Cradle Country is the perfect tour for those arriving on the Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ship from Melbourne. The four-day journey gives you time to relax in Devonport and explore its rural hinterland before taking in the historic streets of Latrobe and the outdoor art of Sheffield. Staying overnight at Cradle Mountain means you can climb the mountain, or explore the banks of Dove Lake on a number of shorter walks. Your journey ends at the industrial port of Burnie – a working town that has reinvigorated itself in recent years and today celebrates its cultural and industrial heritage. By the time you finish the tour, you’ll have a strong sense of the relationship between the natural environment and Tasmanian communities, past and present.

The magnificence of Cradle Mountain inspired Austrian-born Gustav Weindorfer to build a chalet of King Billy pine nearby in 1912 and work tirelessly for a decade to have the area declared a national park 'for the people for all time'. His dream was realised in 1922, and today a quarter of all visitors to the state travel here to share his vision. The history of Weindorfer’s devotion to Cradle Mountain and his successful efforts to ensure its preservation as a national park is told in Weindorfer’s Chalet, just off the road to Dove Lake.

The small community of Sheffield wears its heart on its sleeve. Fondly known as 'The Town of Murals', its gallery is the dramatic backdrop of Mount Roland, its canvasses the walls of shops and public buildings. More than 40 outdoor murals depict the town’s social and natural history, drawing visitors from all over the country.

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• Warrawee Forest Reserve Platypus Viewing
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  Phone: (03) 6492 1110

Ten minutes’ drive south of Devonport is Latrobe, of interest for its colonial architecture and antique shops. One of the highlights of the area is the Warrawee Forest Reserve where the Latrobe Landcare Group provides a unique insight into the Australian Bush but perhaps its best attraction is the mystical, fascinating platypus. Approximately 30 minutes’ drive northeast is the Narawntapu National Park, a great place for bushwalking, swimming and fishing. The wildlife is abundant in this part, and specialist guided tours help you observe animals and birds in the wild.

This region is the land of milk and honey, where grass-fed beef and superb farm cheeses, sweet berries and fresh vegetables are all readily available.

For a truly delectable experience, visit the House of Anvers, which incorporates a chocolate museum, displays of chocolate making, chocolate tastings, a chocolate shop and a cafe.

Peaceful farmlands, rugged mountain gorges, quiet streams, rivers well stocked with fish, waterfalls and virgin forests surround the town of Sheffield, at the foot of 1234-metre-high Mt Roland. The many outdoor murals for which the town is renowned depict the district’s pioneer history and other scenes of local interest. Purchase some fresh produce prior to stopping for lunch at the world-championship rowing course at Lake Barrington. If you’re travelling with children, nearby Staverton might be just the place to lose yourself for a minute or two in one of the seven hedge mazes at Tasmazia.

In the afternoon, continue on to Cradle Mountain, the northern end of the Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park, which forms part of the Tasmanian World Heritage wilderness. The jagged dolorite peak of Cradle Mountain dominates this end of the park. Its name is supposedly derived from the mountain’s resemblance to a miner’s cradle. This dramatic vista can be seen to great advantage on a walk of one or two hours along the shores of Dove Lake. Visitors should bear in mind however that the wild weather of the Tasmanian highlands often shrouds the mountain in cloud.

There are many other excellent walks in the area, ranging from the 20-minute Enchanted Walk past a cascading river, wombat burrows and magical old-growth forest to half-day and full-day walks and the world-renowned Overland Track, a spectacular walk of five to eight days that threads through the heart of the national park. With its glacial lakes, ice-carved crags, alpine shrubbery, waterfalls and tall forests, this is the jewel of the Tasmanian World Heritage Area.

There is always something interesting happening at Cradle Mountain. The comings and goings of wallabies and wombats in the late afternoon near Waldheim and the changing colours of the flowers can all add unexpected dimensions to your visit. You can also chat with rangers at the informative Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre. They will reveal to you interesting facts about the park that no book or guide would ever contain, and then help you make your own discoveries.

During the peak summer season, national park rangers offer a variety of activities such as interpreted walks, talks, nocturnal twilight tours and slide shows. Besides being lots of fun, these are a great way to learn about Tasmania’s parks, wildlife and cultural heritage.

There are also other outdoor adventure experiences in the area. Fly over Cradle Mountain on a scenic charter flight from the Cradle Mountain air strip. For a different perspective, take a guided trail ride and experience the area on horseback, or try your hand at fly fishing on Cradle Mountain Lodge’s private lake.

One of the popular short walks in the area is the Dove Lake Circuit, suitable for all ages and featuring a cascading river. Stop by the visitor centre for further information.

Continue to Burnie. Mornings and evenings are the best times to visit nearby Fern Glade – one of the most reliable locations in Tasmania for spotting platypuses in the wild. There’s also an Observation Centre where you can see little penguins any time of year.

In the west, vegetables thrive in fertile soils and the world’s purest air. Commercial flower gardens bloom high above the ocean, and giant freshwater crayfish hide in clear mountain streams.

Offshore from the historic fishing village of Stanley are the haul-outs of fur seals and the fishing grounds of little penguins and shearwaters that flock to their burrows near the town at dusk.

Next stop is the Edge of the World at Arthur River township, where you can cruise to the ocean through stands of tall eucalypts and dense rainforest on the border of the Tarkine wilderness.