Step outside the Coach House and you’re already surrounded by fresh mountain air and open skies — but if you’re keen to explore further, there’s a lot close at hand.
Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife experiences
Get up close and personal with a devil, witness feeding time, cuddle a wombat, hand feed wallabies and learn about the native wildlife so abundant in Tasmania. Don’t miss the free interactive daily tours at 11.00 am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm included in your entry fee. Open daily 9am-5pm, great for the family and right across the road from Wesley Dale.
is a breeding and conservation facility for the Tassie Devil, Spotted Tail Quoll and Eastern Quoll. Book a tour, you can even join a Tassie devil joey encounter some months of the year! Further afield than Trowunna, but if you’re visiting Cradle you can bundle in a night tour after a day walk.
The Mole Creek Pub - to see platypus in the wild
Yes that’s right, the pub is the most reliable spot to see platypus playing in the creek. Take your drink out the back, sit beneath the magnolia tree in the beer garden and watch them play at dusk,
Mount Roland
Walks + Hikes
Great Western Tiers and nearby hikes + walks
There are plenty of great walks and hikes around Wesley Dale. In as little as 10 minutes you can be immersed in the calm of the tall trees and awe of the wilderness.
Our highlights are the tracks off Westrope Road, about 20 minutes away, and include Higgs Track, Syd's Track, Mother Cummings Peak and Western Creek Track as they all get you onto the Central Plateau after about an hour off fairly steep climbing. It’s a truly unique environment and quite remote. For more details download the All Trails app, they have fantastic descriptions and good directions to get you to the trailhead.
Mount Roland is a 40 minute drive away that offers a few great walks, we suggest the Mount Roland Track although if you are looking for something more challenging take a look at the Mount Claude Lookout and Mount Vandyke in the same zone.
Talampanga/Alum Cliffs
Looking for a short walk, or something a little easier?
Try Talampanga/Alum Cliffs, an easy 20 min walk near Mole Creek (and a 10 minute drive from The Coach House), a breathtaking view and great spot to take a picnic. Great easy walk with children or those less steady on their feet.
Devils Gullet a short walk, good quality path with a dramatic view at the end. Great one to do at sunrise or sunset.
Pine Lake nature trail offers a rare opportunity to get up close to one of Tassie’s rarest trees the Pencil Pine without the extended bushwalk – although a 50 minute drive from the Coach House, you will be up on the Central Plateau off the Lake Highway so it’s a beautiful drive (go to the Great Lake Pub to bundle activities).
Waterfalls nearby
Lobster Falls – super local, half hour walking gets you to a stunning series of waterfalls and a spectacular swimming spot. The walk means it's still quiet and we've been known to swim with platypus here!!
Parson's Falls is also a gorgeous swimming location on the Central Plateau, although the walk is short it is a little bit harder to find.
Westmoreland Falls meander your way through the ferns and quiet, damp rainforest floor to you find large cascading falls at the end. If you’re into rocks and fossils, or even if you’re not, make sure to take a look at the rocks which are covered in fossils. (Right near the Wet Caves if you want to bundle your activities!)
Minnow Falls is on your way to Sheffield and is a steep climb that is very different ecology to the Great Western Tiers. We have an absolute ball when we go as there are ropes, ladders and caves to climb up, through and around! We would not suggest tackling this one in the wet!
Parsons Falls
Fancy a swim?
Lake Barrington – famous rowing location, visit Tasmazia and the Villiage of Lower Crackpot while you’re there for a quirky maze and teahouse
‘Union Bridge’ locals only spot, quiet pull off the road. Dip in the cold mountain run off water of the Mersey River. Great spot to see platypus at dusk.
Lobster Falls + Parson’s Falls
Walls of Jerusalem
Nearby National Parks
Cradle Mountain and the surrounding World Heritage areas attracts the tourists for a good reason – it’s stunning and very well set up for all manner of tourists – from those who don’t fancy a walk but want to see the vista, to those who want to strap on a pack and walk for a week. There is the Dove Lake walk for a breathtaking view of the mountain from the bottom (glorious on a clear day!). We highly recommend this. There are multiple side walks off this track where you can climb to the peak, or to beautiful lakes just a touch higher. We suggest the Crater Lake circuit. For the more adventurous, there are also canyoning trips. Have a meal and hot chocolate or beer at the Lodge’s Tavern on your way out.
Walls of Jerusalem is another world renown National Park. This one is for the more serious walker, if you want to walk in for the day a 32km out and back trip so we suggest doing this in summer when the days are long and make sure to check the weather before you go. It can change rapidly in the Tasmanian mountains!
Mole Creek Karst Caves are part of the world heritage area, and taking a step in it won’t take you long to realise why. The grand chambers and delicate, sparkling formations are truly unexpected. The Great Cathedral and Glow Worm encounter Australia’s biggest!) of Marakoopa Cave Tour requires medium fitness to ascend the stairway while King Solomon Tour is suitable for all age groups and level of fitness. We promise, even if you don’t think you are a cave person, you will be after doing one of these tours. Bookings essential.
Honeycomb Caves/Wet Caves are a short drive away if you wish to visit a cave where you can self-tour. It’s also a great spot for a picnic, and right near the Westmoreland Falls.
You will need a Parks Pass to visit these spots – read more here https://passes.parks.tas.gov.au/
Mole Creek Marakoopa Caves
Not just your average Guided Adventures…
Meander Wilderness Experiences
River sledding is a unique way to explore the Meander River — part drift, part thrill, fully immersed in the landscape. Glide past ferns, boulders and wildlife as you float, slide and sometimes bounce your way downstream with your guides there every step of the way.
Cradle Mountain Canyons
Slide, jump and abseil your way through the wild gorges of Cradle Mountain with expert guides — high-energy fun in a world heritage landscape.
Almost Heaven Clydesdales
Step back in time with a scenic carriage ride behind a team of gentle giants — a memorable way to see the countryside.
