SeasonMapCradle Mountain (Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair) weather in December
Australia
December in Cradle Mountain: cool, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 17 rainy days.
#4 of 12 months in Cradle Mountain · #471 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 79/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Cradle Mountain in December
Other months in Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain's forum is blunt that January weather is genuinely unpredictable — regulars say to expect all four seasons in a single day regardless of what the calendar says, and to pack layers, a warm jumper and a wind/rainproof shell even in the height of summer. It's even been known to snow in January, so don't assume the forecast holds.
Add your own note from Cradle Mountain's card on the map.
Cradle Mountain climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 15°C / 60°F | 🙂 cool |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 6°C / 43°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 14°C / 57°F | |
| Rainfall | 188 mm / 7.4 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 17 days | |
| Humidity | 77% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 6°C / 43°F | |
| Sunshine | 11.1 h/day | |
| Daylight | 15.1 h | |
| Wind | 16 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Snowfall | 1 cm / 0.4 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 19 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Cradle Mountain in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsTasmanian summer holidays, Summer holidays in Australia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Cradle Mountain's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherCradle Mountain's weather peaks January–March.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Cradle Mountain in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Shuttle bus into the park
1 Jan – 31 DecBook earlyYou park at the visitor centre and ride the shuttle to Ronny Creek and Dove Lake; private cars are only allowed up the road outside shuttle hours, which in summer means before the first bus or not at all. Source ↗
- Hazard
Alpine weather in any month
1 Jan – 31 DecExtreme coldSnow falls on this plateau in every month of the year and the summit track can be a whiteout in January. The park's own advice is to carry the winter layers whatever the forecast says. Source ↗
- Season
Overland Track booked season
1 Oct – 31 MayTrail seasonBook earlyFrom October to the end of May the track runs one way, southbound, capped at a set number of departures a day and booked months out. Outside it the walk is free, unbooked and a winter crossing. Source ↗
- Holiday
Tasmanian summer holidays
18 Dec – 1 Feb · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyMainland families arrive on the ferry with the caravans from mid-December, and the handful of lodges at the park boundary are the first thing in Tasmania to sell out. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Cradle Mountain — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Cradle Mountain?
Cradle Mountain in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Cradle Mountain?
- December in Cradle Mountain: cool, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 17 rainy days. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Cradle Mountain on SeasonMap's comfort score (79/100).
- What is the weather like in Cradle Mountain in December?
- In December, Cradle Mountain averages a daily high of 15.4°C and a low of 5.9°C, with about 187.7 mm of rain over roughly 17 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Cradle Mountain in December?
- Cradle Mountain has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 19 in December.
- Does it snow in Cradle Mountain in December?
- Cradle Mountain sees roughly 1 cm of snowfall in December.
Other months in Cradle Mountain
Compare Cradle Mountain in December
Warmer or cooler than Cradle Mountain in December
Similar destinations in Oceania — December
Within 300 km: Hobart's Sydney to Hobart finish on 26 Dec – 3 Jan.