Burnie to Cradle Mountain Day Tour: Nature & Local Towns

Summary

Cradle Mountain Shore Excursion with Sheffield & Penguin

You’ll wander mural-filled streets in Sheffield, snap photos with Penguin’s quirky statues, and walk beside misty Dove Lake at Cradle Mountain—all timed so you won’t miss your cruise ship departure.

4.57

(7 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The air had that crisp Tasmanian bite as we rolled into Sheffield early in the morning. Locals were already out, chatting over takeaway coffees from a tiny corner café—can’t remember the name, but the smell of fresh bread drifted down the main street. Murals covered nearly every wall, some faded by years of weather, others bright and new. Our guide pointed out a few hidden ones behind the bakery—easy to miss if you’re not looking up. November’s Mural Fest was still weeks away, but you could spot artists prepping their panels in quiet corners.

We took the Old Bass Highway toward Penguin next. There’s this moment when the ocean just appears—blue and endless on your left, with waves slapping against dark rocks. The town itself is small but proud; you can’t miss the giant penguin statue near the foreshore (we all took photos). Even the rubbish bins have little penguins painted on them. It’s quirky in a good way. A couple of us grabbed pastries from a bakery that had a line out the door—apparently famous with locals.

By midday we reached Cradle Mountain National Park. Gustav Weindorfer’s story came up as we entered—our guide told it like an old family legend. The weather changed fast; one minute sunny, then mist rolling across Dove Lake so thick you could barely see your own breath. We chose an easy track along the lake’s edge—plenty of wombat tracks in the mud and a wallaby darted past at one point. The silence was only broken by wind through pencil pines and distant bird calls. Some folks went for longer hikes, but honestly, just sitting by the water with cold fingers wrapped around a thermos felt perfect.

7h–8h