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Recreation - The Overland Track
Great Bushwalks
The Overland Track
Please note: Bookings are required during each walking season (1 November to 30 April). The booking system is web-based, and details can be found and online bookings can be made at www.overlandtrack.com.au.
The Overland Track runs for over 65 kilometres through the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The Overland Track each year attracts 8000-9000 walkers from both around Australia and overseas.
Waterfalls framed by fagus along the Overland Track
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While easier access, improved track conditions and modern outdoor equipment have
all made the trip far easier than it was in yesteryear, the walk still demands
a fair degree of preparation and physical fitness. The Overland Track takes about 6
days to walk depending on weather delays and the side trips you take.
When to walk
The months of December - April have long daylight hours and warmer average temperatures. These months are recommended to walkers inexperienced in Tasmanian conditions.
However, walkers are warned that rapidly changing weather
conditions can occur at any time of the year. These can include howling winds, sleet, snow, relentless rain and blazing sun. All of these varied conditions can be experienced within a single day.
It is recommended that you obtain the latest weather forecast before setting
out. These are available online from the Bureau
of Meteorology.
Bookings are required for each walking season (1 November to 30 April) - see www.overlandtrack.com.au for details and to make a booking. During the booking period walkers will be required to walk the track from North to South (Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair), and pay the Overland Track Fee. If your departure date is outside the booking period, this won’t apply to you.
If you book on at short notice (i.e. less than 2 weeks before departure) you will find you have a limited choice of departure dates, especially from December – February when many people have holidays.
During April, large numbers of walkers come specifically to watch the changing
colours of the deciduous beech (fagus).
Maps
The Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair Map and Notes 1: 100 000 Tasmap is invaluable. Maps can be ordered online through TasMap.
Further reading and safety information
Mt Oakleigh, one of the many peaks
along the Overland Track
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The "Essential Bushwalking Guide and Trip Planner" is a free trip-planning guide available on-line, and also available in booklet form from Parks and Wildlife Service centres. It includes check-lists of equipment that should be worn or carried by all groups walking in the Tasmanian wilderness.
The Overland Track - One walk, many journeys is a popular 80 paged, pocket-sized booklet. It contains notes on the ecology and history of the area, helpful snippets of information for walkers and illustrations of flora and fauna likely to be seen along the track. There are ten pages of beautiful colour illustrations of local wildflowers.
Natural Wonders of Tasmania's World Heritage Area is small enough to fit into your map case, and is a summary of scientific studies conducted in the Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park.
These publications are available from outdoor shops and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.
Access
Bus transport is available throughout the year from Hobart and Queenstown to Derwent Bridge (five kilometres from Lake St Clair); to Lake St Clair from Hobart; to Cradle Mountain from Launceston and Devonport; and from November to April to Lake St Clair from Launceston and Devonport.
Visitors wishing to use public transport or tours to access the start of the walking track should visit our web page on Access to Tasmania's National Parks, Reserves and Walking Tracks.
Private cars can be parked at both Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair.
McDermotts Coaches operates a shuttle bus service on behalf of the Parks and Wildlife Service between the Cradle Mountain Information Centre at the former airstrip and Ronny Creek, the start of the walk. See the Cradle Mountain - Access for details of running times.
Accommodation at the start and end of the track
Cradle Mountain
Cabin accommodation is available at Waldheim inside the national park. These rustic bush huts are very popular and advance bookings are advised. Bookings can be made at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre (03) 6492 1110.
Due to the delicate nature of the environment and the large number of visitors to Cradle Mountain, camping is not permitted inside the day visitor area. Overland Track walkers cannot camp until they reach either Waterfall Valley Hut or the Scott-Kilvert Hut.
A serviced camping area has been established three kilometres outside the park boundary. This site is operated by a private leaseholder and camping, bunkhouse and cabin accommodation are available. Phone (03) 6492 1395.
Hotel and additional cabin accommodation are also available outside the national park boundary. Contact the Tasmanian Travel Centre for further details or use the Tourism Tasmania web site.
Lake St Clair
Cabin, backpacker, powered site and camping accommodation with shower and toilet facilities are operated by a private leaseholder. For bookings and enquiries contact Lakeside St Clair (03) 6289 1137.
Hotel, backpacker and cabin accommodation is also available at Derwent Bridge at the entrance to the national park.
Guided tours
Several companies operate guided tours in the national park. One of these provides overnight accommodation in privately operated huts along the track. The other companies provide camping accommodation. Tours generally range from six to ten days.
Several of these companies also operate trips of two to five days with cabin accommodation at both Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair.
Contact the Tasmanian Travel Centre for details on the individual operators.
Park entry fees
The payment of a park entry fee is required and all money raised by fees goes
directly towards the maintenance and protection of Tasmania's national parks.
A variety of passes are available, including a two month backpacker pass that is valid in all of the State's national parks. Check with park staff for the pass most suited to your particular needs. Passes can be bought at all Parks and Wildlife Service offices.
The latest
information on park entry fees and an online order form are available on our Park Entry Fees page.
In addition to park fees, bookings are required for each walking season (1 November to 30 April) - see www.overlandtrack.com.au for details and to make a booking.
Getting started
From Cradle Valley:
Public buses will drop you off at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre, or at the accomodation nearby if you request.
During the peak walking season (1 November - 30 April), you must check in at the Visitor Centre to collect your Overland Track Pass.
A frequent free shuttle bus service goes from the Information Centre and the Visitor Centre 7 days a week, to the start of the walking track at Ronny Creek, 5kms into the Park.
Allow at least 3-5 hours to reach Waterfall Valley. You should start on the track by 2.00pm in the summer months with good weather conditions. However, earlier starting times are advised in times of poor weather and in the months April to November. In winter, daylight hours are reduced to between 7.30am and 4.45pm and snow can make the track impassable.
Walkers leaving from Cradle have three options for starting the track. The views differ and all involve an uphill climb.
• From Ronny Creek via Crater Falls and Crater Lake to Marions Lookout - a moderate grade climb to Marions Lookout, with spectacular views from the lookout.
• From Dove Lake via Lake Lilla and Wombat Pool to Marions Lookout - includes the uphill section to Marions Lookout.
• From Ronny Creek via Horse Track to Crater Peak - this is a more gentle uphill climb, but is very exposed.
Other tracks in the area are rough, muddy and steep and are not recommended for accessing the Overland Track.
From Lake St Clair (during the off-peak walking season only)
• You may catch the ferry up the 13 km glacial lake from Cynthia Bay to Narcissus. The ferry is run privately, phone (03) 6289 1137. Bookings are essential.
• Or you may walk the 15 km Lakeside track. It has a relatively even terrain through open temperate rainforest.
• (The Cuvier Valley track is not recommended as it is not clearly marked, and is wet and muddy underfoot.)
Lake St Clair ferry service
This is operated between Narcissus and Cynthia Bay by the private operator Lakeside St Clair. Phone (03) 6289 1137 for bookings and timetables. A radio, located in Narcissus Hut, is connected to the operator to enable ferry bookings.
Side tracks on the way
A variety of opportunities are created by the side tracks that branch off the Overland Track. Some of these tracks have become very worn and walkers can expect to wade through wet and muddy sections. The tracks described below have mostly had track improvement works undertaken which has made walking more pleasant and repaired environmental degradation.
1. Cradle Valley
Three days could be spent here exploring a variety of environs that include the summit peak, glacial lakes, historic buildings and lichen-clad forests. Take some time to view the interpretive displays in the Visitor Centre.
2. Cradle Mountain summit
A sign posted track leaves from the main track just south of Kitchen Hut. Walkers should allow two hours from this point including the return. Warm clothing and your raincoat should always be taken with you when leaving your pack behind. Regardless of how fine the weather might seem, conditions can change dramatically in the time that you are away from your pack.
3. Lake Will
The track is boardwalked to the shore of the alpine lake - one hour return from the main track. The lake is fringed with Pencil Pines and in calm weather may provide a mirror image of Barn Bluff.
4. Mt Ossa
At 1617 metres this is Tasmania's highest mountain. About three-and-half hours is a good time to allow for the return trip from Pelion Gap to the summit. This includes time to take photographs and soak in the inspiring views from the top. In hot conditions walkers are advised to carry water. This should be collected before reaching Pelion Gap.
5. Hartnett Falls
These are the highest of several falls on the Mersey River. An easy 20 minute walk reaches the falls from the Overland Track. Unlike views from the peaks, even solid rain cannot spoil the view of a waterfall.
6. Mt Rufus
A day walk can be made to this peak from Cynthia Bay. Mt Rufus can be climbed as part of a circuit track that includes Shadow Lake. The view from the summit gives views into the upper Franklin River.
7. Lake St Clair
Save some time to view the interpretive displays at the visitor centre. These include presentations about the ice ages, the Tasmanian tiger and early bushwalking days.
Huts and Fuel Stoves
There are basic, unattended huts at various stages along the track, which only
provide bunks (without mattresses), tables and either coal-burning
or gas heaters. These huts are used on a first-come, first-served basis so there
is no guarantee that there will be space in a hut when you arrive. Details as
to the sleeping accommodation available in each particular hut is provided on
the back of the Overland Track map. Food, cooking utensils, cooking stoves and
bedding are not available at the huts.
It is essential that a tent and fuel stove be carried. The huts may be full when you arrive. Having a tent and fuel stove gives you complete independence and the flexibility to stop and camp when it is unwise to proceed, due to poor weather conditions, injury or fatigue.
The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, through which the Overland Track traverses, is a fuel stove only area - open fires are not allowed. When using your fuel stove outside of huts, please use a hard surface, such as a flat rock. The radient heat from the stove can destroy underlying vegetation. Similarly, hot pots should not be put directly onto vegetation, nor should boiling water be poured onto vegetation.
The huts (with AGD GPS co-ordinates) which are generally used from north to
south, are:
Converting from AGD66 to GDA 94 You can easily convert a
map co-ordinate to GDA. These
equations will give about a 3-5 metre accuracy.
AGD66 to GDA94 - add 112 metres to the easting (X)
and 183 metres to the northing
(Y)
GDA94 to AGD66 - subtract 112 metres from the easting (X) and
183 metres from
the northing (Y) More accurate calculations can be obtained from using one of
the
many free programs available on the internet.
An
"OziExplorer Waypoint
File" of the huts and some intersections (Pelion Gap, Barn Bluff, Waterfall
side tracks etc). is available for download to for use with a GPS (if
you have OZI).
| Hut |
Easting (AGD) |
Northing (AGD) |
| Waterfall Valley |
412282 |
5381178 |
| Windermere |
413139 |
5374873 |
| Pelion |
420749 |
5368465 |
| Kia Ora |
423691 |
5361602 |
| Windy Ridge |
424359 |
5357179 |
| Narcissus |
425500 |
5348260 |
Kitchen Hut, Ranger Hut, Old Pelion Hut and Du Cane Hut are strictly emergency shelters only and overnight stays are only permitted in the case of a genuine emergency.
Camping
Wherever possible walkers are encouraged to use huts or the tent platforms provided to minimise campsite impacts. The new Pelion Plains Hut accommodates 60 plus the verandah can be used. If huts or tent platforms are fully occupied please camp in the areas adjacent to the huts. These sites generally offer good camping spots. Using them helps to limit degradation to existing sites rather than creating new sites. Do not camp within 30 metres of lakes and streams as these areas erode most easily. Carry something for collecting water so as to limit the number of trips that need to be made to water courses (a well rinsed, empty wine cask bladder is recommended). Do not dig drains around tents.
For the reasons mentioned previously, camping is not permitted inside the Cradle Mountain day walk area.
Coal heaters
A warm hut can be great after a cold day's walk. However, supplying coal to huts is expensive and the heaters generate a lot of ash waste which degrades the environment around the huts. Think conservation! Don't light the heaters if the thermometers in the huts read 10 degrees C or more. Putting on extra clothing is a non-polluting way of getting warm.
Pine Valley
This very popular area is suffering from the wear and tear of too many pairs of human feet. Think about selecting another destination to help ease the pressure. If you have an extra day, consider walking the Lakeside Track or Mt Rufus as alternatives to Pine Valley.
If you do visit Pine Valley, by preference camp near the hut and use the toilet.
As a precaution against introducing weeds or new plant diseases we recommend you wash boots and other soiled items before walking the Overland Track.
Walk Softly
For your safety, care of the environment and consideration of other visitors please observe these guidelines ... and thank you for being environmentally friendly. The preferred maximum party size is 4 - 6 people. Large
groups can be difficult to accommodate at huts and campsites and have
greater environmental impacts.
Further, large groups can be very annoying to others - most walkers seek a
"wilderness experience".
Use walker registration books to register and de-register your walk.
All fires are prohibited. Carry and use a fuel stove.
Please do not feed any animals.
All rubbish must be carried out with you. Rubbish includes cigarette butts!
Do not attempt to burn any rubbish in the hut stoves. Much of it will fall through the stove grates and be discarded as litter outside the huts.
Used sanitary pads, tampons, condoms and baby nappies are items of litter which should be carried out.
Leave the huts clean and tidy. Don't leave unwanted food and clothing in the huts.
Observe guidelines for use of the hut stoves; these are posted inside the huts.
Smoking is not permitted in the huts and toilets.
Collect drinking water from deep lakes or fast flowing streams. Make sure you are upstream of campsites and any obvious toilet sites. If in doubt as to the safety of water, boil it for three minutes.
Avoid illness. Good hygiene will go a long way towards keeping you healthy:
- Wash your hands after going to the toilet and before eating;
- Use a scourer and thoroughly clean all cooking and eating utensils;
- Store cookware and food away from animals. (A possum licking your billy might seem cute, but animals also dig up and eat human faecal waste.)
- Prepare food on a dry, clean surface.
Keep soaps, detergents and food wastes away from lakes and streams. All washing should be done 50 metres away from any water. Swim downstream of water collection points.
Wade through the centre of boggy sections of track. This is the best way that walkers can help with stopping the sprawl of muddy areas. We recommend wearing gaiters to protect yourself against the scrub and mud.
Where possible, use the toilets provided. If this is not possible, please use the following rules for bush toileting.
Toilet sites must be:
- 100 metres from water and campsites;
- 15 centimetres (6 inches) deep and;
- All faecal waste and toilet paper must be buried.
For more information
Cradle Mountain
PO Box 20
SHEFFIELD TAS 7306
Phone:03 6492 1133
Fax:03 6492 1120
Lake St Clair
Lake St Clair National Park
DERWENT BRIDGE TAS 7140
Phone:03 6289 1172
Fax:03 6289 1227
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