Overland Track
All content by World Expeditions
6 days (Launceston)
Destinations visited: Launceston
from
USD$2,490
Classic bushwalk along Tasmania's most iconic walking trail and the many exciting side-trips
The Overland Track is Australia’s premier extended bushwalk. The Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park is renowned for its beauty, featuring abundant wildlife, rare and unusual vegetation and dramatic scenery. Starting at Dove Lake, situated beneath Cradle Mountain, we head south for the wilderness adventure of a lifetime. We follow a moderate graded trail for 70kms finishing our journey with a ferry crossing of Lake St Clair. We allow 6 days, averaging just over 10km per day, to walk the track so as to best appreciate highlights and side trips along the way. Passing lakes, waterfalls and mountains such as Barn Bluff, Pelion West, Mount Oakleigh and the Geryons we savour this wild remote area in the company of our small independent group. No special skills are necessary to walk the Overland Track although a good level of general fitness is required. Our schedule will permit time to visit the summits of some of the highest mountains in Tasmania, even Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest. Our experienced guides will help to bring the track alive for you with their local knowledge and enthusiasm for the Tasmanian wilderness.
Highlights
- Walk Australia's internationally famous Overland Track
- Explore deep forests, sub-alpine plateaus, high peaks and spectacular highland landscapes
- End each day at scenic campsites with delicious meals prepared by your guides
- Summit iconic Cradle Mountain and Tasmania's highest peak, Mt Ossa (1617m)
- Enjoy close encounters with the local wildlife and amazing endemic wildflowers
Itinerary
Day 1 Launceston to Cradle Mountain National Park, walk Dove Lake to Waterfall Valley
We will pick you up from Launceston hotels between 6.30 - 7.00am. We drive 2 1/2 hours to Dove Lake where our Overland Track Trek begins. We spend the morning walking up to the top of the Cradle Plateau where we are rewarded with views of Dove Lake below. After enjoying lunch we may opt for a side trip, weather and time permitting, to the craggy summit of Cradle Mountain before making our way to Waterfall Valley for our first night under the stars. Walking Distance: 10Km + side trips Walking Time: 5 Hours + side trips
Day 2 Waterfall Valley to Lake Windermere
Today we continue south from Waterfall Valley to Lake Windermere. A leisurely day that offers time for a side trip past the diggings of Joseph Will a coal prospector in the 1800’s to Innes Falls. At Lake Will we will have the opportunity for a relaxing lunch on its sandy shores. Returning to our packs we head back across the rolling button grass plains towards our campsite at Lake Windermere. We spend the afternoon relaxing, taking in the fabulous views and maybe go for a refreshing swim in the lake. Walking Distance: 8Km Walking Time: 3 Hours
Day 3 Lake Windermere to Pelion Plains
Today is a wild day of moorlands and mountain views. Our morning takes us across Pine Forest Moor offering spectacular views across the Forth River Valley to the heights of Mount Oakleigh and to today’s destination, Pelion Plains, at its base. We descend around Mount Pelion West to a popular lunch spot at Frog Flats. Our afternoon takes us up onto Pelion Plains with marvellous views of fluted Mount Oakleigh and some of the biggest wombats our guides have seen in the park!!! Our main food drop is hidden not far from here and your guides will make time to collect supplies. Walking Distance: 17Km Walking Time: 7 Hours
Day 4 Pelion Plains to Kia Ora
From camp we continue walking south and the view opens up to reveal Cathedral Mountain and Pelion East on our left, followed by Mount Ossa on our right. We rest at the saddle (1113 meters) between Mount Pelion East and Mount Ossa. In fine weather, climbing Mount Ossa (1617m), Tasmania’s highest peak is without a doubt one of the highlights of the Overland Track. With magnificent views in all directions we continue south into beautiful Pinestone Valley. Walking Distance: 9Km + side trips Walking Time: 5 Hours + side trips
Day 5 Kia Ora to Windy Ridge
Today we walk through towering rainforests of Leatherwood and Sassafras trees, heading towards three of Tasmania’s largest and most spectacular waterfalls. The first we 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, named after the eccentric bushman with the bowler hat Paddy Hartnett. We make camp in the afternoon at Windy Ridge. Walking Distance: 10Km + side trips Walking Time: 4 Hours + side trips
Day 6 Windy Ridge to Lake St Clair and return to Launceston
Today we pack our backpacks for the final day on the track, which takes us through dry sclerophyll forest toward the shores of Lake St Clair. As we near the lake we can gaze up to the peaks of the Labyrinth and look forward to majestic Mount Olympus. We then catch a 30 minute ferry across Lake St Clair, the deepest natural lake in the southern hemisphere, providing a spectacular conclusion to our Overland Track Trek as we look back upon the mountains we’ve travelled through. After some time to inspect the visitor centre and indulge in a picnic lunch we board the bus for our return drive across Tassie’s Central Plateau to Launceston. You will be dropped off at your accommodation in Launceston at approx 5pm. Walking Distance: 9Km Walking Time: 3 Hours
Additional Information
Inclusions
- 2 professional wilderness guides
- 5 nights camping
- 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 5 dinners
- Food drop provisions along the track
- Transport by private minibus
- Lake St. Clair ferry passage
- National Park fees
- Overland Track Permit
- Waterproof jacket, overpants & gaiters
- Tent, backpack, sleeping bag, inner sheet & inflatable sleeping mat
- Group camping equipment including all cooking & eating equipment
- Emergency communications & group first aid kit
Summary
- 6 day trip
- 6 days trekking with a full pack
- 5 nights camping
Group Size Min
4
Group Size Max
10
Accommodation Summary
The 5 nights of the tour will be spent camping along the track at designated commercial campsite areas. These areas have timber platforms for our tents to be pitched on and nearby rainwater tanks and composting toilet facilities. Tasmanian Expeditions provides strong, 2 person, bushwalking tents (twin share), which provide each occupant with a personal access door and vestibule for individual use. Our tents weigh between 2.0 and 2.5 kg and this weight is shared equally by each occupant. We use a range of high quality 3-4 season tents which have been trialled and tested to withstand all weather conditions that may be encountered on our adventures.
Equipment Required
Tasmanian Expeditions has a specialist gear list available that details what clothing and equipment is required for each of our Tasmanian adventures. The gear list is specific to the type of tour you will be joining us on and it provides a clear description of what is included in the tour cost, what items are available for hire and what you will need to bring with you. Brand recommendations and the individual weight of the gear provided is also included.
What You Carry
For your expedition you will need to carry all equipment in a full trekking backpack that is 75-90litres in capacity. This will need to include the following items: • Sleeping bag • Inflatable mat • Portion of the shared tent • Portion of the groups food • All personal items that you have decide to bring along • All wet weather gear supplied by Tasmanian Expeditions Depending on the quantity of personal gear and toiletries the average pack weight will be between 14-18kg. A comprehensive gear list is available from the reservations office that details what clothing and equipment is required for each expedition. It is specific to each type of trip and clearly sets out what equipment is included in the tour cost and what you will need to supply.
Check dates and prices
Book this trip with World Expeditions on their site
from
USD$2,490
Why we recommend World Expeditions
- Pioneers in responsible travel.
- No local payments.
- True adventures in every sense.
- Expert guides and support.
- Quality facilities and transport.
Customer care
World Expeditions is a global company with offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, all staffed with experienced adventure travellers.
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