Dove Lake is iconic Cradle Mountain. Who am I kidding? It's iconic Tasmania. A beautiful big lake at the foot of the mountain, with the most picturesque scenery. It's at the very end of Cradle Mountain road, so very easy to navigate to--though it's within the national park, so you must make sure you have a parks pass visible on your car (or come in via the bus).
The Dove Lake Circuit is probably the best walk in the area. It's beautiful, and it's nice and easy for everybody but still takes a good couple of hours (I won't lie, it took me four hours, but the track was literally covered with snow when I went and I stopped every two feet or so to take photos). There's even a bit of rainforest to walk through on the circuit--the ancient Ballroom Forest.
Dove Lake will take your breath away. It's a must do. And then if you're lucky enough to be staying nearby, you can head home (with some wombat sightings on the way) and pat yourself on the back with a glass of wine. I recommend. read more