Trail Snapshot:
The Overland is a truely iconic trail – and for good reason. The variety of scenery is world class, with every turn of your head granting a different vista as rock, plant and climate combine to in spectacularly unique fashion. Glacier carved dolerite rises near vertically out of the plateau, shapes like Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, and the tallest mountain in lutruwita / Tasmania Mt Ossa carving amazing silhouettes.
Like nowhere else in the land can you walk the paths of ancient, now receded glaciers, between evolutionarily young eucalyptus or ancient nothofagus beech – and enjoy a cosy hut at the end of your days hiking.
Trail Stats:
Length: ~77 Kms // 5-7 Days on average to complete.
Camping: The Overland is divided into seven sections, with each section concluding with a hut and camping areas.
Map: The Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair NP Map (Scale 1:100,000) should suffice. If you’re going off trail, suggest a higher detail TASMAP. You can purchase online or at various camping stores around Tassie/interstate.
Distance to capital city: 150 km from Cradle Mountain to Launceston, ~ 2.5 hour drive. Or 180 km from Lake St Clair to Hobart, ~ 2.5 hour drive.
Areas of interest: Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
You can view our full collection of images from the Overland Track, here.
Special Mountain Love:
Tassie is the home to glaciation in the country, with the exception being the Kosciuszko region of the Snowy Mountains in NSW. Thousands and millions of years ago ice sheets covered the land, and as the weight of the ice increased and gravity dragged it ever downwards, it carved away land beneath it. Eventually the ice retreated, leaving behind the fantastic peaks along the Overland.
When the ice recedes it leaves behind sharp isolated peaks, sheer ice walls, and lonely boulders scattered throughout the landscape.
Highlight: Some of these fantastic peaks are photographed here. If the weather’s in your favour, at each peak you’ll be treated to new and unique angles of the surrounding gems of Ossa, Pelion, Acropolis, and Olympus (just to name a few). Picking a favourite is impossible, but you’ll forever have the gnarly dolerite skyline etched into memory no matter what angle.
Glad Trail:
The comfort of the trail is the highest you can experience in Australia, with the exception of private ran (and catered) hikes. There’s a hut at the end of every day, some of them glamped up with gas heaters and cathedral ceilings filled with mountain views. It’s pretty classy.
If you’re new to hiking, prepare well and have your gear in order before hitting trail. It’s glampy, but a challenging hike and one to be respected. If you’re used to off trail, backcountry roughing it, do your best to relinquish control and enjoy treating yourself. It’s easy to be on the holier-than-thou when it comes to pulling up camp at the end of the day, but it’s a worthy experience and treat.
Highlight: For total luxury, walking into the new Waterfall Hut is tough to beat. The clear window views of Barns Bluff is unreal, a total end of day treat, whilst the end of day inscriptions on each bunk adds a touch of design flare.
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The Cradle Mountain – Lake St. Clair National Park – where these photos were taken – is the traditional lands of the Lairmairrener nation. I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of these lands and waters on which I was able to traverse, learn, and appreciate – and pay respect to the First Nations Peoples and their elders, past, present and future.
Making Tracks 