MONDAY 18 - THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER,
OVERLAND TRACK, TASMANIA,
THROUGHWALK
Leader: Phil 0416 650 160
Cost: $295
Day 1. Wed 22nd
Jan Fly to Launceston airport – night
near Cradle ????
Day 2. Thurs 23rd
Jan Cradle Valley to Waterfall
valley Hut Side trip to Barn Bluff (6
km) 3 hrs
Day 3. Fri 24th
Jan Waterfall Valley Hut to Windermere
Hut 7 km 4 hrs + Side trip to Lake Will – 5 km – 3 hrs
Day 4. Sat 25th
Jan Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut 15 km
7 hrs
Day 5. Sun 26th
Jan Pelion hut to Mt Oakleigh and
return to Pelion hut - 10 km 6 hrs
Day 6. Mon 27th
Jan Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut 9 km – 4 hrs Side trip – Mt Ossa – 5 km 4 hours
Day 7 Tues 28th
Jan Kia Ora hut to Windy Ridge Hut 9 km – 4 hrs +
Side trip - Hartnet falls
Day 8. Wed 29th
Jan Windy Ridge hut to Narcissus Hut
10 km – 3 hrs Narcissus Hut to Pine
Valley 9 km 4 hrs
Day 9. Thurs 30th
Jan Narcissu Hut to Cynthia bay by
Boat ride - Bus - Cynthia Bay to Hobart – cost $110 – stay in Hobart ??
Day 10 Fri 31st
Jan Morning in Hobart and - Flight to Brisbane or Gold Coast - Or trip
Western Arthurs
Day 11 Sat 1st
Feb Start western Arthurs
https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain/overland-track/overland-track-walk-notes
The National Park Suggested Itinerary
Some Overland Track walkers
cover the 65 km from Ronny Creek to Narcissus, followed by a ferry
trip across Lake St Clair to the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre, in six days.
Some choose to take
seven (or more) days to include two nights at some of the huts to
undertake mountain summit side trips and/or walk the length of Lake St Clair,
an additional 17.5 km to reach the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre.
Rainwater tanks and composting
toilets are provided at each of the main huts. Please note, water from rainwater
tanks needs to be boiled or treated prior to drinking.
Track walk times may be subject
to change in inclement weather conditions, particularly blizzards and snow
cover. Please make sure track conditions are factored into your trip planning.
Day 1 – Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley
·
10.7 km, 4-6 hours
Before you start, check in at
the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre to confirm your booking, collect your
Overland Track pass and check the latest weather forecast. Most of the day
is exposed alpine plateau walking. Please consider delaying departure if
the weather is forecast as very severe.
The ascent to Crater Lake is
gradual, followed by a very steep, short ascent to Marions Lookout. Undulating
across the alpine plains and a final gradual descent to Waterfall Valley.
Waterfall Valley Hut sleeping capacity is 34 people. There
are 4 tent platforms, overflow camping on grass
-
Side trips
·
Cradle Mountain Summit (1545 m) – 2 km, 2-3
hours return from the track junction.
There is some boulder scrambling as you reach the summit, and the walk should
only be attempted in fine weather. Not recommended when under snow or for
walkers unsettled by heights and exposure. Secure your pack from marauding
currawongs if leaving it at the junction. (They know how to undo zips!)
·
Barn Bluff
(1559 m) – 7 km, 3-4 hours return from track junction.
This walk has some very steep sections and boulder scrambling
towards the summit. Barn Bluff should only be attempted in fine
weather and is not recommended when under snow.
Day 2 – Waterfall Valley to
Lake Windermere
·
7.8 km,
2.5-3.5 hours
From Waterfall Valley to Lake
Windermere is a less strenuous stretch over alpine heathlands, lakes and
tarns. This section is exposed and above 1000 metres in elevation. Camping is
not permitted around Lake Windemere however, the overnight sites are just
500 metres from its shore. Hut sleeping capacity is 34 people and 8 tent
platforms available.
Side trip
·
Lake Will –
3 km, 1 hour return from track junction.
This relaxed walk takes visitors to an alpine lake, popular as a lunch stop.
Day 3 – Lake Windermere to Pelion
·
16.8 km,
5-7 hours
A long walking day, encircled by
distant mountains; Pelion East, Ossa, Thetis, Achilles and Pelion West and
the Du Cane Range. Walkers cross buttongrass plains and journey
through myrtle-beech rainforest and eucalypt forest. Pelion Hut is a much
larger hut with a sleeping capacity of 36 people. There is 1 tent platform
(accommodates 3 tents), overflow camping on grass.
Side trip
·
Old Pelion
Hut – 1 km, 0.5 hour return from track junction.
Pelion Hut is a charming 1917 historic hut, once built for miners and now
a day-use area. There is an excellent swimming hole for a
summer-time refresh
·
Mount
Oakleigh (1286m) – 8 km, 4 - 6 hours return from track
junction.
Expect to get wet and muddy feet crossing the buttongrass moorlands.
Day 4 – Pelion to Kia Ora
·
8.6 km,
3-4 hours
Day four experiences are
full of rainforests and mountain summits. Alongside Douglas Creek, walkers
will ascend to Pelion Gap, the valley between Mount Ossa and Pelion East. There
is a gradual descent across buttongrass plains and eucalypt forest to
Kia Ora.
Pelion Gap is an exposed alpine
plateau. In inclement weather, take your breaks in the shelter of the forest
before Pelion Gap. Kia Ora hut has a sleeping capacity of 34 people, and 9
tent platforms available.
Side trips
·
Mount Ossa (1617m) – 5.2 km, 4-5
hours return from track junction.
Mount Ossa is Tasmania’s highest peak, and the walk is steep and
exposed.
Do not attempt under heavy rain or snow as boulder fields under snow are
dangerous. Y
You will need 4-5 hours of daylight to summit and return to Pelion
Gap and a further hour to reach Kia Ora Hut.
·
Mount
Pelion East (1433m) – 2.4 km, 2 hours return from track junction.
There are spectacular views over Mount Ossa and most of the park’s highest
peaks once you reach the summit of Mount Pelion East. The walk is
steep and exposed. Do not attempt under heavy rain or snow as boulder fields
under snow are dangerous.
Day 5 – Kia Ora to Windy Ridge
(Bert Nichols Hut)
·
9.6 km, 3.5-4.5 hours
From Kia Ora Creek, the track
continues through rainforest to the historic Du Cane Hut.
Built in 1910, the hut provides
a great location for lunch but should only be used as an overnight location in
an emergency. Walkers then spend another half hour walking through King
Billy pine, sassafras and myrtle forest, before reaching the junction to
D'Alton and Fergusson Falls - a great side trip. Another 20 minutes up the path
walkers will reach the side trip to Harnett Falls.
After a final journey through
wet sclerophyll forest, walkers reach
Bert Nichols Hut, situated at the top of the Narcissus Valley with
the dramatic Du Cane Range as its backdrop.
Bert Nichols Hut has a sleeping
capacity of 24 with a large, enclosed dining area and 9 tent platforms
available.
Side trips
·
D’Alton and Fergusson Falls – 1 km, 1 hour
return.
Descend through rainforest to the Mersey River to reach both waterfalls.
Slippery tracks and sheer drop-offs at top of falls, but a pleasant side trip
worth taking.
·
Hartnett Falls – 1.5 km, 1 hour
return.
Another descent through rainforest to the Mersey River and the falls. Slippery
track and sheer drop-offs at top of falls.
Day 6 – Windy Ridge (Bert
Nichols Hut) to Narcissus
·
9 km, 3-4 hours
It is a gradual, easy descent
beside Narcissus Valley through eucalypt forest and across buttongrass plains.
Narcissus Hut is on the banks of the Narcissus River at the head of Lake St
Clair. Walkers will need to cross the river via a suspension bridge before
reaching the overnight site and ferry jetty another 15 minutes down
the track. The Narcissus hut has a sleeping capacity of 18 people and 4 tent
platforms are available.
If you're ending your journey
here make sure that you have booked your tickets for the ferry before you
set out, and use the radio in Narcissus Hut to reconfirm your booking once you
get there. If you have not booked the ferry, go to the Lake St Clair Lodge website to make a booking.
Side trip
·
Pine Valley
Hut – 4.7 km, 1.5-2 hours one way.
This side trip is recommended as an overnight trip. Hut sleeping capacity is
16 with 4 tent platforms available, overflow camping on forest floor.This hut
is used as a base for exploring The Acropolis and the Labyrinth.
Day 7 – Narcissus to Cynthia Bay
·
17.5 km, 5-6 hours
An optional addition to the end
of your Overland Track experience, this track meanders along the shoreline
of Lake St Clair through myrtle-beech rainforest to Cynthia Bay. The small
rustic Echo Point Hut is located 5km (2 hours) into the walk, and is used by
some wishing to savour an extra night out on the track.
At the end of your walk, don’t
forget to sign out using the registration book, and take a group photo at the
Overland Track finish photo point. Hooray!
To purchase Cradle
Mountain-Lake St Clair Map and Notes, 1:100,00 scale map (published by TASMAP)
please visit the TASMAP website.
Contact
Overland Track Booking Team
Phone: 1300 827
727
Email: OverlandTrack@parks.tas.gov.au