Tasmania · Attraction
Dove Lake Circuit
Tasmania's most iconic walk
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
The Dove Lake Circuit is a 6-kilometre boardwalk loop around the glacially carved Dove Lake, sitting directly beneath the jagged dolerite spires of Cradle Mountain. The walk takes around two hours and fifteen minutes and winds past Glacier Rock, the historic 1940 boatshed, and the ancient moss-draped Ballroom Forest. It is widely regarded as one of Australia's finest short walks.
The circuit follows mostly boardwalk and gravel track around the full perimeter of Dove Lake, rising gently between 938 and 989 metres above sea level. Highlights include Glacier Rock, where a polished stone surface reveals the grinding marks left by retreating ice sheets thousands of years ago, and the shaded Ballroom Forest section where myrtle-beech trees are festooned in thick green moss.
Access is by shuttle bus from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre, departing every 10 to 15 minutes during summer. A valid national parks pass and a shuttle ticket are both required. The walk suits most fitness levels, though snow and ice in winter can make some sections slippery, and there are stairs and rocky patches beyond the boatshed.
Morning visits reward photographers with calm, mirror-like reflections of the mountain on the lake surface. Afternoon cloud often builds over the summit, so an early start is recommended for clear views.
Scenic views
