Devils @ Cradle
Initial enquiries were made late July 2022 to sponsor a Tasmanian Devil through neighbouring business – “Devils@Cradle”, with Danielle letting us know that we were first in line for 2022 young, very exciting news for us!!
Danielle emailed us our first photo of “Squizz” on 28th November. Squizz is very confident and has just started making appearances on joey encounters, meeting some visitors, and assisting the Devils@Cradle team in teaching guests about their conservation programs.
Why we sponsored a Tasmanian Devil
Devils@Cradle are a fellow business and a neighbour in the small community of the Pencil Pine village, just north of Cradle Mountain.
We recognise the importance of supporting our neighbours, especially as we emerge from the pandemic that has affected our area so much over the last few years.
Sponsoring a Devil is a great way for us to support Devils@Cradle and their efforts in helping to sustain the lives of Tasmanian Devils.
It is a pretty unique opportunity to sponsor a Devil, and all of our staff are absolute animal lovers.
Reason we chose to name our Tasmanian Devil “Squizz”
We have chosen the name Squizz for our little Tasmanian Devil as a subtle reference to one of the helicopter types we use at Cradle Mountain Helicopters – a B2 Squirrel.
We shortened Squirrel down to Squizz, which we think is a suitably cute yet chopper-related name for our Tasmanian Devil.
Our first visit to meet Squizz
Josh, Bec, and Mitch visited Squizz on Friday, 6th January 2023, Squizz weighed between 2-3 kilograms, and is expected to grow as big as 8-9 kilograms by the time she reaches adulthood.
Tasmanian Devils usually live approximately 5 years in the wild, however in captivity can live up to 8-9 years. Devil sanctuaries such as Devils@Cradle allow a chance for Tasmanian Devils to thrive with minimal threat of contracting the Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD), which has wiped out up to 60% of Tasmanian Devils since the mid 1990’s.
Visit Squizz
By visiting Devils@Cradle and joining their joey encounter, you may be lucky enough to meet Squizz too!
Devils@Cradle gifted us a beautiful portrait of Squizz which is proudly displayed in our booking office.
Thank you Devils@Cradle
Management and staff at Cradle Mountain Helicopters take this opportunity to thank Wade, Danielle, and the entire team at Devils@Cradle for letting us sponsor “Squizz”.
- brendadH5670VV
excellent flight and highly recommended - service was exceptional. Our pilot Nick was very professional and very informative. cannot fault the service that we received.
October 3, 2022
I decided to book this on a whim when we arrived in Cradle Mountain. And OMG, I am so glad we did. We did a helicopter flip over... read more Dove Lake and Fury Gorge. So beautiful to see this park from the air, there are so many areas in this park that are not accessible by land. We did this helicopter flight and then hiked in the park. A perfect pairing.
smbjazz
January 28, 2024shanedK7391XF
The knowledge about the area was first class .... really informative!!! Plus the skill level of our pilot (Nick) was obvious, he was in complete charge of the flight... read more plan and we felt very safe!
September 8, 2021 -
None of the group wanted to fly - but I paid for two tickets so I could get a flight over Cradle mountain. 2 is minimum number of passengers. ... read more A slightly windy day but nothing to worry about. Flying solo I only took the 20 mins flight but it was enough to appreciate the expansive vista and wilderness that stretched as far as the horizon. The low clouds obstructed the mountain view but it was still worth being up there and experiencing nature from above. My pilot was a local guy and made me feel comfortable and at ease. takeoff was fun and so was the landing - a small platform - very capable pilot. The flight was over too soon - great experience. The helicopter office is at the far end of the car parks - a distance from the Cradle Mountain building complex. I had time to get a quick lunch and catch a bus to Cradle Mountain. Rushed but worth it. Enjoy.
Apolonia70
February 19, 2024craigl714
A must do in Cradle Mountain - Amazing views of Cradle Mountain and the surrounding lakes, Our family of four opted for the 20 minute scenic flight which was an amazing experience, our pilot was very informative... read more and the ground staff were very friendly and professional. Would highly recommend to do this if you have the opportunity while you are in the national park to view it from a helicopter.
January 14, 2023Al5w1nn1
A not to be missed experience while you are in the area. After doing a few walks go aloft and see where you have been and get views you cannot... read more get any other way. It is also something I will do on my next visit to see the changing faces of Cradle Mountain and
January 1, 2022AussieClan5
First class! Absolutely amazing. We had the most fabulous flight over Dove Lake and Fury Canyon. We are not hikers and this was the perfect way to see Cradle Mountain.... read more Highly recommend
February 11, 2021 - 652rachelc
We went up with Steve the pilot he was really friendly and informative the scenery we flew over was just incredible what a stunning part of the world
March 13, 2021ActRegular_traveller
We'd booked the 20 minute flight via the company website and rang the day before to confirm the booking. Unfortunately, we were given a bum steer (not by the company)... read more & told that they now operated from the base about 1/2km from the visitor centre - not so, they only hanger the helicopter there. They still operate flights from adjacent to the visitor centre. Once we'd figured that out it went smoothly.
The 20 minute flight took us over Waterfall Valley & down towards Mt Pellion, then around the back of Cradle Mountain & Barn Bluff. Visibility was excellent. Great to see the mountains, lakes and tarns from a different angle. Unfortunately there is always reflected glare off the canopy, so photos were difficult. Apparently, they will remove the doors for a longer flight (we've had great photos doing that elsewhere).
Expensive, but a wonderful experience. More
March 16, 2018Stephen B
Great service, great pilot Steve, fantastic views just pick your days, we were lucky to have an excellent weather window. Value for money, one of those memorable life experiences. take... read more a camera.
August 9, 2019Bren02
First class! Absolutely amazing. We had the most fabulous flight over Dove Lake and Fury Canyon. We are not hikers and this was the perfect way to see Cradle Mountain.... read more Highly r
January 1, 2021 - Guide11212029912
Excellent - Excellent experience. Our pilot Josh was friendly, informative and professional. Was the best of our trip, highly recommended.
December 16, 2022
What a great experience it was awesome to see Cradle Mountain from the air. It was a large helicopter, big windows to take in all the views & a... read more friendly helicopter. Worth every cent was a great experience!
126trishb
June 2, 2023Hongkonglawyer
With young Luke at the control, I and my family took to the sky in his helicopter for a quick bird's eye view of Cradle Mountain. Luke gave us a... read more pre-flight safety talk as the helicopter that housed the pilot and 5 passengers looked a bit flimsy for comfort. However, our confidence grew after the safety talk and witnessing the series of pre-flight checks that Luke took before we took to the sky. Luke hovered the helicopter a good 20 feet above ground and did some manoeuvre to ensure all controls were in sound working order before he took us higher to have a good view of the scenary. The helicopter hovered at around 6,000 feet during the flight and was gently edging forward so that the passengers would have a comfort ride in it. The weather was extremely nice to us on the day of our flight, plenty of sunshine and a slight breeze. We took in great scenery of the Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake, view which you cannot see from the ground below. After 20 minutes of breathtaking sight-seeing, Luke returned us safe and sound to the landing pad. I found that the price tag of AUD250 per head is worthed every penny of it. The only complaint I had was Luke has forgotten to do the dare-devil loop for us before we landed! Thoroughly enjoyable experience.
November 30, 2017B8868TImelissal
Excellent. Would highly recommend. Its great to do the walks and the flight to get the different perspective. - What a fantastic scenic flight. We had perfect weather with clouds opening up as we headed to Cradle Mountain. Nick and crew were fantastic. We did the 20 min flight... read more at 9am.
September 21, 2022 - shane d
The knowledge about the area was first class .... really informative!!! Plus the skill level of our pilot (Nick) was obvious, he was in complete charge of the flight... read more plan and we felt v
September 1, 2021samindae
We did the 10 minute scenic flight of Cradle Mountain with Cradle Mountain Helicopters and it was the highlight of our trip to Tassie. 10 minutes was enough to see... read more Cradle Mountain and the surrounding lakes, if you can afford it though go for more time. We just found the 10 minute trip to be very reasonable, $270 for the flight for the 3 of us, worked out at $90 each.
We were pleasantly surprised at how comfy the helicopter ride was and how seamless the take off and landing was, it is definitely the way to fly. Our pilot was very friendly and we couldn't recommend him any higher.
We made sure we booked in advance by emailing the company a couple of months ahead. It might be a good idea though to keep your options open around your travel, for example if you are planning on going for a flight in the morning, maybe plan to turn up to cradle mountain the day before around lunch time, if the weather looks to be bad the next day, then give them a call to see if you can change your time to the day before. The guys are very flexible and will accommodate any changes if need be. We even turned up earlier in the day than when we had booked and as no one else was booked in we got to go up even earlier.
If doing the 10 minute ride, sit behind the pilot, you will get the best view when they turn around.
May 6, 2018sandrasY625CF
Great time and well worth the views - Awesome time flying over the area. Weather was a bit iffy but pilot maneuvered perfectly to maximize our viewing. Loved the scenery and pilots stories and knowledge
February 8, 2023
Such an amazing experience and highly recommend this adventure! The views are incredible, all over Cradle and beautiful view of Dove Lake. The pilot was great and chatted through the... read more headset giving really good information on the region. Blown away and I’m scared of heights but that didn’t last long.
Tanya S
March 11, 2023 -
Wow, the scenery on this flight over Cradle Mountain was fabulous. Our pilot was fantastic, and the flight was awesome. I would definitely recommend doing this. You get to see... read more Cradle Mountain from all sides. It's great.
Pam B
November 16, 2024Paul H
Highly Recommended ! - Highly recommended!
My helicopter ride was fairly short because of the adverse weather conditions - a low cloud ceiling & light showers - Josh the pilot was very professional -... read more with the pre flight briefing inc. a safety briefing,with his commentary re points of interest on the ground & with his perfect landing after a very smooth flight.
Thanks Josh !
Also thanks to the Admin ladies - Bec & Ang - who were very helpful & professional in arranging a flight booking for me.
Thanks Ladies
Thanks to all @ Cradle Mountain Helicopters
December 1, 2022Bob M
We opted for the 1 hour flight as a bucket list item for my brother - there were 4 of us and we had booked in for a Wednesday morning... read more flight. We received a call on Tuesday morning to ask if we wanted to consider having our flight Tuesday pm as the weather forecast for Wednesday wasn't good. That suited us and we appreciated the good customer service to be given the option. The flight with the commentary was worth every cent. The distance we covered and what we saw was absolutely brilliant.
May 1, 2022Krazz
We only did the 10 minute Dove Lake flight but the views were amazing! Time flies when you are in it but well worth it if you can afford the... read more price. Friendly pilot with good service. Only disappointing thing was he said he would go around Dove Lake so we could see from both sides but he ended up doing only one side. Please check the weather before deciding on the day as sunny days give you the perfect view!
April 1, 2021 - H6418CVerinp
Cradle Mountain helicopter experience - Such a great way to see Cradle Mountain! After doing a few of the trails it was awesome to see them birds eye. Fantastic experience highly recommend
October 1, 2022Tim ONeill
After literally dozens of trips to Cradle Mt and many hikes on pretty much every track in the National Park, this was one experience that I'd never had. So I... read more decided to treat my Mum to an early Mother's Day present and do the 20 minute flight. Our pilot Nick was great. He was flexible with the take off time, to allow some cloud to lift and give us a better view. He took us over Barn Bluff and Fury Gorge and then around Waterfall Valley. I've done that trip the hard way - on foot - so it was amazing to do it in minutes and the see the same area from above. The fagus was out and in full display, which looked great from the air. Mum was a bit nervous about flying in a chopper, but Nick put her at east and the whole flight was smooth and stable, so we could relax and enjoy the views. I'd recommend this experience to anyone, especially those who are less able to see the Park on foot. It sure beats slogging through the mud with a pack on. Thanks Nick.
April 1, 2021Rachel C
We went up with Steve the pilot he was really friendly and informative the scenery we flew over was just incredible what a stunning part of t
March 1, 2021sullivansf
Simply Awesome! - Nick was fantastic and we had a wonderful time! Definitely something worth doing before starting your walks so you can get a sense of the magnitude of the place. We... read more loved it!
September 29, 2022 - Chris C
We were only in Cradle Mountain for a one night stop over and couldn’t leave without seeing the mountains. Heard a chopper flying and immediately decided to take a flight.... read more Our pilot was great and took us on an amazing flight around Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain and surrounding lakes and tracks. We feel we did 3 days of hiking in 20ish minutes without getting cold, wet or mud on our boots. Highly recommend a helicopter ride in Cradle Mountain and it would be a great addition even if you have walked the tracks to get the birds eye view of your journey. Another fantastic Tasmanian experience.
November 1, 2021Peggyleanne
We did an hour long flight on Boxing Day (my surprise Christmas present). Absolutely stunning from start to finish. Albert the owner and James the pilot were both... read more incredible and so helpful and knowledgeable. We were lucky enough to have absolutely perfect weather and so had a ride as smooth as silk and views that are impossible to describe. Highly recommend this - it is something we won't forget. Highlight of our 3 week Tasmanian stay.
December 29, 2017kelly m
Highlight of my Tasmanian trip - Absolutely breathtaking. We were lucky enough to find another couple who wanted to do the longer flight so we could split the costs. This has been a highlight of my... read more trip to Tasmania. Highly recommended.
November 18, 2022
Started off a beutiful day. Arrived to the helipad and it all seemed very budget and backwater. Pretty average to say the least. Very bumpy ride,very random course taken and... read more quite low flying to the point of what the? Now we know to never again.
jack s
November 24, 2024 - ActRegular_traveller
We'd booked the 20 minute flight via the company website and rang the day before to confirm the booking. Unfortunately, we were given a bum steer (not by the company)... read more & told that they now operated from the base about 1/2km from the visitor centre - not so, they only hanger the helicopter there. They still operate flights from adjacent to the visitor centre. Once we'd figured that out it went smoothly.
The 20 minute flight took us over Waterfall Valley & down towards Mt Pellion, then around the back of Cradle Mountain & Barn Bluff. Visibility was excellent. Great to see the mountains, lakes and tarns from a different angle. Unfortunately there is always reflected glare off the canopy, so photos were difficult. Apparently, they will remove the doors for a longer flight (we've had great photos doing that elsewhere).
Expensive, but a wonderful experience.
March 16, 2018Tim O
After literally dozens of trips to Cradle Mt and many hikes on pretty much every track in the National Park, this was one experience that I'd never had. So I... read more decided to treat my Mum to an early Mother's Day present and do the 20 minute flight. Our pilot Nick was great. He was flexible with the take off time, to allow some cloud to lift and give us a better view. He took us over Barn Bluff and Fury Gorge and then around Waterfall Valley. I've done that trip the hard way - on foot - so it was amazing to do it in minutes and the see the same area from above. The fagus was out and in full display, which looked great from the air. Mum was a bit nervous about flying in a chopper, but Nick put her at east and the whole flight was smooth and stable, so we could relax and enjoy the views. I'd recommend this experience to anyone, especially those who are less able to see the Park on foot. It sure beats slogging through the mud with a pack on. Thanks Nick.
May 7, 2021AliceAndTheSparrow
Worth every cent
An incredible adventure that I will always remember
The fagus was golden orange at the time we flew over the mountain making for an extra special... read more experience.
April 29, 2019SabineBogeCro
A real treat! - We booked a custom scenic flight (approx. 45 minutes) and having kept an eye on the weather forecast, and as we knew it could be changeable in the Cradle area... read more we stopped by their office near the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre on our arrival to check on the forecast for the following day (date booked). After a chat with the lovely Rebecca and checking with the pilot, we decided to move our flight forward to that afternoon to avoid a potential cancellation due to poor weather the next day. Sure enough, it was the right decision as the next day started out with very low cloud and drizzle, which didn't clear up until later in the afternoon.
We received a safety briefing before take off. Our flight took us over some of the most stunning and unspoiled scenery in Tasmania, and the far-reaching views were amazing. Our pilot (Josh IIRC) provided excellent commentary along the way.
Cradle Mountain Helicopters offer a variety of flights and while our custom flight was a real treat, their regular flights (we've taken one before) are a fantastic way to see the beauty of Cradle Mountain National Park from above.
February 13, 2023 -
The views were amazing as was the pilot. He gave us a rundown on what we were seeing without talking too much. We took great photos and it was the... read more highlight of our trip to Tasmania. We didn't have the time or the energy to walk around this area so this was a great alternative.
652laurelt
October 1, 2023Kuchs
I celebrated my 60th birthday last week with 4 friends doing the Cradle Mountain & Fury Gorge 20 minute flight with our Kiwi pilot Tim. It was the most... read more amazing experience. The scenery had to be seen to be believed. I can highly recommend this to anyone (including people that have a fear of heights as some of my friends did). Well done guys !!!
October 2, 2018
I'm a nervous flyer but Charlie was professional. A bird's eye view over Cradle Mt & the surroundings, done in style. Highly recommend a flight.
simone R
November 19, 2024brownchez
Flew in chopper while snow covered mountain. $250 per seat for 20 minute flight. Stunning views of dove lake and surrounding mountain area.for me at my age, once in... read more a lifetime...best thing ever
November 1, 2018