Tasmanian Overland Hike

The schedule will permit time to visit the summits of some of the highest mountains in Tasmania, possibly even Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest. Your experienced guides will help to bring the track alive with their local knowledge and enthusiasm for the Tasmanian wilderness.

Experience close encounters with wildlife unique to Tasmania in their wild habitats, trek through relic Gondwanan forests, fabulous views over Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area, trek through terrain that varies remarkably moment to moment, experience a range of conditions and marvel at the sculpted landscape and vegetation they create.

Day 1. Launceston to Cradle Mountain
Today you begin your journey to Cradle Mountain. After a group briefing you will be transferred to your cabins at Cradle Mountain. The drive to Cradle Mt Lake St Clair National Park takes about three hours including a mid journey leg stretch in Sheffield – Tasmania's town of murals. Your guides will conduct a trip briefing and issue you with any gear that you need when you arrive at the Cradle Mountain base. This afternoon you have some time to relax and explore the area around your cabin. Your guides will prepare a feast for you tonight – your last dinner before hitting the track! Tonight you will sleep in the comforts of a warm and cosy cabin, well fed and rested and ready for the start of the trek tomorrow.

Day 2. Dove Lake to Waterfall valley - 10km/5 hours hiking plus side trips
Your guides will have you up early this morning for breakfast and any last minute packing. Drive the short distance down to Dove Lake where the Overland Track Trek begins. Begin the long climb that takes you onto the Cradle Plateau. During the first few hours of trekking you get a taste of what’s in store for the following days – open eucalypt woodlands, lush green cool-temperate rainforest and open button grass. Climbing through the splendid deciduous Nothofagus gunnii on to exposed alpine herb fields with spectacular views of Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff (if the weather allows and a true appreciation of the Roaring 40’s if not!). After lunch by one of the cool streams or tarns you may opt for a side trip, weather and time permitting, to the craggy summit of Cradle Mountain. This first day is one of the longest of the trek as you make your way to Waterfall Valley for the first night under the stars.

Day 3. Waterfall Valley to Lake Windermere - 8km/3 hours hiking
Today you will continue south from Waterfall Valley to Lake Windermere. A leisurely day that offers time to explore the waterfalls, and a side trip past the diggings of Joseph Will, a coal prospector in the 1800’s, to Innes Falls. By Lake Will you will have the opportunity for a relaxing lunch by the sandy shores and twisted pencil pines. After lunch you can stroll to the southern end of the lake to take in Innes Falls. Returning to your pack back at the turn off to Lake Holmes, head back across the rolling button grass plains towards the campsite at Lake Windermere. Tonight you will camp amongst the Richea pandanifolia, Eucalypts and many beautiful flowering endemic plants. You can spend the afternoon relaxing taking in the fabulous views and maybe swim in the lake. Lake Windermere is also a great place to meet some of Australia's native animals.

Day 4. Lake Windermere to Pelion Plains - 17km/7 hours hiking plus side trips
Today is a wild day of moorlands and mountain views. The morning takes you across Pine Forest Moore offering stark landscape and views east across the Forth River Valley to the heights of Mount Oakleigh and to the day’s destination, Pelion Plains, at its base. From undulating buttongrass vistas into the forested slopes of Mount Pelion West, you will descend around the mountain to a popular lunch spot at Frog Flats. Surrounded on all sides by towering dolerite peaks, this is the head waters of the Forth River which spills off the plateau into the Lemonthyme Valley. The afternoon takes you up onto Pelion Plains with marvellous views of fluted Mount Oakleigh and some of the biggest wombats any guides have seen in the park!!! Make camp near Douglas Creek. The main food drop is hidden not far from here and your guides will make time to collect supplies.

Day 5. Pelion Plains to Kia Ora - 9km/5 hours hiking plus side trips
Waking to the calls of several of Tasmania’s native birds, most notably the Karrowong and Yellow Throated Wattle Bird a spectacular day in the mountains awaits you. Climb off Pelion Plains through beautiful green forests of Sassafras and Myrtles covered in rich mosses and lichens. As you climb up you start to come into Eucalypt forests where before your eyes the view opens up to reveal Cathedral Mountain, Pelion East on your left followed by Mount Ossa on your right. Rest at the saddle (1113 metres) between Mount Pelion East and Mount Ossa (1617 metres). Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest peak, is without a doubt the highlight point of the Overland Track. In fine weather with time permitting, you can climb one of these peaks – perhaps even eat lunch on top! With magnificent views in all directions you continue south into beautiful Pinestone Valley. Depending upon the day’s activities you will set camp somewhere between here and Du Cane Hut – once the bush home of trapper Paddy Hartnett and his wife.

Day 6. Kia Ora to Windy Ridge - 10km/4 hours hiking plus side trips
Wake up in our warm tents nestled beneath the crags of the Cathedral Mountain and Mount Massif. After breakfast, head off for a day surrounded by towering rainforests of leatherwood and sassafras tress, heading towards three of Tasmania’s largest and most spectacular waterfalls. The first you visit is Ferguson Falls, named after a former ranger at Lake St. Clair, followed by Dalton Falls. The third of these large falls is Hartnett Falls, once again named after the eccentric bushman with the bowler hat Paddy Hartnett. Hartnett Falls makes a great place to have lunch and relax in the afternoon sun, before returning to your pack and heading for Du Cane Gap and down into the rich Myrtle forests. Make camp around Windy Ridge. This valley is a great example of a U-shaped glacier; coming down into this valley you will notice large boulders - these were moved slowly down the valley by the last great ice age.

Day 7. Windy Ridge to Pine Valley - 9km/3 hours hiking plus side trips
After a leisurely departure you leave the Overland Track for the night to visit the stunning Pine Valley, nestled beneath the misty heights of the Du Cane Range. En-route you will pass open eucalypt forests and an unusual little place called the Bowling Green, where you can see the majestic Mount Acropolis. Returning to the track, you will continue south to the Pine Valley turn off where you cross the bridge and start to return to the lush rainforests you have come to know over the last seven days. Camp next to the Cephissus Creek, surrounded by beautiful rainforest. After setting up camp you have a chance to stroll to the foot of the Acropolis which was seen earlier today, or walk up to look down on the beautiful Labyrinth with its fantastic lakes.

Day 8. Pine Valley to Lake St Clair - 9km/3 hours hiking
Pack your backpack for the final day on the track, which takes you through dry sclerophyll forest toward the shores of Lake St Clair. Bird song drifts down from the foliage where wind tugs at the treetops. As you near the lake you can gaze up to the peaks of the Labyrinth and look forward to majestic Mount Olympus. From Narcissus you will catch the ferry for a 20-minute trip down Lake St Clair, the deepest natural lake in the southern hemisphere, providing a spectacular conclusion to the Overland Track trek as you look back upon the mountains you've travelled through. After some time to inspect the visitor centre and indulge in a beverage you will return to Launceston by bus via Tasmania's Central Plateau. Your luggage will meet you upon return and after returning the group and hire gear you will be dropped to your accommodation by about 6pm.

The Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park is renowned for its beauty, featuring abundant wildlife, rare and unusual vegetation and dramatic scenery. Your guides take steps through training and education to minimise the impact groups have on these areas. It is a priority to leave these areas unspoilt and as they were for all future visitors to enjoy. Environmental policies together with your help and co-operation will ensure that the pristine wilderness areas are safeguarded.

Tasmania is a remarkable little island sculpted and shaped by the ‘Roaring 40s’. The precious and unique qualities are a result of a wind band at 40 degrees south which travels across vast oceans right around from South America and Antarctica.

The Cradle Mountain ‘Overland Track’ Trek is a full-pack unsupported trek. You will need to carry all your own personal equipment. This includes your sleeping bag, sleeping mat and your half of a twin share tent, plus a very small proportion of the group food. On average this works out to be less than 15kgs. Included in these notes is a gear list that has been designed to keep your pack weight to a minimum without jeopardising safety. The items most commonly differentiating a heavier from a lighter pack are toiletries and spare cotton clothing – both of which we recommend you leave out. Your guide will conduct a gear check to ensure you are not carrying too little or too much!

Grade: D
Average 4-5 hrs physical activity per day, up to 7hrs on longer days.
Pack weights of 10-15kgs on some days.
Altitude gains of up to 800m.
Some uneven track surfaces and river crossings.
No hiking experience necessary.
Agility and fitness required.

Thorough physical and mental preparation is important for your safe participation and enjoyment of this expedition. As with any active holiday, the fitter you are for the activity, the more you can enjoy your surrounds. Your guides can easily make the trip more challenging but it is impossible to make it easier. Fitness enables you to do more, see more and simply relax more. The best way to train for an active holiday is to simulate the activity you will be undertaking on the trip. Train for uneven terrain, walk in your trekking boots (nothing spoils a trekking holiday quite as much as poor fitting boots!) - splash in the puddles or kick up the dust, and prepare for adverse conditions. Train for pack-carrying by carrying a load similar to the one you expect to carry on the trip.

The guides are among the best in the field, with years of professional wilderness experience in Tasmania, so you will be in very safe hands. They are not only good cooks and have lots of local knowledge, they are also good company. For them the outdoors is not a job, it’s a way of life. All guides are qualified in Senior First Aid. They are chosen carefully, trained intensely and it is often many seasons before they become a group leader. Your guides will be interested to learn your motivation for joining the trek and will personalise your trip to maximise your experience. Your guides will be looking out for your safety and enjoyment and you’ll be amazed by their genuine, infectious love for where they are rain, hail or shine, sharing with you their specialty area - geology, endemic fauna, aboriginal history, etc. They will take into account inclement weather, group fitness and a number of other factors may which may influence the planned itinerary. The group leader reserves the right to make modifications and or alterations to the trips itinerary in the best interests of all involved.

The following lists set out all the clothing and equipment you are required to bring to participate in this adventure. The gear check prior to your departure from Launceston will ensure that your have covered all aspects of the required gear without over packing.

Essential Items

2 wool/polar-fleece jumpers. Must be wool or synthetic fibre

2 long sleeve thermal tops (polypropylene, wool, polyester Powerdry, Daymart)

1 long thermal pants (polypropylene, lool, polyester Powerdry, Daymart)

2 t-shirts/Long sleeve shirts (light weight, quick drying material preferred – not cotton)

warm trousers. Must be wool or synthetic fibre.

walking trousers

walking shorts

3 pairs wool or thermal walking socks

warm gloves or mittens

sunhat

balaclava or warm beanie hat

underwear

1 pair of knee length gaiters essential for keeping mud from boots and leg protection

boots must be lace up, ankle high, leather or leather/fabric construction with a sturdy rubber sole. They must be well worn in but not worn out

A whistle (for use in poor visibility)

water bottles or water bladder minimum 1 litre

2 heavy weight garbage bags/pack liners for waterproof storage

sunscreen and lip balm

personal first aid kit. You should have some tape for treating and preventing blisters as well as any personal medication you expect to require. All this should be carried in a waterproof knock proof container.

Optional items:

personal toiletries (please do not bring soaps or shampoos)

insect repellent cream (please do not bring spray repellent)

small pack towel

sunglasses

lightweight torch with spare batteries and globe. A head torch is ideal to allow hands free light to eat by

lightweight sandals, thongs or shoes for around camp

We supply:

Top brand high quality lightweight 2 person bushwalking tents (twin share) (Macpac, Salewa or Wilderness Equipment). Approx 3.6kg per tent (1.8kg per person)

self inflating sleeping mattresses (Thermarest ® standard thickness, 3/4 length)

3 season sleeping bag with inner sheet

lightweight internal frame backpack

wet-weather jacket and trousers

all group and individual cooking and eating equipment (cup, bowl, plate, utensils)

large all-weather tarp for lunch and dining undercover

satellite phone for emergency use only

group first aid kit for emergency use only

Equipment Hire:

Gaiters essential for keeping mud from boots and leg protection

You will travel in comfortable buses from Launceston to Cradle Valley, and again for return from Lake St Clair to Launceston. You will also travel by ferry down Lake St Clair from Narcissus.

Active days build healthy appetites. Your guides will serve delicious and wholesome meals, using local produce wherever possible. Fresh ingredients are used as much as practical. Three main meals will be served each day during the trek and your guides will supply a variety of snacks to nourish you between meals.

Breakfast during the trek will consist of cereals and porridge. Lunch will be a selection of spreads, fresh salad ingredients, cheese and meats or fish on offer for you to concoct your own sandwiches with bread or crisp breads. The evening meal will begin with a pre-dinner snack followed by a main course and dessert.

A hot drink selection of teas, coffee, milo and soups will be available at each meal. Trail snacks on offer may include fresh fruit, nuts, dried fruit, confectionery, chocolate and/or muesli bars.

Fresh water is regularly available. Ideally you will need enough water carrying capacity to last you approx. 3 hours, 1-2 litres.

You do not need to bring any food with you. All kinds of dietary requirements can be catered for as long as you notify us well in advance so that your guide can prepare his/her menu.

Accommodation is based on twin share tents, and some cabin accommodation with 2 to 4 share. If travelling alone you will be bunked with someone of the same gender.

The tour does not include:

Travel to Launceston

Pre/post trek accommodation

Car Parking in Launceston

Items of a personal nature as listed in the What To Take list

Alcoholic beverages

Travel Insurance

Price includes:
Experienced guides, group camping equipment, tents, sleeping mats, wet weather jacket and trousers, light-weight backpack, National Park fees, bus transfers (Launceston to Cradle Valley and Lake St Clair to Launceston), secure storage space for excess luggage, satellite phone for emergency use, group first aid kit for emergency use, 6 nights accommodation camping, 1 night accommodation cabins, all meals from dinner Day 1 to lunch Day 8, hotel pick up and drop off (in Launceston general area).

Payment:
For bookings 4 months in advance, a deposit of 20% can be paid, with the balance due 65 days prior to departure. For tours within 4 months, full payment is required at the time of booking.

Although we advertise the price of this tour in Australian dollars we will be charging you in the equivalent amount of New Zealand dollars. We will be using the current exchange rate on the day of making the booking but as exchange rates are constantly changing we cannot guarantee that your credit card bill will come out to the exact Australian dollar price as advertised. Please also allow for currency conversion fees charged by your bank (usually between 1% and 3%).

Cancellations:
Any amendment or transfer by you will incur a AUD$100 administration fee. Transfers may only be made to another tour to commence within 12 months of your original departure date, and the following additional charges will apply:

If the booking is changed between the time of booking and 30 days prior to your original departure date, $100; or

If the booking is changed within 29 days prior to your original departure date, cancellation fees will apply.

For cancellations, the following charges will apply:

If cancellation takes place more than 30 days prior to your departure date, your full deposit will be forfeited; and

If cancellation takes place less than 30 days prior to your departure date, 100% of the tour price will be forfeited.

The tour price is quoted as a package. No partial refunds or credit will be given for services not used.

Travel Insurance:
We strongly recommend you have comprehensive travel insurance.

Itinerary Changes
Please note that the operation of all trips is based on achieving a minimum number of bookings. If minimum numbers are not reached for a trip and a departure has to be cancelled, you will be notified as soon as possible. In such circumstances, you will have the option of transferring to another trip or seeking a full refund monies paid.

Notes:
This tour is run in conjunction with another operator.