love to show him this area as I loved visiting here 30 yrs ago. If this is now boardwalk would it be usable with a wheelchair? My dad can climb stairs well (that is the easy thing for him) and I could carry his w/c then but I would like to use a wheelchair so he can still see the area.
Sincerely Suzanne
Written 17 September 2015
It is challenging to answer without knowing the exact fitness of your dad. Consider this:
1. The whole circuit is 6km in length so you may not want to do the full circuit if his fitness does not allow.
2. It consists of gravel steps, rocky steps, uneven paths and boardwalk. It is not very wheelchair friendly so you will end up only pushing him for less than 1/3 of the entire distance.
To shorten the distance I suggest turning right from the car park and head towards the boat shed. There are some slopes and steps but it's not too far (some 20 minutes walk I estimate) and it gives you the postcard shots.
Written 22 September 2015
We are a couple of oldies(80). Only got half a day. What to do?
Written 8 September 2015
What time can you start doing the walk in summer?
Written 16 August 2015
The boom gate to enter the park opens automatically ( it's only closed when the park is very full). We drove in for sunrise at Dove Lake a couple of times. The road in is quite narrow and winding, so after enjoying the sunrise, we drove back out of the park and then used the shuttle bus during the day, then drove ourselves back in for sunset after the last shuttle had run.
Written 8 May 2016
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