Overland Track Voyage Tips and guide

The Overland Track is a long-distance hiking trail in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, one of Tasmania's most scenic and iconic national parks. The trail covers 65 km (40 mi) and takes most hikers five to six days to complete, averaging around 12 km per day. For environmental reasons, the trail must be hiked north to south, starting at Cradle Mountain and finishing at Lake St Clair.

The Overland Track passes through terrain shaped by ancient glaciers, winding through temperate rainforest, alpine plains, wild rivers and glacial mountain scenery. The route spans the traditional boundary between the Big River and Northern Tasmanian Aboriginal nations, and the area shows evidence of long Aboriginal use, with stone tools and campsites discovered along the way. European exploration of the area began in the 1820s, and by the late 19th century surveyors and engineers had begun cutting tracks through the region in pursuit of mining and railway projects. The Overland Track itself follows parts of the historic Innes track, established in 1897. By 1937 it had been formally named and upgraded for guided tours, and it has been managed by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service since 1971.

The park is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and is notable for its biodiversity. A large proportion of the alpine flora found here is found nowhere else in the world, and the park supports a wide range of native fauna including wombats, Tasmanian devils, quolls, echidnas and various species of possum and wallaby. The vegetation changes considerably along the route, from myrtle beech and eucalyptus forest to buttongrass plains and alpine herb fields.

The track is rated as a grade 4 hike and is best suited to walkers with reasonable fitness and some prior hiking experience. No highly technical skills are required, but hikers should be comfortable carrying a full pack over varied terrain for several consecutive days.

The track is mostly well defined and adequately signposted, though conditions vary considerably. Long sections are laid with wooden duckboards — split logs embedded in the ground and held together with wire and nails — but stretches of the trail can become muddy in wet weather. In winter, icy surfaces in the early morning require extra care to avoid slipping, though this is less common in the southwest of the trail where footbridges are more prevalent.

The walk is not technically difficult, but hikers must be adequately prepared and properly equipped. Inexperienced hikers are advised to attempt the trail in summer, when days are longer and the weather is milder.

During the summer season, hiker numbers are controlled through the Overland Track booking system, which limits the number of people on the trail at any one time. Only authorised maintenance personnel are permitted outside the standard booking quota.

You will need a general parks pass to enter Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, plus a separate Overland Track fee, which as of 2021 costs $200 per adult and $160 per child 17 and under as well as concession card holders. Bookings can be made here on the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service website.

There are no restaurants or shops along the Overland Track, so hikers must carry all their food for the duration of the trail. A camping stove is essential, as there are no cooking facilities in the public huts. Plan for around five to six days of meals, keeping weight in mind when choosing what to bring.

There are no shops or cafés along the route, so water management is important. Water is available from streams and lakes along the trail, and each campground has a rainwater tank provided by Parks Tasmania. Water from natural sources is generally considered safe to drink, though carrying a filter or purification tablets is advisable as a precaution.

Overnight stays are in or near the main huts along the route. The public huts accommodate between 16 and 36 people each, with tent platforms also available nearby for those carrying a tent. Private shelters exist for guided tour groups. Huts can fill up during the busy summer season, so carrying a tent is recommended as a backup even if you plan to use the huts.

The Overland Track can be hiked year-round, but conditions vary dramatically by season. Summer brings longer days and milder weather, making it the most popular and accessible time to hike. Winter brings the possibility of snow and ice, and hikers should be prepared for cold temperatures and reduced daylight — during this period the trail is only recommended for experienced hikers with appropriate cold-weather gear and navigation skills. Weather in Tasmania's central highlands can change rapidly at any time of year, and rain, hail and strong winds are possible even in summer, so layers and waterproof gear are essential regardless of when you go.

Same way as you'd get into Cradle Mountain.

Map of Overland Track

The track is conventionally described in six stages, each ending at one of the main public huts. Most hikers complete the trail in six days, though taking an extra day or two to attempt side trips is well worthwhile. The trail begins at Ronny Creek in Cradle Valley, where walkers must check in at the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre to collect their Overland Track pass before setting off.

Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley

 10.7 km 3.5 hr

The trail starts with its most demanding section, climbing steeply from -41.6359145.9491 Ronny Creek (near Lake Dove) up to Marion's Lookout at 1,250 m, where broad views open up across the plateau. The route then continues across the exposed Cradle Plateau before descending to Waterfall Valley. A popular side trip leads to the summit of Cradle Mountain itself, adding around 2 km return. The terrain here is predominantly open alpine moorland with some rocky sections.

• -41.7147145.9471 Waterfall Valley Hut (at the end of stage 1, in Waterfall Valley). Public hut sleeping 34 people on platforms, with tent platforms nearby for overflow. Rainwater tank and composting toilet. No cooking equipment, electricity or bedding provided.  

Waterfall Valley to Lake Windermere

 7.8 km 2.5 hr

The easiest stage of the trail, this section descends from Waterfall Valley and crosses open buttongrass moorland and forest with views of Barn Bluff throughout. The route stays largely above 1,000 m and is exposed to the weather. A short side trip leads to the shores of Lake Will, a peaceful alpine lake popular as a lunch stop. The overnight site is a short distance from the shore of Lake Windermere.

• -41.771666145.9563132 Windermere Hut (500 m from the shore of Lake Windermere). Public hut sleeping 34 people on platforms, with 8 tent platforms nearby. Rainwater tank and composting toilet. No cooking equipment, electricity or bedding provided.  

Lake Windermere to Pelion

 16.8 km 4.5 hr

The longest stage of the trail passes through myrtle-beech rainforest, eucalyptus forest and wide buttongrass moorlands, descending to the lowest point on the track at Frog Flats (720 m) before climbing again to Pelion. The historic Old Pelion Hut, built for miners in 1917, is a short detour from the main track and has a good swimming hole nearby. Mount Oakleigh (1,286 m) can be seen towering above the campsite and is accessible via a demanding side trip.

• -41.8296146.0463 Pelion Hut (on the Pelion Plains). The largest public hut on the track, sleeping 36 people on platforms, with tent platforms and overflow camping on grass. Rainwater tank and composting toilet. No cooking equipment, electricity or bedding provided.  

Pelion to Kia Ora

 8.6 km 3 hr

A shorter but rewarding stage, the route climbs to Pelion Gap, an exposed alpine saddle between Mount Ossa and Pelion East, before descending through buttongrass plains to Kia Ora. The views from the gap are exceptional. A highly recommended side trip leads to the summit of Mount Ossa (1,617 m), Tasmania's highest mountain, adding around 5.2 km return. A small creek near Kia Ora Hut makes a refreshing swimming spot in fine weather.

• -41.891788146.0813454 Kia Ora Hut (on the descent from Pelion Gap). Public hut sleeping 34 people on platforms, with 9 tent platforms nearby. Rainwater tank and composting toilet. No cooking equipment, electricity or bedding provided.  

Kia Ora to Bert Nichols Hut

 9.6 km 3.5 hr

This stage passes through eucalyptus forest and open moorland with wide mountain views, finishing at Bert Nichols Hut at Windy Ridge. Several impressive waterfalls are within easy reach, including D'Alton Falls, Fergusson Falls and Hartnett Falls, all accessible via short detours from the main track.

• -41.9796146.06785 Bert Nichols Hut (Windy Ridge Hut) (at Windy Ridge). Public hut sleeping 24 people on platforms, with 9 tent platforms nearby. Rainwater tank and composting toilet. No cooking equipment, electricity or bedding provided.  

Bert Nichols Hut to Narcissus

 9 km 3 hr

The final main stage descends steadily through forest to Narcissus Hut on the northern shore of Lake St Clair. The track crosses the only suspension bridge on the route over the Narcissus River. Most hikers end their walk here and take the ferry across the lake to Cynthia Bay and the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre. The ferry runs three times daily and must be pre-booked; the crossing takes around 30 minutes and costs around $55 per person.

• -42.0125146.1026 Narcissus Hut (on the northern shore of Lake St Clair). Public hut sleeping 18 people on platforms, with 4 tent platforms nearby. Rainwater tank, composting toilet and a radio for contacting the ferry operator. No cooking equipment, electricity or bedding provided.  

Narcissus to Cynthia Bay (Lakeside Track)

 17.5 km 5 hr

Rather than taking the ferry, hikers can walk the length of Lake St Clair along the Lakeside Track to Cynthia Bay. This is an undulating route through myrtle-beech rainforest without any steep sections, offering views across Australia's deepest lake that are quite different from the rest of the trail. Echo Point Hut, a small rustic shelter sleeping around eight people, is located roughly halfway along at 7.1 km from Narcissus.

• -42.043766146.1377237 Echo Point Hut (on the eastern shore of Lake St Clair, 7.1 km from Narcissus Hut). Small rustic hut sleeping around 8 people. Used by those choosing to walk the full length of Lake St Clair rather than taking the ferry. Rainwater tank and composting toilet.  

The climate of the Tasmanian Wilderness can turn out to be unpredictable and change suddenly making the conditions of the track less safe. However, most of the injuries and deaths that have occurred since 1990 can be attributed to slips that have occurred along the escarpments. People have died on the trail before due to inclement weather, inappropriate clothing or attempting it while inexperienced.

• Explore the rest of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park or even other national parks of the Tasmanian Wilderness.