Overview
Itinerary
Day one is about making our way leisurely to Cradle Valley. We'll arrive at Cradle Mountain Hotel between 4 – 4.30pm, in plenty of time to enjoy dinner at Cradle Mountain Hotels before retiring for the evening.
We ask that you be at Red Feather Inn at 11:30am for a briefing. Our shuttle will collect guests from Chalmers Church, Launceston at 11:10am, before a short transfer to our walk base. Here you will meet your guides, have a gear check and briefing and shared lunch before heading up to the Cradle Valley.
Please note the accommodation tonight is at the Cradle Mountain Hotel and will be booked by us and included in the trip cost. If Cradle Mountain Hotel is not available you will stay in accommodation of a similiar standard.
On the summit of Cradle Mountain in 1910, Austrian-born Gustav Weindorfer proclaimed, “This must be a national park for the people for all time.” It's fitting our journey begins at Waldheim in Cradle Valley, where Weindorfer's story is told. We set off on the track, venturing through ancient temperate rainforest, passing the dramatic glacially-carved Crater Lake.
Some say this is the hardest day - we climb the steepest section of the whole Overland Track today. Reaching Marion's Lookout (1250m) takes about an hour, with steps leading through steeper sections. The reward, providing weather conditions allow, is staggering views of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. Every uphill step is worth it.
If the weather is fine, we stop for lunch by the peaceful Plateau Creek. We then continue on for about another 4 hours around the base of Cradle Mountain, out along the edge of a spectacular glacial cirque. We drop into Waterfall Valley, which we cross before arriving at our hut at the base of the towering Barn Bluff (1559m), having completed the steepest part of your journey (excluding side trips).
It's a welcome retreat after several hours of this day's walk traverses exposed alpine plateau, allowing for great views on a clear day. In rough weather, the wind howls over the landscape, making for exciting and sometimes challenging walking conditions.
Today, we'll be walking across plains where glaciers once rested, slowly moving and scouring out shallow tarns. Although an undulating trek with a few sections of exposed moorland, there are no significant climbs today.
We take our time venturing across vast button grass plains where ancient pencil pines fringe alpine tarns. Rising from the moors, the peaks of Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff are behind us. Look ahead, and the stately Mt Pelion West comes into view.
Those looking for additional challenge today can take a side trip to Lake Will, weather permitting. Hugged by pencil pines and with its narrow quartzite sand rim, Lake Will is striking. Keep an eye out for gravel mounds along the way, remnants of Joseph Will's coal mining efforts in the 1890s.
This evening, at Pine Forest Moor Hut, enjoy our outdoor dining setting with views out to Mt. Oakleigh in fine weather.
Today we 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, we have a long gentle ascent out of the valley onto the beautiful Pelion Plains with outstanding views of Mount Oakleigh (1252m). If the weather allows there are many side trips in the Pelion Plains area with mountains all around, abandoned copper mines, or simply peaceful and humbling spots to rest quietly.
Today is a day of options, and depends largely on the winter elements. If you would like to relax at Pelion Hut and have a cosy rest day, you are most welcome. If the weather is pleasant, we can either climb Mt Ossa (1617m) or Mt Oakleigh (1252m). The guides will talk through weather-appropriate options with the group.
Please note if weather conditions are poor throughout another section of the itinerary, the guides may change the rest day to be at a different hut.
Today begins with a climb of almost 300m to Pelion Gap through beautiful rainforest. Pelion Gap is a plateau stretching between Mt Pelion East and Mt Ossa, affording fantastic views to the south as well as back to the north.
There's plenty of time for side trips from Pelion Gap including Mt Pelion East. From Pelion Gap it's a further few hours of gentle downhill to the hut. Today, choose to keep things relaxed or challenge yourself with a wintery side trip if the weather looks kind. Once we arrive at Kia Ora Hut, enjoy a Tasmanian drop with spectacular views out to Cathedral Mountain.
Day five is about icy-flowing waterfalls. We depart Kia Ora hut and walk about an hour to Du Cane, where a 1910-built hut remains from the long-gone days of animal trapping. Du Cane Hut is a fine spot to rest, with native gardens planted by trapper Paddy Hartnett's wife, during her long stints in the bush with her husband.
From here, we wander through some of the oldest forest in the national park, with King Billy pines as much as 2000 years old. Now, we are above the Mersey River, which descends deeply northward towards Bass Strait, spilling down cliff faces.
There are three major sets of waterfalls in the area. We aim to visit one or more of these, choosing the best to have lunch beside depending on conditions. During the afternoon, we make our way over Du Cane Gap, then descend beside the spectacular Falling Mountain to Windy Ridge Hut. Tonight is a celebratory one, our last evening on the track.
Our destination today is Australia's deepest natural lake – Lake St Clair – shaped by glaciations over two million years. Birdsong helps us along this final day as we walk mainly through cool temperate eucalypt forest.
We 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. There's typically around half an hour to look around the Visitor Centre here.
The return trip to the walk base at Red Feather Inn is through the trout fishing mecca of the highland lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers.
Trip Inclusions
- Return transfers between Launceston and the start & finish of the walk
- Accommodation (twin share) each evening in one of our five private huts
- Accommodation with dinner on the first night at Cradle Valley and breakfast on day two
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages, plus a limited selection of Tasmanian wines
- National Park and Overland Track passes
- Boat transfer across Lake St Clair (on Day 6 only)
- Use of a backpack and Gore-tex jacket and thermos for the duration of the walk*
- Pillows and a comfortable mattress at each hut
- Sleeping sheet, sleeping bag* and pillowcase to carry with you
- Three qualified guides for the duration of the walk
- Tasmanian Walking Co's Track Notes list everything you need to prepare and get excited about your adventure, all in one document. From pickup times to gear lists, daily distances to accommodation details, this is your Cradle Mountain (Expedition Walk) go-to-guide.
Join us on the iconic Overland Track, retreating each evening to the only private accommodation along the trail. Read more
Guests consistently agree in their feedback that our Cradle Mountain Lodge Walk guides are our most outstanding asset. Read more
Our groups have the exclusive use of the only private hut accommodation along the Overland Track. Read more
Trip FAQ's Frequently asked questions about the Cradle Mountain (Expedition Walk).
Our 6-day trips depart daily from 1 October through to 1 May each season, and our 4-day trips depart on selected dates during the same period.
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 read more odd-numbered group and the trip fills to capacity, you will share a room with another walker.
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 read more are 69 or above we do require a GP to sign off on a letter we provide.
Our groups have exclusive use of the only private hut accommodation along the Overland Track. Each hut has been discreetly located off read more 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.
As long as you exercise regularly, are capable of walking an average of 10 km for six consecutive days, and are comfortable with varied read more terrain, you’ll be fine! For training ideas please refer to the track notes. There are obviously steep sections, however, this is part of the whole experience. Each day, there is plenty of time to sit and rest as well as explore, so you won’t feel rushed.
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. If you are joining an 'Adventure' departure, a higher level of fitness is required, as there will be additional mountain climbs and side trips on most days.
On the morning of your departure, the guides will carry out a thorough gear check to ensure you have suitable gear and help you reduce pack read more weight. If you adhere to our gear list, your pack will likely weigh between 8.5 and 9.5 kg. With special attention to reducing pack weight, your pack and its contents can weigh as little as 7.5 kg. The pack and Gore-tex jacket that we provide have a combined weight of 2.5 kg, leaving 5- 7 kg for your personal items.
Each person must carry their lunch, wet weather gear, spare clothes for the hut, thermals, and warm clothing, plus any extras, such as a read more camera. For detail please refer to the gear list.
You will need lace-up hiking boots that cover the ankle and have sturdy, treaded soles (full-grain leather or Gore-tex with Vibram soles read more recommended). We cannot over-emphasise the importance of appropriate footwear. Lower-profile hiking shoes, walking shoes, running shoes, approach shoes, sandshoes, elasticised boots and similar are not acceptable.
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, so please feel free to contact us for more details. We are more than happy to discuss footwear with you.
Our guides are passionate outdoor enthusiasts, educated interpreters and fantastic cooks all rolled into one. Two (2) knowledgeable guides read more 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.
The guides prepare scrumptious meals each night which are served with a selection of Tasmanian wines. We are quite happy to 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:
Pre and post accommodation needs to be booked independently, however details on accessing exclusive accommodation deals with Tas Walks partner hotels will be provided by your advisor once you have booked your trip.
Prices & Dates
There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and is not operating this season. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view general release dates for all destinations.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Tasmanian Walking Company. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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