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Backpacker Magazine – March 2009
Overland Track, Australia
Explore a hiker's fantasy island on Tasmania's rough-and-wild long trail.
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Tags:
- Australia |
- Destinations |
- Vacations |
Plan It
Guidebook Walking in Australia, by Sandra Bardwell (Lonely Planet, $25)
Map Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair Map and Notes (ausmaps.com/prod-cradle_mountain_map.php or tasmap.tas.gov.au/do/product/NPCRAD, $7)
Season December to April for warm temps and longer days. Early May is colder, but doesn't require reservations–and features beech trees turning gold.
Essential gear Pack layers for wild swings in weather–hot, cold, wet–and bring a tent for camping outside of huts.
Need to know From November 1 to April 30, officials limit the number of hikers who start each day, but you can hike at your own pace (hut space is first come, first served).
Cost DIY: $
Guided: $$$
Info overlandtrack.com.au
Guidebook Walking in Australia, by Sandra Bardwell (Lonely Planet, $25)
Map Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair Map and Notes (ausmaps.com/prod-cradle_mountain_map.php or tasmap.tas.gov.au/do/product/NPCRAD, $7)
Season December to April for warm temps and longer days. Early May is colder, but doesn't require reservations–and features beech trees turning gold.
Essential gear Pack layers for wild swings in weather–hot, cold, wet–and bring a tent for camping outside of huts.
Need to know From November 1 to April 30, officials limit the number of hikers who start each day, but you can hike at your own pace (hut space is first come, first served).
Cost DIY: $
Guided: $$$
Info overlandtrack.com.au
Pyrenees Traverse, France | Cape Wrath Trail, Scotland | Zillertal Alps, Austria | Tongariro Northern Circuit and Heaphy Track, New Zealand | Cordillera Apolobamba, Bolivia | Overland Track, Australia | Sarek National Park, Sweden | Rolwaling and Khumbu Valleys, Nepal | Polar Route, Greenland | Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
The Overland Track is no secret, but its remote location off the southern tip of Australia, together with its famously fickle weather, put it in a class by itself: a classic trek that always feels undiscovered. Tasmania's lost world surprises even the most jaded globetrotters with its surreal plants and animals on a weeklong, 50-mile crossing of Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. Look for native marsupials like Bennett's wallabies around Waterfall Valley and New Pelion Huts, pademelon (a smaller cousin of kangaroos) in the thick bush around Windy Ridge Hut, and, after dark everywhere, ringtail and brushtail possums, wombats, and quolls (rat-size marsupial).
Life-list moment: Snapping a photo of a Tasmanian devil in the spooky forest of pencil pine and eucalyptus. The dog-size mammals–Australia's infamous, yet elusive, carnivorous marsupials–have large heads, powerful jaws, and sharp teeth. And their disposition can be just as vicious as cartoon legend (though they pose no danger to humans). Look for Tasmanian devils after dusk, when the nocturnal predators hunt small prey like wombats.
Start at Dove Lake (hiking north to south) for the postcard photo of Cradle Mountain you'll score at the outset. The trail is well-marked, leaving plenty of time for key side trips from the following huts. Waterfall Valley Hut: Ascend Barn Bluff for the summit view of moors and glacial valleys; then return to the main track and hike to Lake Will, ringed in skinny pencil pine. New Pelion Hut: Scramble up Tasmania's highest peak, 5,305-foot Mt. Ossa (half of the island is visible from its crown). And in early summer (December), allow extra time for savoring the rainbow of prickly scoparia blooms that carpet Pelion Gap. Pine Valley Hut: Bag the multi-spired Acropolis and wander The Labyrinth, a lake-salted plateau ringed by peaks.
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READERS COMMENTS
The wonderful Overland Track is far from unknown, but it's still worthwhile in all respects. I had enjoyed beautiful weather on all but the last day along Lake St Clair, and although I did it over Australia Day weekend, there were few other bushwalkers. The only off-putting factor was the profusion of somewhat aggressive tiger snakes - one that slithered onto the trail scared one of my hiking companions into a pool of meter-deep black muck.
Posted: Oct 21, 2011 Deanna Swaney
Hi,
I've walked the Overland three times now and I loved it every time - it is always differnt, particularly in different seasons. It is definately one of the world's great walks, particularly for seeing how the landscape has been carved by the ice age. Make sure you have all the right equipment if you want a comfortable trip, the weather can get wild, even in summer.
The last time I did the walk I took Warwick Sprawon's new guidebook 'The Overland Track, A complete Guide to Walking, Flora, Fauna and History'. It comes with a fold out map and provides much more detail than the other guides - particular on how to get to the start and end of the hike - important stuff as if you don't want to get stranded for days because of a lack of transport. The book's website is www.overlandtrack.net.au
Posted: Jan 17, 2011 Jevis
Hi,
I've walked the Overland three times now and I loved it every time - it is always differnt, particularly in different seasons. It is definately one of the world's great walks, particularly for seeing how the landscape has been carved by the ice age. Make sure you have all the right equipment if you want a comfortable trip, the weather can get wild, even in summer.
The last time I did the walk I took Warwick Sprawon's new guidebook 'The Overland Track, A complete Guide to Walking, Flora, Fauna and History'. It comes with a fold out map and provides much more detail than the other guides - particular on how to get to the start and end of the hike - important stuff as if you don't want to get stranded for days because of a lack of transport. The book's website is www.overlandtrack.net.au
Posted: Jan 17, 2011 Jevis
The World Heritage Site of Tasmania is Cradle Mountain. It is a part of the St. Claire National Park. It is a picturesque landscapes, which make this mountain a major tourist attraction. One can have thrilling wilderness experience at this spectacular site that stands at a height of about 1550 meters. Here you got the numerous forests and heathlands in the vicinity of the mountain. The charismatic beauty of the place is marked with snowy streams, glacial lakes and plenty of wild life that make it a captivating to watch.
http://www.travelaustralia360.com/come-to-hike-at-cradle-mountain.html
Posted: Jan 05, 2011 Cradle Mountain
The World Heritage Site of Tasmania is Cradle Mountain. It is a part of the St. Claire National Park. It is a picturesque landscapes, which make this mountain a major tourist attraction. One can have thrilling wilderness experience at this spectacular site that stands at a height of about 1550 meters. Here you got the numerous forests and heathlands in the vicinity of the mountain. The charismatic beauty of the place is marked with snowy streams, glacial lakes and plenty of wild life that make it a captivating to watch.
http://www.travelaustralia360.com/come-to-hike-at-cradle-mountain.html
Posted: Jan 05, 2011 Cradle Mountain
It has many information. http://www.nepalmountaintrek.com
Posted: Jul 23, 2010 Nepal Trekking
I've been down in Tassie a few times in the last 6 years, can't remember exactly if we saw a Devil when we did the Overland, but we have seen a couple, either there or the Walls of Jerusalem - at night, along the dirt roads...course the population's probably dropped a bit since then.
Posted: Mar 22, 2009 Jodie
I agree with Frank, its a great hike but there is absolutely no way you will see a Tassie Devil!
Cassie
Posted: Mar 20, 2009 Cassie
Nice snapshot of the walk. I really think that John Chapman's guide book - The Overland Track is THE best guide for this walk. It includes very detailed maps and excellent information. Link to Chapman's site is here: http://www.john.chapman.name/pub-ot.html
In addition, AND VERY biased, we have created a downloadable eBook on organising your Overland Track trip. It is especially helpful for someone travelling from overseas; link to the page on Our Hiking Blog is here:http://frankinoz.blogspot.com/2008/12/hiking-overland-track-downloadable-book.html
It is a great hike, beautiful country and excellent fun.
Frank
Posted: Mar 14, 2009 Frank
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