📷 Photo by Athithan Vignakaran on Unsplash

Cradle Mountain, the West Coast and the Lyell Highway

Four days from Sheffield through Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park to Strahan and Queenstown, then over the winding Lyell Highway to Hobart.

Distance: 395 km (246 mi)
Driving: 4 h 19 min
Suggested days: 4
Stops: 10
States: Tasmania
Updated: April 25, 2026

At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 395 km (246 mi) with 10 stops, from Sheffield to Hobart. About 4 h 19 min of driving in total.

More road trips in Tasmania · More road trips from Devonport

Route description

Day one: Sheffield to Cradle Valley is about 80 km and 1 h 15 min on sealed roads. Park at the visitor centre and take the shuttle to Dove Lake, then walk the 6 km circuit, about two hours. A park pass is required. Weather changes fast, so carry waterproofs even in summer, and watch for wombats and pademelons at dusk.

Day two: Cradle Valley to Strahan is about 150 km and 2 h 30 min via the Murchison Highway, through Tullah, Rosebery and Zeehan. Fuel is limited along the way, so fill up at the start. In Strahan, walk the waterfront and book a Gordon River cruise, which also visits Sarah Island, for the next morning.

Day three: take the morning cruise on Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River, with a landing at Sarah Island. Then drive about 40 km to Queenstown, on a winding road, to see the Iron Blow and the stripped hills. The West Coast Wilderness Railway links the two towns by heritage train and needs booking.

Day four: Queenstown to Derwent Bridge is about 90 km on the Lyell Highway, with the Wall in the Wilderness and Lake St Clair's Cynthia Bay nearby. Hobart is then about 190 km and 2 h 45 min further. The Lyell Highway is narrow and winding, with fog and snow possible outside summer; start early and refuel at Derwent Bridge.

Stop-by-stop itinerary

In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.

1

Sheffield
Tasmania
Start
2

Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain
NatureSheffield, Tasmania
A glacial lake beneath the jagged dolerite peaks of Cradle Mountain, ringed by a 6 km circuit that takes about two hours. Shuttle buses run from the visitor centre; a park pass is required and weather changes fast.
51 km
3

Strahan
Tasmania
92 km
4

Sarah Island, Macquarie Harbour
HistoryStrahan, Tasmania
The ruins of a harsh convict station from 1822 to 1833 on a small island in Macquarie Harbour, reached on Gordon River cruises. Guides tell stories of escapes and boat building; bring a rain jacket.
10 km
5

Queenstown
Tasmania
28 km
6

West Coast Wilderness Railway
HistoryQueenstown, Tasmania
A heritage rack-and-pinion railway between Queenstown and Strahan, rebuilt to run through rainforest and over river gorges on the line first built for the copper mines. Allow most of a day.
0 km
7

Iron Blow Lookout
ViewsQueenstown, Tasmania
A lookout over the Iron Blow, the open-cut pit where the Mount Lyell gold and copper mining began. The bare, colourful hills around Queenstown show how heavily the land was mined and smelted.
2 km
8

Lake St Clair, Cynthia Bay
NatureQueenstown, Tasmania
Australia's deepest freshwater lake, and the southern end of the Overland Track, with a visitor centre, short walks and boat services from Cynthia Bay. The water is cold and the weather often cool and wet.
60 km
9

The Wall in the Wilderness
OdditiesQueenstown, Tasmania
At Derwent Bridge, a huge sculpture in Huon pine panels, carved by hand, tells the story of the highlands and their people. An unexpected, unhurried stop on the Lyell Highway between Hobart and the west coast.
6 km
10

Hobart
Tasmania
148 km

Suggested stages and overnight stops

4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.

Day 1: Sheffield → Strahan · 143 km · 1 h 33 minOn the way: Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain.
Day 2: Strahan → Iron Blow Lookout · 39 km · 0 h 26 minOn the way: Sarah Island, Macquarie Harbour, Queenstown, West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Day 3: Iron Blow Lookout → The Wall in the Wilderness · 66 km · 0 h 43 minOn the way: Lake St Clair, Cynthia Bay.
Day 4: The Wall in the Wilderness → Hobart · 148 km · 1 h 37 min

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually November–March. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.

Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons

FAQs

How long is Cradle Mountain, the West Coast and the Lyell Highway?

4-day road trip of about 395 km (246 mi) with 10 stops, from Sheffield to Hobart. About 4 h 19 min of driving in total.

How many days do you need for Cradle Mountain, the West Coast and the Lyell Highway?

We suggest 4 days: about 4 h 19 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

Where does Cradle Mountain, the West Coast and the Lyell Highway start and end?

It starts in Sheffield and ends in Hobart.

Which states does Cradle Mountain, the West Coast and the Lyell Highway pass through?

Tasmania.

When is the best time for Cradle Mountain, the West Coast and the Lyell Highway?

The most pleasant months are usually November–March. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)