After spending the first month of my trip hiking through rainforest, the second month hiking through desert, and the third month through beaches, it was time for me to hit the mountains. What better way to do this than hike Tasmania’s beautiful Overland Track? It takes a lot of planning but walking this beautiful trail will give you bragging rights for years to come.

If you would like to read my full experience hiking the Overland Track check out my post here!

The Planning Stage

Pick Your Dates

The first thing you need to decide is when to go. The main booking season is between October 1 – May 31. During this time the trail must be walked North to South and dates must be booked in advance. Over 8,000 people walk the track every year and of course the most popular time is when the weather is nice. Booking during the busy season means better weather and more people. I hiked in late November and the huts were already ¾ filled.

Hiking the Overland Track during off season brings the challenge of weather. Tasmania is far south and thus gets lots of rain and snow. I would not suggest walking in off season unless you have previous overnight experience. In speaking with the rangers I found out that just 3 weeks earlier an unexpected snow storm came through and people had to take shelter in one of the old emergency huts. Just keep in mind that the weather can change dramatically.

Once you chose your dates go to the Overland Track website and book ’em! The fee is $200 per person and goes towards trail and hut maintenance. Once you are confirmed you will receive a detailed map and booklet of the track in the mail (even if you live in a foreign country). Be sure to look the booklet over and get excited. You’re going to hike the Overland Track!

Side Trips and Huts

The Overland Track isn’t simply a hike from one point to another. There are a ton of opportunities for side trips, extra nights, or to skip huts. There are 7 huts along the trail, each with their own certain charm. Some are tiny, some are huge, and some have amazing views. All of them are worth staying at but depending on your pace it may be logical for you to skip a hut or stay multiple nights in the same one.

Huts From North to South (and their views)

Ronny Creek (start) to Waterfall Valley – 10.7 km, 4-6 hours

Waterfall Valley to Windermere Hut – 7.8 km, 2.5-3.5 hours

Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut – 16.8 km, 5-7 hours

Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut – 8.6 km, 3-4 hours

Kia Ora Hut to Bert Nichols Hut – 9.6 km, 3.5-4.5 hours

Bert Nichols Hut to Narcissus – 9 km, 3-4 hours

Narcissus to Echo Point Hut – 6 km, 1.5-2.5 hours

Echo Point Hut to Lake St. Clair Visitor’s Center (finish), 12 km, 3-4 hours hours

The Overland Track is technically 65km from Ronny Creek to Narcissus. From Narcissus you can end the track and pay $40 for a ferry across Lake St Clair to the Visitor’s Center. It’s better to book the ferry in advance but there is a phone at Narcissus which is specifically for ferry bookings.

The second option is extending the hike around Lake St Clair. At 17.5 km it isn’t just a quick extension and don’t let the “flat” terrain on the map fool you. It’s through temperate forest which means there’s roots, mud, fallen logs, and more roots. That being said it is beautiful and worth doing. If you decide to hike around Lake St Clair you can stay at Narcissus or Echo Point to break the walk into smaller sections.

Huts and Side trips

The mileage between huts may seem inconsistent but on the shorter days there are more opportunities for side trips. My 2nd longest day was from Waterfall Valley to Windermere even though it is the shortest day on the map because I decided to backtrack and hike Barn’s Bluff. This turned my 7.8 km day into a 17 km day which is why it’s important to consider what side trips your interested in before deciding to skip huts.

Ronny Creek (start) to Waterfall Valley Hut – 10.7 km, 4-6 hours

• Cradle Mountain – 2km return, 2-3 hours Moderate/Difficult
• Barn Bluff – 7km return, 3-4 hours Moderate/Difficult

Waterfall Valley Hut to Windermere Hut – 7.8km, 2.5-3.5 hours

• Barn Bluff – 9km return, 4-5 hours Moderate/Difficult
• Lake Will – 3km return, 1 hour Easy

Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut – 16.8 km, 5-7 hours

• Forth Valley Lookout – 50 meters, 5 minutes Easy
• Old Pelion Hut – 1km return, ½ hour Easy

Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut – 8.6 km, 3-4 hours

• Mt Oakleigh – 8km return, 4-6 hours Medium
• Mt Ossa – 5.2 km return, 4-5 hours, Medium/Hard
• Mt Pelion East – 2.4 km return, 2 hours, Medium/Hard

Kia Ora Hut to Bert Nichols Hut – 9.6 km, 3.5-4.5 hours

• D’Alton and Fergusson Falls – 1km return, 1 hour Easy
• Hartnett Falls – 1.5 km return, 1 hour Easy

Bert Nichols Hut to Narcissus Hut – 9 km, 3-4 hours

• Pine Valley Hut (recommended as overnight) – 4.7 km one-way, 1.5-2 hours Easy

Narcissus Hut to Echo Point Hut – 6 km, 1.5-2.5 hours

• None

Echo Point Hut to Lake St Clair Visitor’s Center (finish), 12 km, 3-4 hours hours

• None

Transportation

For how organized the rest of the process is, transportation for the Overland Track is annoying. Since the trail ends at a totally different spot from where it begins it can be tricky getting transportation to and from the track. After some research and unsuccessful bookings Tassielink was by far the easiest way to get from point A to B. They even have an Overland Track fare of $134. This package goes from Hobart or Launceston to Cradle Mountain (start) and from Lake St Claire (end) to Hobart. A big plus for Tassielink is they are flexible with your reservation. If you finish the track early or a few days late they will still honor your booking.

Accommodation

Tassielink doesn’t arrive at Cradle Mountain until 11am the earliest (sometimes later depending on the day). If you want to get an early start I would recommend staying the night near the Cradle Mountain Visitor’s Center. There is plenty of accommodation but Discovery Parks is the best option for budget travelers. There are tent sites, huts, and dorms available with hot showers, heaters, and a communal kitchen. It is also directly across from the visitor’s center. For those not on a budget there are lots of hotels and the Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Visitor’s Center across from Discovery Parks Accomodation

Weather

During my trip to Glacier National Park the park ranger said “the weather report always says 20% chance of rain because you just never know.” The same goes for the Overland Track. Trust the numerous bulletins that say “weather on the Overland Track is unpredictable” because it is. Below outlines my personal weather experience.

Day 1 (Nov 22nd) – Cloudy until 1pm. Sunny until dark

Day 2 – Very foggy until 10am. Sunny until 1pm. Rain from 1-4pm with occasional hail. Partly cloudy until dark

Day 3 – Beautiful the whole day without a cloud in sight. Hard rain from 5pm until dark

Day 4 – Non-stop rain until noon. Snow from 12 to 2pm. Rain until dark

Day 5 – Drizzle and light rain until 2pm. Deep cloud cover until 6pm. Partly cloudy until dark

Day 6 – Partly cloudy until 10am. Sunny until I left the park at 2pm

Gear

Don’t wait until the last minute to buy gear. Ideally take it for a test run beforehand (or several times). Not being familiar with gear can cause discomfort which is the last thing anyone wants on a 6-day hike. Since the weather changes so rapidly be sure to bring gear for both hot and cold weather. There are heaters in the huts but they cannot be turned on until the gauge reads 10C or less.

I met someone on the trail who didn’t bring a warm sleeping bag and ended up hiking the track in 4 days because he was too cold at night. Make sure you bring whatever you need to make yourself comfortable. Your booklet will have a checklist of necessary gear if you are unsure what to bring.

Important: Bring toilet paper because the bathrooms don’t have any.

The Day Before & Day Of

Check-In

When you get to the visitor’s center there is a cafe (with free wifi), a store, and a desk completely dedicated to the Overland Track. They will ask for your name and reference number when you check in. You must also purchase a National Park’s Pass. Since the hike lasts at least 5 days it is required to purchase the 6-week park pass for $30 (NOTE: if you plan to visit more national parks on this trip do not throw the pass away! It is valid for all of Tasmania’s National Parks).

The ranger will also give you a shuttle ticket for the trail head. The first shuttle leaves around 9am and goes every 15-20 minutes. After your reservation is sorted they will ask questions to make sure you are prepared for the hike. Do you have a tent, sleeping bag, an extra day’s worth of food, etc? Yes? Well then you’re ready to go!

Last Minute Buys and Nick Nacks

This is specifically the Cradle Mountain Visitor’s Center and different items are sold at the Lake St Clair Visitor’s Center. If you see something  you like now is the time to buy it, but don’t buy bulky or heavy items or else you will have to carry them around for 6 days. I collect lapel pins and fell in love with one specific to Cradle Mountain. Thankfully it weighs nothing so I bought it.

If you discover that you’re missing something don’t panic. The visitor’s center has lots of hiking gear for sale: gators, fuel canisters, rain jackets, and gloves to name a few. Remember that fuel canisters are not allowed on airplanes or ferries and must be purchased in Tasmania.

Mentally Prepare Yourself

This is one of the most important parts of the hiking process. Don’t be scared for your hike. Be excited because you’re about to do something amazing! Chances are nothing will go wrong so there’s no point in worrying. If something does go wrong it will just add to the adventure and be a fun story later on. Hiking the Overland Track is an exciting experience so enjoy it!