Everyone knows what to do at Cradle Mountain when talking about Tasmania…but maybe not everything you can do.

It’s on just about every Tasmanian travel brochure, every bucket list and probably a million Instagram photos.

What doesn’t get talked about nearly enough is everything that happens before you get there.

We often hear guests say, “We didn’t realise how beautiful the drive was.”

And honestly… we get it.

Somewhere along the way we’ve become obsessed with ticking destinations off a list instead of enjoying the journey between them.

If you’re staying at Glencoe Country B&B, the drive there and what to do at Cradle Mountain isn’t just how you get there. It’s all part of the holiday.

  1. Leave the motorway mentality at home.
  • Holidays shouldn’t feel like you’re commuting to work – the journey is part of the experience.
  • Slow down.
  • Take the back roads.
  • Pull over.
  • If you see something interesting… stop.
  1. Sheffield deserves more than a fuel stop.
  • We suspect more than a few visitors have driven through Sheffield thinking, “We’ll stop on the way back.”
  • Then they never do.
  • Take the time to wander.
  • Grab a coffee.
  • Look at the murals the town is famous for.
  • Have a chat with a local.
  • It’s a country town…things aren’t supposed to be rushed.
  1. Mount Roland keeps changing.
  • This is something only locals notice.
  • Every season.
  • Every hour sometimes.
  • Different clouds.
  • Morning light.
  • Afternoon light.
  • Everyone photographs Cradle Mountain, yet stunning Mount Roland quietly steals the show half the time.
  1. The road starts changing.
  • This is where farmland slowly becomes forest.
  • Road gets narrower.
  • Air feels cooler.
  • Mountains appear.
  • The anticipation builds.
  • That’s part of the experience.
  1. Don’t rush Cradle Valley.

Before people even reach the destination to start their list of what to do at Cradle Mountain, they’re already surrounded by incredible scenery.

Cradle valley deserves attention, too – it’s a beautiful place to drive, and to stop off for the sweeping scenic views.

  1. Coming home.
  • Instead of getting into the mindset of the holiday finishing when you leave the area and you’ve ticked off all the items on your ‘what to do at Cradle Mountain’ list…
  • Sometimes the best part is what’s still to come. The drive home.
  • You see everything differently.
  • You’re tired in a good way.
  • Maybe you’ve got muddy boots.
  • Probably more photos than you can shake a stick at.
  • Then you arrive back at Glencoe Guesthouse.
  • The kettle goes on.
  • The sun disappears behind Mount Roland.
  • And tomorrow…you get to do it all again somewhere else.

The Glencoe Team’s Tips

  1. Don’t drive like you’ve got a flight to catch. You’re on holidays.
  2. Leave room in the day for the unexpected.
  3. If a country bakery catches your eye… pull over. Calories don’t count on holiday. (Well… that’s what we keep telling ourselves anyway.)
  4. Keep an eye on Mount Roland. It rarely looks the same twice.
  5. Charge your camera… and your phone. You’ll probably need both.
  6. Sometimes the place you remember most wasn’t even on your itinerary.

Click here for more of our blogs.