Overland Track
Tasmania
Australia
Official Website
Insurance
Flights
Marker Map
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Vital Statistics
65 kms with 6 days walking and 5 nights on the track. you will need to carry all of your food and equipment. Once you start walking you won't see another shop until you finish.
If you want a more comfortable option where everything is organised you might want to look at a fully guided walk.
When
The best time is December to April where you have the warmest weather and the longest days thanks to daylight saving. It can still bet wet and cold and even snow is possible in summer. February is the peak month.
If you go in winter and early spring you will need all of the relevant snow gear and survival skills.
Highlights & Scenery
Pristine environment featuring glacially carved valleys, ancient rainforests, fragrant eucalypt forests, golden buttongrass moorlands and beautiful alpine meadows. Optional side-trips take you to cascading waterfalls and mountain summits.
The stillness of the lakes, the glistening waterfalls, fellowship with other trekkers from around the world. Thick temperate rainforest with dense mossy undergrowth that make for a magical walking environment.
Before & After
If you are already in Australia you might want to drive and take the boat over to Devonport then park the car at Cradle Mountain
If you are flying in from overseas you might want to land in Adelaide and drive The Great Ocean Road on the way to the boat crossing. See trip #4 Tassie Loop.
Or you might fly into Melbourne for a look around before driving to the boat
Or you might fly into Launceston before transfering to the walk
Afterwards you could head to Hobart to check out the sights for a few days before flying out
do your food shopping
Fly in and look around
Cradle Mountain -
get lunch for tomorrow
Hobart -
spend a few days - see #4 Tassie Loop in "Australia"
Start & Finish
Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. You can walk the 5 km boardwalk from the Cradle Mountain Interpretation Centre or take the free shuttle to Ronny Creek in Cradle Valley. Most people take the boat across Lake St Clair from Narcissus Jetty. Or you could walk the extra 17.5 kms around the lake to complete the track properly. It is mainly flat with undulations.
Fun Facts
Snow and wild weather are still possible in Summer
Transport
You need to book your boat from Narcissus Jetty to Cynthia Bay in Lake St Clair township.
There is a free shuttle from the Visitor Centre to the departure point at Ronny Creek.
There is transport available all year from Davenport, Launceston and Hobart with more frequent services in the summer.
Accommodation
The huts on the track are very basic, free and can't be booked. They have composting toilets, rainwater tanks, wooden bunks, tables and benches and not a lot else. They work on a first come first served basis and have an adjacent campground. Some of the huts have been upgraded in recent times.
Adelaide
See Tassie Loop in "Australia"
Melbourne
Excellent location in CBD very close to Skybus for the airport and Southern Cross Station, fitness centre, rooftop terrace, tour desk, laundry
Devonport
Convenient for ferry, free parking, restaurant, bar, live music on weekends, Happy Hour, cafe
Gateway Hotel By Nightcap Plus ****
Free parking, excellent location, restaurant, bar, fitness centre
Launceston
Best Western Plus Launceston ****
Excellent location, onsite parking for the price of a beer, airport shuttle for a fee, restaurant, bar
Cradle Mountain
There is a choice between $100+ - $200+ - $300+ and $400+ so take your pick
If you want to stay in the area for a last relaxing night or two you have 3 options
SUPER SPLURGE
Wilderness Retreat - Minimum of 2 nights stay mid week and 3 nights weekend - all inclusive including all meals, e-bikes and a few tipples
FAIR SPLURGE
Lakeside, Cafe Bar, BBQ facilities
SMALLER SPLURGE
Derwent Bridge Chalets & Bungalows ***½
Private balcony with outdoor furniture, kitchen/ette and BBQ area
Hobart
See #4 Tassie Loop in "Australia"
Organise
First of all you need to
book your trek on the website.
This opens on July 1st. 34 people are allowed to head out each day with groups of 8 being the largest number.
Get in early for peak times in late December and all of January.
Book your ferry trip at the end of the walk
You'll need to organise your Park Pass and accommodation if walking in the Summer - see the Official Website below. You will need to register if walking during the Winter.
Be sure to sign in at the Walker Registration booth at Ronny Creek - the departure point.
Packing List
Try to pack light but you'll need to carry everything you're going to need and carry it out of there. Try to keep it to about 18kg / 40lb
There are
transport and equipment packages
available for hire if you don't want to be carrying all of this gear.
Waterproof Walking Map
A good LED illuminated headlamp
Extra food and water
Extra (warm) clothing
Fire starter
Vaseline - for blisters and chafing
First Aid Kit
Space blanket
Sun Block
Knife
Cell Phone
Water Bladder
3 Season Tent
Thermals
Good socks
Worn in hiking boots - ankle support is important with a lot of slippery tree roots
Wet weather gear
Sleeping Bag
Stove, gas, pot, cutlery
Trekking Poles
Backpack
Water bottle
Ear plugs could be handy if you sleep in the huts - lots of snoring
A positive attitude
Visas
Flights
Adelaide International Airport (ADL) -
has direct flights to 31 destinations in 7 countries including Doha, Singapore, KL, Hong Kong and Auckland.
has direct flights to 74 destinations in 20 countries including Asia, Australia, North and South America. Main transit hubs would be Santiago de Chile, Dallas Fort Worth, LAX, San Francisco, the Emirates and Qatar, Singapore, KL, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo and New Delhi.
has one flights to Melbourne only
has flights to the state capitals
has direct flights to the state capitals, Canberra, the Gold Coast and Auckland
About with side Trips
DAY 1 CRADLE MOUNTAIN ORIENTATION + CRADLE MOUNTAIN SUMMIT WALK 2KMS 2 -3 HOURS
Book into to your room, drop the gear off, do your business with the Visitors Centre, organise a nice lunch for tomorrow then you could stretch the legs with a warm up hike to the top of Cradle Mountain.
DAY 2 CRADLE MOUNTAIN - RONNY CREEK TRAILHEAD to WATERFALL VALLEY HUT 10.7 KMS 4 - 6 HOURS
The first day is the hardest day, which is good when it's all over. First in best dressed at the huts. If there's no beds left you'll have to put up your tent.
DAY 3 WATERFALL VALLEY HUT to WINDEMERE HUT 7.8 KMS 2.5 - 3.5 HOURS
A pretty easy day's walking today to help you get over yesterday. A 1 hour detour to Lake Will for lunch is a popular side trip.
DAY 4 WINDEMERE HUT to NEW PELION HUT 16.8 KMS 5 - 7 HOURS
A long day's walking through buttongrass plains, a myrtle - beech rainforest and eucalyptus forest. If it's swimming weather take the 1 km / half hour detour to the excellent swimming hole at Old Pelion hut.
DAY 5 NEW PELION HUT to KIA ORA HUT VIA MOUNT OSSA 13.8 KMS 7 - 10 HOURS
If you're up for it climb Tasmanias's highest mountain - Mount Ossa. It's definately worth the effort. You'll need 6 hours of daylight left when you reach the Mount Ossa track. Don't attempt it in bad weather or snow. For a shorter climb (2 hours return) you could try Mount Pellion East which has spectacular views of Mount Ossa.
DAY 6 KIA ORA HUT to BERT NICHOL'S HUT (WINDY RIDGE) 9.6 KMS 3.5 - 4.5 HOURS
Continuing through rainforest to lunch at historic Du Cane hut. After lunch there are options to visit some waterfalls on two seperate side trips that descend through rainforests.
DAY 7 WINDY RIDGE to NARCISSUS JETTY - Boat Trip to LAKE ST CLAIR TOWNSHIP 9 KMS 3 - 4 HOURS + BOAT
A gradual easy descent today and a suspension bridge crossing before you get to the Narcissus Hut wher you can use the radio to advise the boat that you have arrived. (You need to have booked the boat before you left). Transfer to your next port of call.
Fitness Level
Grade 4
Moderate, it has a lot of ups and downs. The first day is the worst. Weather conditions can change quickly and turn moderate into difficult. Some of the side trips can be quite steep and difficult.
Tips
You need to leave no trace - carry everything out with you
It can be done in 4 days
Get fit and do some bush walking training through the hills carrying a pack
If you're hiking between October and June you will need 2 passes in any other month you just need the National Parks Pass
Protect your food from persistent possums
Take extra socks as they don't always have time to dry out
You need to carry your own toulet paper - don't skimp
There are rainwater tanks at all of the huts and numerous springs along the way with good water so having enough drinking water shouldn't be a problem
Safety
Watch the safety videos on the official website
Carry a PLB - Personal Locator Beacon with you
Let a reliable person know your plans and let them know when you complete the journey
Fill in the log books at the start, finish and at each hut
Be flexible and prepared to turn back if the weather or something else is not going to plan
Hike with someone else
Eat & Drink
Food needs to be light but full of energy. Some dehydrated food will save weight. Things like chocolate and peanut butter will give you energy. Simple cooking methods that turn out delicious and satisfying food. Have some fresh food for the first couple of days. Something simple like kranskys, coleslaw and fresh hotdog buns are easly assembled and really hit the spot when you are starving. Beef Jerky can be used to make a delicious curry on the last night of the trip accompanied with some rice. Carry a few spices with you. You can get coffee and condensed milk mixed in the same tube. Tuna, salad pouches make for a simple lunch with a few crackers.
Here are a few more ideas for inspiration
There is plenty of fresh drinking water along the way. Tasmania is proud of it's clean water. The huts all have rain water tanks and there are springs along the track.
Flora & Fauna
Ancient forests, thick temperate rainforest with dense mossy undergrowth, buttongrass, dainty wildflowers, spiky pandanus, hundreds of species of fungi, lichens, colourful deciduous beech, myrtle beech, pandani, sassafras, King Billy pine, Tasmanian snow gum, Tasmanian eyebright, scoparia heath, mountain rocket, waratah, Chestnut pine, pencil pine, and Alpine coral fern.
Leeches, pademelons, possums, wombats, echidnas, Tasmanian Devils, 11 endemic species of birds and green rosellas, ravens, black currawongs, pink robins, Tasmanian scrubwrens, peregrine falcons, wedge-tailed eagles, mice, Bennett's wallabies, snakes, lizards, platypus and quolls.
History
The area was carved out by a 6 km ice cap 10,000 years ago.
The trails were originally opened up by hunters 100 years ago. Some of them were connected by European activity in mining, surveying and logging. The Palawa people were the original inhabitants here for tens of thousands of years.
Books & Movies
Overland Track Visitors Guide - One Walk, Many Journeys
How to hike the Overland Track in Tasmania, Australia
Official Website
https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain/overland-track/
Souvenirs
At the gift shops in Cradle Mountain - T - Shirts , Maps, etc
Extra
See #4 Tassie Loop in "Australia" which includes the Great Ocean Road as well
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