Major city · Australia
Mole Creek
Base in Mole Creek for one night: two show caves plus the karst park fill a day; anything beyond that is a separate trip with its own access and trail checks.
Mole Creek is a small township on the B12 Mole Creek Road between Deloraine and the north-west, and the reason to stop is underground. Mole Creek Karst National Park protects Tasmania's only show-cave network, with two guided caves — Marakoopa and King Solomon's — plus the surrounding karst country. The rest of the village is farmland, forest and a pub. One night covers the caves; treat the Walls of Jerusalem and Cradle Mountain as separate trips and check current access, road conditions and trail status before you commit.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- AUD
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- avoid Jun–Aug (cold, wet, some cave tours reduced)
- Airports
- LST · DPO
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Mole Creek000 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance000
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mole Creek, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$).Australia-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.Australia-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps.Australia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.Australia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Australia-wide
- SafetyVery low crime; the real risks are the winding B12, wildlife at dawn and dusk, unsealed cave roads and cold, changeable weather.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.Australia-wide
- Emergency numbers000 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysChristmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 15:00; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 3:00 PM; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Australia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportLST Launceston (About 1 h 15 min by car via Deloraine and the B12; no public bus to Mole Creek.).
- Getting aroundA car is effectively required: there is no public transport to the caves, and the B12 is winding and narrow in places.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or a café lunch in the village2026 estimateA$8–25 (≈ US$6–17)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimateA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)
- Budget bedHostel or shared cabin bed, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or pub double room, a night, per roomA$180 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedGuesthouse or pub double room, a night, per roomA$280 (≈ US$190)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$150 (≈ US$100) · High A$260 (≈ US$180)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- LST Launceston (About 1 h 15 min by car via Deloraine and the B12; no public bus to Mole Creek.) · DPO Devonport (About 1 h 30 min by car; the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Feb
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Mar
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Apr
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
May
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Jun
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Jul
Avoid
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Aug
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Sep
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Oct
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Nov
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Dec
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jul (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jul (15 rain days), driest Feb (7). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Mole Creek: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
8 rd
Feb
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
Mar
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
Apr
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
11 rd
May
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
13 rd
Jun
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
14 rd
Jul
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
15 rd
Aug
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
15 rd
Sep
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
14 rd
Oct
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
12 rd
Nov
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Dec
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
A car is effectively required: there is no public transport to the caves, and the B12 is winding and narrow in places. Distances are short but the cave roads are slow going; fill up in Deloraine or at the village supermarket before heading out. Phone coverage is patchy away from the village, so download offline maps first.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 30 min
Drive east on the B12
Supplies, cafés and the nearest supermarket with long hours; pair it with a Meander Valley stop.
Door to door: About 1 h 40 min
Drive north via Deloraine and the Bass Highway
Ferry terminal, big supermarkets and the Bass Strait coast; a half-day, not a quick hop.
Walls of Jerusalem National Park
overnightDoor to door: Check current access and trail conditions
Drive towards the trailhead past Liena, then walk
A serious multi-day walk; check access, conditions and registration requirements before you go.
Cradle Mountain
cautionDoor to door: Check current route and timings
Drive via the C132 and Cradle Mountain Road
Better as its own overnight than a day trip; shuttle bus required in peak season.
Door to door: Check current route and timings
Drive west via the B12 and C132
Only worth it if you are continuing west; not a return day trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Mole Creek village (Pioneer Drive)
Guesthouse, pub rooms and the café within a 5-min walk; the only place with food and fuel nearby.
Liena and the caves road
Farmstays and cabins closer to the cave entrances, 15–20 min west; you need a car for everything.
Deloraine
About 25 min east on the B12; more beds, shops and restaurants if Mole Creek is full.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
- Mid
- A$140–220 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
- High
- A$220 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse or pub double room1 × 1 night × A$180 | A$180 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$150 | A$300 |
| Marakoopa or King Solomon's Cave guided tour, per person2 × A$30 · 2026 estimate | A$60 |
| Parks pass (holiday pass per vehicle)1 × A$45 · 2026 estimate | A$45 |
| Fuel, 200 km of driving1 × A$35 · 2026 estimate | A$35 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25 · 2026 estimate | A$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | A$67 |
| Trip total≈ A$369 per person per day, bed included | A$737≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate
2026 estimate in Australian dollars; fuel and cave tour tickets are the swing items. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or a café lunch in the village2026 estimate | A$8–25 (≈ US$6–17) |
| Pub counter meal2026 estimate | A$25–40 (≈ US$17–30) |
| Guided cave tour, adult2026 estimate | A$25–40 (≈ US$17–30) |
| Guesthouse double room2026 estimate | A$130–280 (≈ US$90–190) |
| Fuel, per litre2026 estimate | A$1.80–2.10 (≈ US$2) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week2026 estimate | A$20–40 (≈ US$14–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Cave tours run to set departure times and can sell out in summer school holidays: book ahead or arrive for the first tour.
- The road to King Solomon's Cave is unsealed and narrow; not suitable for large vans or trailers.
- Wildlife on the B12 at dawn and dusk: drive slowly, especially after dark.
- Weather turns fast at this elevation; carry a rain layer even on a clear morning.
- Fuel, food and phone coverage are limited: the village has a small supermarket and a café with weekday hours only.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 000
Pocket card
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Mole CreekMole Creek
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
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To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance000
Embassy
No consulates in Mole Creek; the nearest are in Hobart (US, UK and others) and Melbourne for most countries. Check your own country's list.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Launceston airport → Mole Creek by car: about 1 h 15 min, no public bus
- Cave tour ticket: A$25–40 (≈ US$17–30) adult, 2026 estimate
- Fuel, Deloraine → Mole Creek and back: about A$15–20 (≈ US$10–14), 2026 estimate
Say or show
- Where is the cave entrance? — Where is the cave entrance?
- Is the road sealed? — Is the road sealed?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Do I need to book? — Do I need to book?
Phone coverage is patchy on the cave roads and trailheads; download offline maps before you leave Deloraine.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mole Creek. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (cold, wet, some cave tours reduced) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Cave tour times and booking links checked against the official parks page, with a first-tour fallback.
- Walking cluster pages: Alum Cliffs, Westmorland Falls and the Marakoopa glow-worm stream, with car-park coordinates.
- Fuel, food and phone-coverage map for the B12 and the cave roads.
- Winter and wet-weather fixtures so the page can switch to a rain plan.
Sources
Ask about Mole Creek
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