The Overland Track is Australia’s most famous multi-day walk — a roughly 65 to 78 kilometre traverse from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair in the heart of Tasmania’s wilderness. Over five to seven days (six is typical), you cross glacial valleys, button-grass plains, ancient myrtle forest, and high alpine plateaus, staying in a well-run system of backcountry huts. It is the kind of walk that converts casual hikers into lifelong bushwalkers.
By world standards the distances are modest, but the weather is the great leveller: Tasmania’s high country is notorious for rapid changes, and snow is possible in any month. Respect the conditions and the track is superbly rewarding.
Route at a glance
The track runs one-way, north to south, from Ronny Creek at Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. Most walkers take five to seven days, with the hut system naturally dividing the route into stages. A walker shuttle or the ferry across Lake St Clair from Narcissus at the southern end connects you back to transport — check the ferry’s seasonal schedule when you plan.
The side trips are half the joy: the summit of Cradle Mountain itself, Mount Ossa (at about 1,617 metres, the highest peak in Tasmania), waterfalls, and smaller lakes and lookouts along the way. Build at least one contingency or side-trip day into your itinerary — walkers who rush the track consistently say they wished they had lingered.
Getting there
Most walkers fly into Launceston or Hobart. Shuttle services run from both cities to the Cradle Mountain trailhead, and connections at the Lake St Clair end link back to Hobart. Because it is a point-to-point walk, sort your transport at both ends before you start — the track is remote, and hitchhiking out is not a plan.
Best time to walk
The official booking season runs from 1 October to 31 May, which covers the Tasmanian summer and the shoulder months — this is when most people walk, and when the huts, shuttles, and ferry are all operating. Summer (December to February) gives the longest days and the mildest weather, though “mild” in the Tasmanian highlands still means packing for cold, wet, and windy conditions. Winter walking is possible for experienced, well-equipped parties, but the huts are unserviced, days are short, and snow is likely.
Costs and permits
During the booking season (1 October to 31 May) you must book an Overland Track Pass in advance: numbers are limited to around 34 independent walkers per day, and the fee is roughly a few hundred Australian dollars. You also need a Tasmanian National Parks pass for the duration of your walk. Outside the booking season, no track pass is required and you may walk in either direction — but services are thinner and conditions tougher.
The huts are included in the system: each stage has a hut with bunks, heating, and rainwater tanks, plus tent platforms if you prefer to camp. Note that the Overland is a fuel-stove-only area — open fires are not permitted — so bring a stove and fuel, and buy fuel in Tasmania, since you cannot fly with gas canisters.
Practical tips
Pack for four seasons regardless of the month: full wet-weather layers, warm insulation, and sturdy waterproof boots are non-negotiable. The track is well-marked and boardwalked in the fragile alpine sections — stay on the boards to protect the cushion plants. Water from the tanks and streams is generally fine, but carry treatment as backup.
Book your pass the moment bookings open if you are walking in peak season; popular dates sell out. Walk the side trips — Mount Ossa and Cradle Mountain are the two most-walked for good reason. And keep your itinerary flexible: Tasmanian weather rewards walkers who can sit out a bad day in a warm hut rather than pushing through a whiteout.
Arjun Mehta is the pen name behind Mountains Bliss — practical mountain-travel guides with routes, costs, seasons and safety notes, researched from real trekker discussions and cross-checked before publishing. No sponsored posts, ever.
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