Overland Track
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| The Overland Track | |
|---|---|
 Cradle Mountain |
|
| Length | 80 km |
| Trailheads | Cynthia Bay (Lake St Clair), Ronny Creek (Cradle Mountain) |
| Use | Hiking |
| Highest Point | Pelion Gap |
| Lowest Point | Cynthia Bay |
| Trail Difficulty | Medium |
| Season | All |
| Sights | Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, Waterfalls |
| Hazards | Hypothermia |
The Overland Track is one of Australia's most well known bush walks, situated in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania. Attracting over 8000 walkers each year, it runs from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair through the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, winding through terrain ranging from sheer mountains and wild rivers to alpine plains and tundra. It has several alternative side trails, but from either end the track is about 80 km long. Notable features of the area include Cradle Mountain, Mount Ossa (the tallest mountain in Tasmania), a group of tarns called The Labyrinth, and Lake St Clair (the deepest lake in Australia). World renown for its pristine environment and beauty, the walk has been compared to New Zealand's Milford Track.
Inexperienced walkers are advised to undertake the walk in summer, when the days are longer and the weather milder. The walk is not challenging provided that walkers are adequately prepared with proper equipment.
Walkers typically complete the trail in 5-6 days, normally south-bound. The record time is 7 hours and 25 minutes, which was achieved by Andy Kromar during the Cradle Mountain Run.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
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[edit] Trail Description
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| Trail Location |
The trail is mostly very well defined and adequately marked. The trail condition however varies greatly. There are a great number of long sections of duckboard (boardwalk) which consist of split logs embedded in the ground, held together with wire and nails. Where there is no duckboard, the conditions can sometimes be very muddy. In winter, the mud is frozen solid early in the morning, however offsetting this is the problem of dangerous ice on the duckboard. The mud is not nearly as frequent or deep as hikes in the south west, due mainly to the duckboard.
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[edit] Landscape, Flora and Fauna
The remarkable landscape was all carved by glaciers during the last ice age, and the prominent mountains are composed of dolerite columns. The most common fauna are Tasmanian Pademelons (native), and mice/rats (not native). The trail traversed areas of many types of vegetation, including Myrtle Beech forest, Eucalypts forest, Button Grass plains (swamps), alpine herb fields and shrubs and mosses.
[edit] Climate
The climate is generally unstable, with temperatures ranging from hot (35+°C) in summer to below zero in winter. Snow is common in winter, especially on Mount Ossa. Rain is very common, and often torrential.
[edit] Sights
The Overland Track contains some of Australias best and most varied scenery. The landscape was glacier carved, and is some of the most rugged in Australia.
- Lakes (Lake St Clair, Lake Will, Lake Windermere, Dove Lake)
- Mountains (Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Mount Ossa, Mount Pelion East, The Acropolis, Mount Rufus)
- Waterfalls (Hartnett Falls, Ferguson Falls, D'alton Falls)
[edit] Restrictions
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[edit] What to take
- Overland Pass (only required between 1st November and 30th April)
- Compass & Map ( Tasmap Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair 1:100000 ) - These probably won't get used but become invaluable in an emergency.
- Sleeping mat - Huts do not have matresses
- Sleeping bag
- Tent
- Rain gear - Raincoat, Rain Pants, Pack cover - It's not unusual to have 2 or 3 days of heavy rain without break.
- Warm clothes - eg thermal underwear
- Fuel Stove with pots - Fires are banned.
- Food - There are no stores on the trail, so take all the food you will need plus food for at least one extra day in case of emergency.
- Water purification equipment - As with most Australian hikes, there is a chance of giardia.
- Water bladder/bottle for carrying water (at least 2L).
- First aid kit - Help is a long way from most areas of this trail.
- Torch
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[edit] Transport
The trail is a one way A to B trail, hence use of public transport is usually necessary. Make sure to book ahead in high season.
Tassielink have special Overland track packages (Summer only) which provide transport to/from Devonport, Launceston or Hobart.
Tassielink also provide transport from between the two trailheads, however services do not run every day.
[edit] Cynthia Bay, Lake St Clair
Tassielink have busses to/from Hobart and Queenstown/Strahan.
[edit] Ronny Creek, Cradle Mountain
The Ronny Creek trailhead is actually 7km from the Visitors centre at the entrance to the park. There is a free shuttle bus between the visitors centre and Ronny Creek. Check HERE for the timetable.
Tassielink have busses to/from Devonport and Queenstown/Strahan.
McDermott's run busses between Cradle Mountain and Launceston (not every day)
[edit] Trailhead Accommodation
Apart from the Visitors Centre, a small cafe, and a couple of places for accommodation, there is no facilities at the trailheads. You will not be able to buy most equipment, nor much hiking food at the visitors centres.
[edit] Lake St Clair
- Cynthia Bay - Camping and very basic single rooms are available
- Derwent Bridge - very basic rooms available at Derwent Bridge Hotel
[edit] Cradle Mountain
- Camping - ....
[edit] Side Trails
- Pine Valley, Tasmania
- The Acropolis
- The Labyrinth
- Mount Ossa - Highest mountain in Tasmania
- Mount Pelion East
- Hartnett Falls
- Ferguson Falls
- D'alton Falls
- Mount Rufus
- Lake Will
- Barn Bluff
- Cradle Mountain Summit
[edit] Huts
The track has many huts, making it possible to stay in a hut every night.
[edit] Main Trail Huts
- Waterfall Valley Hut
- Windermere Hut
- Pelion Hut - 60 beds, gas heater solar powered lights
- Kia Ora Hut
- Windy Ridge Hut
- Narcissus Hut
- Echo Point Hut
[edit] Side Route Huts
- Pine Valley Hut
[edit] Day Use and Emergency shelters
Overnight use of these is prohibited except in an emergency
- Kitchen Hut
- Ranger Hut
- Du Cane Hut
[edit] Camp Sites
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[edit] External links
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