At a Glance
Release yourself to nature on this week-long chanlenging adventure from Cradle Mountain to Lake St. Clair, exposing you to the unfiltered seductions of the Overland Track, ranging from cobalt blue waters to rugged landscapes and jagged summits. Summit some serious peaks along the way including Mount Oakleigh and Mount Ossa and capture moments that defy reality and fully immerse yourself in the alluring Tasmanian wilderness.
Your exciting journey begins with a night at Red Feather Inn, just outside Launceston. Your tour guides will enlighten you on what to expect, after which you will eat a delightful dinner of local fare. Set off on a hike at Waldheim in Cradle Valley, where Weindorfer’s story is told. Climb the steepest section of the Overland Track, which rewards you with inspiring vistas of Cradle ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Meals: 6x breakfast, 6x lunch, 6x dinner
- Accommodation and dinner the night before commencing your walk at Red Feather Inn
- Accommodation each evening in one of the five private huts along the Cradle Mountain Overland Trackon a twin-share basis
- All meals, non-alcoholic beverages, and a limited selection of Tasmanian wines
- A backpack and Gore-tex jacket for the duration of the walk
- Three qualified guides for the duration of the walk
- Return transfers between Launceston and the start and finish of the walk
- National Park and Overland Track passes
- Park and other entry fees
- Comprehensive travel planner with detailed pre-trip information
Itinerary
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To prepare for the long walk ahead, we begin our Cradle Mountain Adventure Walk the night before at our walker base at the historic and picturesque Red Feather Inn. As a guest, you are implored to arrive latest by 5:30 pm, giving you enough time to relax and enjoy the inn before our walker briefing at 6 pm. Here you’ll meet your guides, and they will walk you through what to expect from the next four days and conduct a gear check. Following our briefing, the night of celebration begins - Your Overland Track adventure is finally here! Converse with your fellow workers as you sip wine and savour canapes before moving into the formal dining room for a dinner service full of seasonal and local products, cooked for you by the in-house chef. The rooms at Red Feather Inn are designed for your comfort, giving you the perfect excuse to head off to bed early and get a restful night’s sleep before your early start the next day. |
Red Feather Inn
Dinner |
Level 5, Approx. 14 km (9 miles), 5-7+ hours walking In 1910, Austrian-born Gustav Weindorfer stood on the summit of Cradle Mountain and proclaimed, “This must be a national park for the people of all time.” So, it’s only fitting that our journey kicks off at Waldheim in Cradle Valley where Weindorfer’s story is told. We set off on the track, navigating ancient temperate rainforest, and passing the striking glacially-carved Carter Lake. We hike the steepest section of the entire Overland Track and pause for a hearty lunch. Emerging from steeper sections, we reach Marion’s Lookout (1,250 m) and soak in the satisfying reward it offers. If the weather permits, we savour spectacular views of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. We stop for lunch by the tranquil Plateau Creek. Then, we embark on the daunting climb of Cradle Mountain, which offers breathtaking views on clear days. It takes another 4 hours around the base of Cradle Mountain, out along the edge of a striking glacial cirque. We drop into Waterfall Valley, which we cross before arriving at our hut at the base of the imposing Barn Bluff (1,559 m), having completed the steepest part of your journey (excluding side trips). |
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Enjoy a welcome retreat as you spend several hours traversing the exposed alpine plateau accompanied by stunning views. In rough weather, the wind howls over the landscape, making for exciting and sometimes, challenging walking conditions. Afterward, retire to your cosy home for the night, the Barn Bluff Hut. Take a hot shower to relieve the stress before reconvening for dinner. |
Barn Bluff HutBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking: Approx 7 miles (12 km), 6 hours walking We’ll be dedicating today to navigating plains where glaciers once rested, slowly moving and scouring out shallow tarns. We go down the winding track, experiencing a few sections of exposed moorland and multiple hill climbs and descents. We take our time to explore the vast button grass plains where ancient pencil pines fringe alpine tarns. Look ahead, and the stately Mt Pelion West comes into view. |
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If you still have it in you to go a few more kilometres, you can take a side trip to Lake Will. The breathtaking Lake Will is hugged by pencil pines and has a narrow quartzite sand rim. Look out for gravel mounds along the way, remnants of Joseph Will’s coal mining efforts in the 1890s. Encounter Lake Windermere further along the track and consider going for an invigorating swim before discovering tonight’s accommodation nestled in a shelter of trees, the Pine Forest Moor Hut. This evening at the hut, enjoy dining with views out towards Mt. Oakleigh. |
Pine Forest Moor HutBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking: Approx. 18 km (11 miles), 5-7+ hours walking We start the day by venturing through the lovely myrtle-beech rainforest as we descend around the base of Mt Pelion West, down to the Forth River before it plunges into Lemonthyme Valley. We’ll rest our legs at Frog Flats beside the Forth River, which happens to be the Overland Track’s lowest point. From this point, it is a smooth ascent back out of the valley. We leave a thick Eucalypt forest behind and witness the trees fade to reveal Pelion Plains. We catch uninterrupted views of Mt Oakleigh’s dolerite spires. The Pelion Plain area offers many side trips, hugged by a mountainous landscape. The day’s quest is to hike Mt Oakleigh, at 18 kilometres. We pace ourselves, knowing the warmth and comfort of Pelion Plain Hut awaits, nestled amongst dry sclerophyll forest and beneath the rock walls and spires of Mt Oakleigh. |
Pelion HutBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking: Approx. 12 km (7 miles) 8.5 hours walking We climb close to 300 metre to the Pelion Gap through its gorgeous rainforest. Pelion Gap is a plateau stretching between Mt Pelion and Mt Ossa, offering heartstopping views to the south and back to the north. There are a host of side trips from Pelion Gap, including our mission for the day, to summit Mt Ossa. Tasmania is the highest peak, at an impressive altitude of 1617 metres. After we arrive at the top, we have plenty of time to take in 360-degree island views and enjoy a well-earned lunch. Back down at Pelion Gap, it’s a further few hours of smooth downhill to the hut. Once we arrive at Kia Ora Hut, savour a Tasmanian drop with picturesque panoramas out to Cathedral Mountain. Our climb depends on weather conditions, as Mt Ossa’s boulder fields can be dangerous in heavy rain and snow. Your highly-trained guides can assess whether alternate peaks are more suitable. |
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We navigate the forest in Kia Ora Creek’s valley before arriving at our home for the night, the Kia Ora Hut sheltered by a stand of eucalypts and providing gorgeous vistas over the Mersey Valley. |
Kia Ora HutBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking: Approx. 9 km (6 miles), 4-6 hours walking Today is about icy-flowing waterfalls. We leave Kia Ora hut and walk for about an hour to Du Cane, where a 1910-built hut remains from the ancient days of animal trapping. Du Cane Hut is the perfect spot to rest, surrounded by native gardens and overlooked by the magnificent Du Cane Range. From here, we trail some of the National Park’s oldest forest, with King Billy pines as much as 2,000 years old. Now, we are above the Mersey River, which descends deeply northward towards Bass Strait, spilling down cliff faces. This area hosts three major sets of waters. We aim to visit at least one of these, choosing the best to eat lunch, depending on the weather. In the afternoon, we head to Du Cane Gap, then descend beside the spectacular Failing Mountain to Windy Ridge Hut. Tonight, we celebrate our last evening on the track and enjoy the ambiance of the mountain huts one last time. |
Windy Ridge HutBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking: Approx. 10 km (6 km) 4-6 hours walking Today, our destination is the deepest lake in Australia, Lake St Clair, shaped by glaciations over two million years. Birdsong helps us along this final day as we trek through flowering dry sclerophyll forests. We reach Narcissus at the northern end of Lake St. Clair in time for lunch before boarding the cruise boat for a spectacular 17 km cruise back to Cynthia Bay. You’ll have about an hour to tour the Visitor Center here. We take the trout of fishing mecca of the highland lakes on our return trip to Red Feather Inn, descending the jagged Western Ties. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
NoneBreakfast, LunchDates & Prices
Please contact us for group bookings or private departures.
More Info
The starting and finishing point is Launceston. Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Launceston.
Day 1: Welcome dinner and briefing
Day 2: Approximately 14 km, 10 hours
Day 3: Approximately 12 km, 6 hours
Day 4: Approximately 18 km, 10 hours
Day 5: Approximately 12 km, 8.5 hours, Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut, including Mt Ossa
Day 6: Approximately 9 km, 5 hours
Day 7: Approximately 10 km, 4 hours
The weather in this alpine region is changeable and unpredictable, but if you are well prepared you will enjoy the many moods of the mountains and rainforests. The area has an average maximum temperature of 18 °C in Summer and 6 °C in Winter. It is important to note that temperatures can go into the minus degrees Celsius during winter – especially over night.
How often do trips depart?
The 7-day trips depart daily from October to May and our 4-day trips depart on selected dates during the same period.
What is the accommodation like?
On Day 1, guests stay at Red Feather Inn. Located only a 10-minute drive from Launceston CBD makes this a perfect place to start your walk. Red Feather Inn has a range of heritage rooms and three beautiful cottages, picturesque gardens and an in-house chef.
Along the Overland Track, our groups have exclusive use of the only private hut accommodation in the national park. Each hut has been discreetly located off the main trail and offers hot showers, a drying room and a dining and lounge area. The huts have 6 twin rooms with comfortable beds.
What time does the trip commence and conclude?
On the first night, we ask that you be at our walkers base at Red Feather Inn at 5:00pm for a 5:30pm briefing. This allows time for introductions and a gear check before dinner. Your walk will conclude at Red Feather Inn at 6pm with airport drop offs at 6.15pm and Launceston drop offs at 6.30pm.
How many guests will be on my trip?
Each trip requires a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 guests. All accommodation is twin share. If you book on as a single walker or in an odd-numbered group and the trip fills to capacity, you will share a room with another walker of the same gender.
What do we carry?
Each person must carry their lunch, wet weather gear, spare clothes for the hut, thermals, and warm clothing, plus any extras, such as a camera. For detail please refer to the gear list.
How fit do I need to be?
As long as you exercise regularly, are capable of walking an average of 10 km for six consecutive days, and are comfortable with varied terrain, you’ll be fine!
There are steep sections and terrain can be quite uneven and slippery under foot, however this is part of the whole experience. If you are interested in doing more of the side trips (such as Mt Ossa), you may want to partake in extra training to accommodate the additional challenge.
How much weight do we carry?
On the first night, the guides will carry out a thorough gear check to ensure you have suitable gear and help you reduce pack weight. If you adhere to our gear list, your pack will likely weigh between 8.5 and 9.5kg. With special attention to reducing pack weight, your pack and its contents can weigh as little as 7.5kg. The pack and rainjacket that we provide have a combined weight of 2.5kg, leaving 5-7kg for your personal items.
Please note: This weight is based on the recommended water capacity for this walk. If you choose to carry more water, your pack weight will most likely weigh upwards of 9.5 kgs.
Do we need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend travel insurance. Consideration needs to be given to our cancellation policy, injury, evacuation, delayed flights, illness, etc.
How about food?
The guides prepare sumptuous meals each night. The tour can cater for special dietary requirements. We just need to know in advance.
For example, here is the dinner menu served at Kia Ora Hut on Day 4:
On arrival at hut: Grazing plate
Main course: Forest mushroom and pea risotto with parmesan
Dessert: Creme Brulee
How many guides are there?
Our guides are passionate outdoor enthusiasts, educated interpreters and fantastic cooks all rolled into one. Two knowledgeable guides accompany each trip. This allows plenty of time for interpretation at interesting points along the track, photo opportunities, rest breaks and walking at your own pace.
Are there age restrictions?
The minimum age for guests walking with us is 12 years old. There are no upper age restrictions, however, for guests walking with us who are 69 or above we do require a GP to sign off on a letter we provide.
What footwear do I need for the walk?
Lace-up hiking boots that cover the ankle and have sturdy, treaded soles (full-grain leather or Gore-tex with Vibram soles) are recommended.
It is very important for you to have appropriate footwear. Lower-profile hiking shoes, walking shoes, running shoes, approach shoes, sand shoes, elasticised boots and similar are not acceptable for the walk. Boots must be worn in to minimise the risk of blisters. The Overland Track is quite unique in the nature of its terrain. You will be unable to commence the walk without the appropriate footwear.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 5 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 6 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
