Cradle Mountain Lodge travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Cradle Mountain Lodge offers an alpine spa retreat with luxurious green life. It is certainly no effort to be on the Australian island state of Tasmania, circled by misty, mirror lakes and craggy peaks. Some of the cozy cabins have a hot tub out on the deck and wood-burning fire in the lounge to keep evening mountain chills at bay. If you can to pull yourself away from the views, there is even more scenery on offer from the Waldheim spa. Treatments room have floor-to-ceiling windows to let the outside in, and an open hot-tube area with panoramic views of the forest. Photo by: jeaneeem

The gourmet menu features best green credentials of local produce, and helpful staff offer their help. A delight for food and wine lovers is the annual three-day gourmet which is a showcase for boutique winemakers, growers and handmade cheese makers. The site also attracts hikers. Take a picnic and follow self-guided walking trails to find a peaceful spot to enjoy the solitude of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. Go canoeing on the lake or rent mountain bikes to get off the beaten track. Local guides offer tours to get a closer look at native animals such as wallabies, possums, and may be even a Tasmanian Devil. Or look out over the forest to spot them while enjoying a relaxing massage in the spa. Photo by: gga

Photo by: ChrisOos