Discovery Resorts – Cradle Mountain

Good value for a night, and I got $18 off with promo code "LAPOFTAS". The kitchen was well stocked, and the shared bathroom was clean, with enough space to change in the showers. Sheets were clean, there was plenty of bedding, and a towel was provided. The bunk room in the 4 bedder smelled a bit of people’s feet and shoes, and the carpet was worn, though that’s to be expected in a shared room. The tap water is unfiltered rainwater and NOT safe to drink, so buy bottled water before arriving. There’s no hairdryer. Just wanted to spell out what is and isn’t provided.

We loved Cradle Mountain park, and the Wombat walk was the highlight. Best to go around 4pm. The walk around the park is easy. The small cabins were comfortable enough and well located, though a little worn and tired. It got very cold at night, and we used the electric blankets even in January. Each evening we drove down to Peppers bar for delicious supper. They don’t take bookings, but it’s a big place and easy to get a table.

The luxury cabin was lovely and warm when we finally got in, with all the heaters already on, but this visit left us disappointed. We’d stayed before with a motorhome and enjoyed it; this time we came with friends and paid a lot for a luxury cabin, expecting it to be worth the cost. Check-in was meant to be at 2pm, but when we arrived at 2.40pm the room wasn’t ready. They asked us to come back in 30mins. We’d been walking in the rain and weren’t happy about waiting another half hour. The kitchen had very few cooking items and no cutting board. The luxury cabins felt very overpriced, which was a shame.

We saw possums, echidnas, and wallaby up close since they live on the grounds. It’s an easy walk to the main centre where the buses go, and the mountain is generally easy to get to. There are loads of amenities, including a HUGE kitchen area, laundry, toilets, and showers, which makes it fantastic for families with kids or anyone without lots of camping gear. It gets very busy in peak season, so it may not suit you if you prefer quieter, wilder camping.