My Overland Track hiking plan
Start date: Sunday 8th January 2023 End date: Saturday 14th January 2023
Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley
Distance: 10.7km | Elevation Change: 390 m ascent, 220m descent | Time: 4-6 hours | Difficulty: Hard | Side Trip Options: Cradle Mountain summit or Barn Bluff.
My plan is to take the Cradle Mountain shuttle to Ronny Creek from the Cradle Visitor Centre, as you can’t drive your car any closer. The shuttles start from 8am. My CrossFit Coach and friend, Ehren said to me to take things slow. Don’t rush and take it all in and walk at an easy pace. I don’t have to worry about anyone else, since I’m walking alone, so I’ll just take my time.
Depending on the weather, I’d like to summit Cradle Mountain. It’s a 2km round trip from the Kitchen Hut.
This part of the walk is apparently the hardest going, as you have the steep rock and chain path to get to Marion’s lookout. I’ve bought myself a decent pair of Nordic walking poles, and I’m planning on being as light as I possibly can be with my pack weight, so it will be ok. I keep telling myself this, let’s wait and see. The weather in this area is unpredictable and the area is the most exposed out of the whole track.
Side trip: Cradle Mountain (1545 m) – 2 km, 2-3 hours return from the track junction.
There is some boulder scrambling as you reach the summit, and the walk should only be attempted in fine weather. Not recommended when under snow or for walkers unsettled by heights and exposure. Secure your pack from marauding currawongs if leaving it at the junction. (They know how to undo zips!)
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere
Distance: 7.8km| Elevation Change:50m ascent, 50m descent | Time: 2.5-3.5 hours | Difficulty: Easy | Side Trip Options: Barn Bluff, Lake Will
This part of the walk is relatively flat and leisurely according to the guidebook. The plan is to take the side trip to Lake Will and hopefully have a swim, as there are no showers on this walk. This area is an Alpine moor. After Lake Will, I’ll walk towards Windermere. The hut is just beyond the lake, at the edge of the Myrtle Forest.
Side trip option: 1) Barn Bluff (1559m) 7km 3-4 hours return. Some very steep sections and boulder scrambling towards the summit.
2) Lake Will: – 3 km, 1 hour return from track junction.This relaxed walk takes visitors to an alpine lake, popular as a lunch stop.
Day 3: Windermere to Pelion
Distance: 16.8km| Elevation Change:270m descent, 150m ascent | Time: 5-7 hours | Difficulty: Moderate | Side Trip Options: Old Pelion Hut, Mount Oakleigh
This part of the track is estimated to take between 5 to 7 hours. It traverses over undulating button grass plains with several gradual ascents and descents through forested sections. The track surface is mainly gravel with some planking and cordwood. The recommendation is to ensure that you eat and drink regularly to maintain salt and sugar levels as the first half of the walk is exposed and it is suggested to be prepared for wet windy or snowy weather and to wear wind and waterproof clothing.
Side Trip Options
Old Pelion Hut: 1 km return: you can take the side trip to Old Pelion Hut on your way past in on the hike from Windermere to New Pelion Hut. Or you can head to New Pelion, have dinner, and then make a quick evening trip over. The track is an easy walk on duckboard.
A short path behind the hut leads down to a swimming hole on Douglas Creek.
Mt Oakleigh: The track starts on the far side of New Pelion Hut. Follow the track along the side of Pelion Plains for 500m to a small suspension bridge across Douglas Creek. After the bridge, turn left at the wooden signpost onto the Mount Oakleigh track. The next kilometre across the moorland can be very muddy.
The trail climbs gently through the eucalyptus forest until the 2.5km mark when things get steep and the track turns west. It’s another 1.3km to a high rocky knoll with great views.
You can turn around here or carry on down into a shallow valley then up onto another high point above the rocky pinnacles. Most people will be content to turn around here, but the true summit is 700m further away to the north.
Day 4: Pelion to Kia Ora
Distance: 8.6km (Pelion Gap is halfway) Estimated time: 3-4 hours plus time for side trips
This part of the track is the mountain day. You start your walk at the same altitude as you finish at the Pelion Hut and the Kia Ora Hut as they are both at 850 m in elevation. At Pelion Gap, you can leave your pack and choose to summit one of the peaks. Mt Pelion East to the west or Mt Doris and Tasmania’s highest mountain Mt Ossa at 1617m.
Day 5 – Kia Ora to Windy Ridge (Bert Nichols Hut)
Distance: 9.6km| Time: 3.5-4.5 hours | Difficulty: Moderate | Side Trip Options: D’Alton and Fergusson Falls, Hartnett Falls
From Kia Ora Creek, the track continues through the rainforest to the historic Du Cane Hut. Built in 1910, the hut provides a great location for lunch but should only be used as an overnight location in an emergency. Walkers then spend another half hour walking through King Billy pine, sassafras, and myrtle forest, before reaching the junction to D'Alton and Fergusson Falls - a great side trip. Another 20 minutes up the path walkers will reach the side trip to Harnett Falls. After a final journey through wet sclerophyll forest, walkers reach Bert Nichols Hut, situated at the top of the Narcissus Valley with the dramatic Du Cane Range as its backdrop
Side trips
- D’Alton and Fergusson Falls – 1 km, 1 hour return.
Descend through rainforest to the Mersey River to reach both waterfalls. Slippery tracks and sheer drop-offs at top of falls, but a pleasant side trip worth taking. - Hartnett Falls – 1.5 km, 1 hour return.
Another descent through rainforest to the Mersey River and the falls. Slippery track and sheer drop-offs at top of falls.
Day 6 – Windy Ridge (Bert Nichols Hut) to Narcissus
- 9 km, 3-4 hours Distance: 9 km| Time: 3-4 hours | Difficulty: Moderate | Side Trip Options: Pine Valley and the Acropolis
It is a gradual, easy descent beside Narcissus Valley through the eucalypt forest and across the buttongrass plains. Narcissus Hut is on the banks of the Narcissus River at the head of Lake St Clair. Walkers will need to cross the river via a suspension bridge before reaching the overnight site and ferry jetty another 15 minutes down the track.
Optional Side trips
- Pine Valley Hut – 4.7 km, 1.5-2 hours one way.
This side trip is recommended as an overnight trip. This hut is used as a base for exploring The Acropolis and the Labrinth.
Day 7: Narcisuss to Lake St Clair
Distance: 17.5km| Time: 5-6 hours | Difficulty: Moderate |
From Narcicuss you can pay to take the ferry to Lake St Clair, however after reading numerous blog posts and reviews, hikers highly recommend walking the 17km to the end. After two hours you make it to Echo Point, so my plan is to stay there the night and then walk the rest of the way This is my plan. I have a fair few hours to walk this in, so no doubt if the weathers nice, I’ll go for a few swims along the way!
