Route to Cradle

[MichaelJ]

Quick question to the Tasmanian guys - a bit off-track, but I hope you will understand. Am starting the OT from St Clair on Monday; six days later (d.v.) my wife is going to fly down from Nth Qld, hire a car at Launceston and meet me at Cradle Mountain Lodge. She doesn't like driving on those winding roads, especially after dark - would you recommend the route through Forth and Wilmot, or the one through Sheffield and Cethana? Or is there a better option? Many thanks, and once again, sorry it's not really relevant to bushwalking.

[Nuts]

Via Wilmot is a nice drive but from Launnie via cethana would be shorter and probably easier driving, fewer bends.. The steepest section down over the river and up to moina is relatively short. Day driving is the go for visitors on our unfamiliar roads, lots of critters around at night. More native animals on the Cethana route, fewer domestic hazards though do watch for the odd cow on the open middlesex plains (towards the Cradle mt turnoff)... especially at night, they have caused some grief in the past.

Have fun..

[Tortoise]

G'day Michael,

There is another option, depending on just how much your wife hates winding roads. I'm guessing it would add about 40 minutes to the trip. She could stay on the highway to Burnie, and go via Ridgley, Murchison Hwy and Belvoir Rd, so would approach Cradle from the west. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure there aren't any sharp corners like the Cethana and Wilmot routes have.

Have a great walk!

[Nuts]

The link road west of cradle t/o is one of the best in the state (imo). I don't like the highway, trucks and fast traffic, but yes surely that would be best route (if a fair bit longer).

[GerryDuke]

I'm with you Tortoise. Easy drive through Burnie. Can you still walk the OLT from south to north?

[Overlandman]

I'm with you Tortoise. Easy drive through Burnie. Can you still walk the OLT from south to north?

If you plan to walk the track from 1 June to 30 September you do not need to book or pay the Overland Track fee. You only need a Parks Pass, and you can walk the track in either direction.

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=27902

[corvus]

From Launceston I second the Cethana route less traffic and very few if any Trucks and only a couple of easy sharp slow bends on an uphill section.
corvus

[Tortoise]

From Launceston I second the Cethana route less traffic and very few if any Trucks and only a couple of easy sharp slow bends on an uphill section.
corvus

There are some pretty serious corners on the way down too, I reckon, for people who don't like corners.

I've only been the Burnie route a couple of times, so it's not really a fair comparison for me to make. Having said that, I might have chosen good times, but don't remember any significant traffic or trucks. On the other hand, I've had a few experiences coming round a sharp bend to be faced with a car on my side of the road Cethana & Paloona mainly.

[matagi]

Having driven to Cradle only last weekend, I would say take the Forth/Wilmot route. Trucks are not an issue on weekends and there are only a couple of really sharp bends, which are signposted. The road is winding in places, but she won't escape that if she is heading to Cradle except maybe via Burnie and the Murchison Hwy, but that is one hell of a detour to avoid a few bends.

As an aside, has anyone noticed Google Maps is sadly lacking in detail when it comes to routes to Cradle Mtn?

EDIT: MichaelJ if you are staying at Cradle Mountain Lodge, can I recommend you do the Waldheim spa private bath? It is for couples, and the muscle melting bath is pleasant and relaxing.

[MichaelJ]

A belated thank you to those who offered advice re my wife's trip from launceston airport to cradle mountain - in the end her plane was delayed - she didn't get in til late and got hopelessly and very stressfully lost, and to this day I am unable to work out which way she actually went. But all's well that ends well, and she got in on a freezing night just in time for a relaxing meal next to the fireplace at the lodge. Thank you all, and best wishes.
Michael.