If you want to learn about Tasmanian devils, this is the place to be. Visits start with short ranger talks held inside the visitors center/gift shop, where you can learn all about the devils and the greatest threat to the continuation of their species: devil facial-tumor disease. After the talks, rangers take visitors to a viewing platform to see the creatures up close; if you come at night, you can even watch the little devils tear apart their dinner: huge pieces of raw meat.
Devils @ Cradle is a must-visit for families and anyone who wants to see a Tasmanian devil in the flesh.
Bundle up if you’re coming for an after-dark feeding tour, particularly in the winter months, as the area can get chilly.
The sanctuary is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, with accessible restrooms on-site.
Devils @ Cradle is located just outside Cradle Mountain–Lake St. Clair National Park, about a 5-minute drive or 15-minute walk from the Cradle Mountain Interpretation Centre. Most visitors come as part of an organized tour or drive to the park, which is a good 4-plus-hour drive from Hobart or about a 2-hour drive from Launceston.
The park is open daily from morning until late afternoon throughout the year, except on Christmas Day. Keeper tours last 45 minutes and take place three times daily. To get a good look at the nocturnal creatures, though, you're best off coming for an after-dark feeding tour.
Tasmanian devils are not cheap to look after, so the center offers the opportunity to sponsor one of the carnivorous beasts, either annually or for the animal's entire lifetime. Sponsor perks include adoption certificates, naming rights, and a large photo of the adopted animal, plus 10 tickets to the sanctuary. You don’t even have to visit to sponsor; the whole process can be taken care of on the center’s website.