The Overland Track
The Overland Track runs for 65 kilometres from Cradle Mountain through the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area to Lake St. Claire. Hiking the Overland Track, Cradle Mountain , Tasmania is quite spectacular with a variety of different areas ranging from rainforest to moors with mountains, lakes and waterfalls to see.
The Overland track is classed as a moderate walk and there are numerous side trips that can be done. On these side trips you can either leave your pack at the huts if the side trip is nearby or leave the packs on some of the timber platforms that have been specially built and do the side-trips with just a day pack .These side-trips provide some spectacular scenery and it is highly recommended that you plan to do as many as possible. Hiking the Overland Track , Cradle Mountain ,Tasmania takes four days but another four days can easily be used up on the side-trips. As the track is growing more popular every year a booking and fee system is in place. During the summer months the Overland track must be walked from north to south.
December to March is about the best time to do the walk but at all times you must be prepared for bad weather conditions. We walked this track in April and although the weather was good ,we did get rain and low cloud with overnight temperatures below zero. The day we finished the hike there were heavy snowfalls overnight. It is best to prepare for winter blizzard conditions at all times for the sake of safety. Although the track is well marked and there are park rangers and huts to shelter in you must be prepared for the poor weather conditions just in case you have to spend the night outside due to injury or getting lost
When we did this walk we stayed at Cradle Valley overnight where there is a range of accommodation available. The next morning we got a shuttle bus to Ronny creek from the visitor centre and started the walk from there.
Day 1 was from Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley which is about 10 kilometres and takes 4 to 5 hours. There is a side trip up to the top of Cradle Mountain and back which will take 2 to 3 hours. Fortunately on most of the side trips you can leave your pack and carry a daypack and water as you will return to the track where you left it. There are basic huts at each overnight area but as there is no booking system you cannot rely on staying in a hut so you must carry camping equipment.
Day 2 we went from Waterfall Valley to Windermere where there is another hut. This day is quite short and easy as it is about 8 kilometres and takes about 3hours. There is a side trip to Barn Bluff which is actually on day 1 but as day 2 is so short you can leave your pack at Windermere and go back to do Barn Bluff which is about 2 to 3 hours before going to Windermere. We went to Lake Will after we had arrived at Windermere which is another side trip and takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Day three goes from Windermere to Pelion Plains. This is a 17 kilometre hike and takes 5 to 7 hours. The hut here is the largest and newest on the track and has wide verandahs and good views.
Day 4 takes you from Pelion Plains to Kia Ora Creek which is about 9 kilometres and takes about 3 hours. There is a side trip to Mt Ossa which is about 5 kilometers return and takes between 2.5 and 3.5 hours with a climb and descent of about 500metres.
Day five goes from Kia Ora creek to Windy Ridge .This is a 10 kilometre hike which takes about 3 to 4 hours. There are 2 side trips to view waterfalls which are well worth seeing. The first is D'alton and Fergusson falls which takes about 1.5 hours and is about 2 kilometres. The second is Hartnett falls which is about 2 kilometres and takes about 1 hour.
Day 6 is normally Windy Ridge to Narcissus hut which is a 9 kilometre hike and takes about 3 hours. There is a side trip to Pine Valley, the Labyrinth and Acropolis. When we did the trip we added a day which makes Day 7 and went on to Pine Valley hut which is about 9 kilometres and about 2.5 to 3.5 hours from Windy Ridge hut. You continue on the track for about 5 kilometres to the turn off to Pine Valley hut which is about another 4 kilometres The Acropolis is about 5 hours return to the hut and the Labyrinth is about 3 to 5 hours return to the hut depending on how much you want to see. Most of these side trips are well worth doing but generally you have to make an assessment of the weather on the day.
Day 8 From Narcissus hut you can either take the ferry to Cynthia Bay or walk along the lake edge which is about 17 kilometres and takes about 5 hours. Half of our group took the ferry and the rest of us walked out.
Hiking the Overland Track ,Cradle Mountain ,Tasmania is becoming increasingly popular as each year goes by. It is certainly on the list of the worlds best walks and attracts numerous hikers from all around the world .
