What's on in Cradle Mountain (Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair), Australia through the year

Peak crowds — Tasmanian summer holidays, Summer holidays in Australia

• Rule

  Shuttle bus into the park

  1 Jan – 31 DecBook early

  You 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 cold

  Snow 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 ↗

Still on: Overland Track booked season (1 Oct – 31 May), Tasmanian summer holidays (18 Dec – 1 Feb (usually))

Busy — Tasmanian summer holidays

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Overland Track booked season (1 Oct – 31 May), Tasmanian summer holidays (18 Dec – 1 Feb (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Overland Track booked season (1 Oct – 31 May)

Busy — Autumn / Easter break in Australia, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  The turning of the fagus

  15 Apr – 15 May · usuallyAutumn colour

  Australia's only native deciduous tree turns rust and gold around Crater Lake for about a fortnight from late April. Tasmanians drive up for it and the shuttle queues show it.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Overland Track booked season (1 Oct – 31 May)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec), The turning of the fagus (15 Apr – 15 May (usually)), Overland Track booked season (1 Oct – 31 May)

Busy — Winter (July) break in Australia, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Winter (July) break in Australia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Spring break in Australia, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Spring break in Australia, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Overland Track booked season

  1 Oct – 31 MayTrail seasonBook early

  From 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 ↗

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Overland Track booked season (1 Oct – 31 May)

Peak crowds — Tasmanian summer holidays, Summer holidays in Australia

• Holiday

  Tasmanian summer holidays

  18 Dec – 1 Feb · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Mainland 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 ↗

Still on: Shuttle bus into the park (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Alpine weather in any month (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Overland Track booked season (1 Oct – 31 May)