At a Glance
Discover the rare beauty and extraordinary diversity of Tasmania's World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park. Over 7 days, walk the iconic Overland Track following in your guides' highly experienced footsteps.
Walking the Overland Track is a challenging yet highly rewarding, life-changing experience across diverse landscapes from alpine plateaus to majestic forests. Almost half of the track is above 1000 metres in elevation on exposed plateaus in a remote area. You'll witness iconic sights such as the dramatic glacially-carved Crater Lake and Waterfall Valley, climb to Marion's look out offering spectacular views of Cradle Mountain with Dove Lake at its base. You will travel across plains where glaciers once sat and slowly moved, scouring out shallow tarns, visit Pellion Plains where you'll discover excellent swimming holes and abandoned ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Return transfers between Launceston and the walk base
- 1 night accommodation in Launceston - twin share
- 5 nights accommodation in private Cradle Huts - twin share
- Sleeping sheet and pillowcase to carry with you
- Two qualified guides for the duration of the walk
- National Park and Overland Track passes
- Boat transfer across Lake St Clair
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages, plus a limited selection of Tasmanian wines
- Use of a backpack and Gore-tex jacket for the duration of the walk
- Sleeping bags, pillows and a comfortable mattress at each hut
- The tour also provides: A high quality 50-litre backpack (available on the morning of departure), Rain jacket, Pack cover and pack liner, Sleeping sheet and pillow case (sleeping bags provided in huts), Lunch container and cutlery, Basic toiletries (sunscreen, after sun care, insect repellent, Sorbolene-based moisturiser; available at each hut), Biodegradable liquid soap, and Hut libraries offering a range of books and games
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 six 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 |
Walking distance: Approx. 13km, 7hours Enjoy an early breakfast before we pack up and head off on the bus to Cradle Mountain/ Lake St Clair National Park. After a gear check and introductions, you journey to Waldheim in Cradle Valley. You then set off on the track. By lunch time, you have walked through your first section of ancient temperate rainforest and witnessed the dramatic glacially-carved Crater Lake. Climb Marion’s Lookout (1,250m) after negotiating steps leading through steeper sections. The steepest section of the whole Overland Track is now behind you. The steep section is mostly stepped and takes you about an hour. It gets you onto Marion's Lookout which, (hopefully) offers famous and spectacular views of Cradle Mountain with Dove Lake at its base - worth every step. Providing weather conditions allow, we enjoy staggering views of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. We continue around the base of Cradle Mountain along the edge of a spectacular glacial cirque before dropping into Waterfall Valley. Our private hut awaits, beneath towering Barn Bluff, having completed the steepest part of your journey (excluding side trips). It’s a welcome retreat after several hours walking over exposed alpine plateau where some days the wind howls – a reminder of nature’s power. |
Cradle Mountain HutsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: Approx. 13km, 6hours The walking today is undulating with a few sections of exposed moorland. There are no large hills and the once notoriously muddy Pine Forest Moor is now a duckboard path over the mud! You also offer an additional side trip to Lake Will. You travel across plains where glaciers once sat and slowly moved, scouring out shallow tarns. Now there are plains of button grass with ancient pencil pines sitting with their roots in the water. Rising from the moors, the peaks of Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff are behind you to the north, and the stately Mt Pelion West directly ahead. |
Cradle Mountain HutsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: Approx. 10km, 5hours Today, you begin with a long, slow descent around the base of Mt Pelion West, down to the Forth River before it plunges into the Lemonthyme Valley. After a break at Frog Flats by the Forth River, you have a long, gentle ascent out of the valley onto the beautiful Pelion Plains, with outstanding views of Mt Oakleigh. There are many side trips in the Pelion Plains area, with mountains all around, excellent swimming holes, abandoned copper mines, as well as simply peaceful and humbling spots for taking a quiet rest. |
Cradle Mountain HutsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: Approx. 8km; 4 hrs - additional 5 hrs for optional Mt Ossa side trip You begin today with a climb to Pelion Gap, where there are great views both back to the north and forward to the south. Today, you allow extra time for the side trips from Pelion Gap. It's a further few hours of gentle downhill from the gap to the hut, so it is a very relaxing day with the option to make it more challenging. |
Cradle Mountain HutsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: Approx. 10km; 5 hrs This is a day of waterfalls and majestic forests. You depart Kia Ora hut and walk about an hour to Du Cane, where a hut remains from the long-gone days of animal trapping. Du Cane Hut is a fine spot to rest, with the native gardens planted by trapper Paddy Hartnett's wife, during her long stints in the bush with her husband. From there, you wander through some of the oldest forest in the national park, with King Billy pines as much as 2000 years old. Now, you are above the Mersey River, which descends deeply northward towards the Bass Strait. There are three major sets of waterfalls, and you aim to visit one or more of these. You will likely take lunch along with you to enjoy beside one of the falls. During the afternoon, you make your way over Du Cane Gap, then descend beside the spectacular Falling Mountain to Windy Ridge Hut. |
Cradle Mountain HutsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Walking distance: Approx. 10km; 4 hrs Lake St Clair is Australia's deepest natural lake and, as with most of this area, has been shaped by glaciers. The walk is mainly through cool temperate eucalypt forest, and birdsong is all around. You arrive at Narcissus at the northern end of Lake St Clair in time for lunch, before boarding the Idaclair cruise boat for a spectacular 17km cruise back to Cynthia Bay. You usually have about half an hour to look around the visitors' centre at Cynthia Bay. The return trip to Quamby Estate is through the trout fishing mecca of the highland lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers to the broad plains of the Northern Midlands, and passing through the rural townships of Cressy and Longford. The return trip to Red Feather Inn is through the trout fishing mecca of the highland lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers. Your walk will conclude at Red Feather Inn at 6pm with airport drop offs at 6.15pm and Launceston drop offs at 6.30pm. |
NoneBreakfast, LunchAccommodation
Dates & 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: No walking. Arrive & welcome dinner
Day 2: Approximately 13 km, 7 hours
Day 3: Approximately 13 km, 6 hours
Day 4: Approximately 11 km, 5 hours
Day 5: Approximately 8 km, 4 hours, Optional summit trips
Day 6: Approximately 10 km, 5 hours
Day 67: 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.
Meeting Point & Drop-off
On the first night, we ask that guests be at the 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.
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 guests?
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.
How much weight, and what 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.For details, please refer to the gear list we will provide to you after booking.
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 many guides?
The 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.
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.
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. Please see our website for details and contact us if you have any questions.
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.
“The scene is an appetiser for the landscape degustation that will unfold before us over the next six days, complete with well-matched local wines!” Susanne Kennedy, Luxury Travel
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.
