Frequently Asked Questions

The Overland Track is a 65-kilometre point-to-point hiking trail running from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair in Tasmania. It is one of Australia’s most well-known multi-day bushwalks, typically taking around six days to complete. The route passes through alpine plains, temperate rainforest, glacial valleys, and moorland, with optional side trips to peaks such as Mount Ossa, Tasmania’s highest mountain.

The walk is managed by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, and advance booking is required during the main hiking season (1 October to 31 May). All hikers must be fully self-sufficient, carrying their own food, water treatment, tent, and equipment, and follow Leave No Trace principles. The trail includes a mix of formed tracks, boardwalks, and rocky sections, with some steep climbs and descents. To protect the fragile alpine environment, walkers must remain on the designated track at all times.

Along the route, there are six public huts—Waterfall Valley, Windermere, Pelion, Kia Ora, Windy Ridge, and Narcissus—each with adjacent tent platforms. The huts are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. While the huts offer shelter, all hikers must still carry a tent in case space is unavailable.

The official endpoint is at Narcissus Bay, at the northern end of Lake St Clair. Most walkers complete the journey by taking the Lake St Clair ferry to Cynthia Bay, where eGuide provides onward transport. Alternatively, hikers can continue on foot around the lake, following the final 17-kilometre section to the visitor centre.

Huts and tent platforms dot the Overland Track, where you can overnight. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The huts are simple (no mattresses or bedding) but provide a warm and dry place to sleep, as well as a convivial setting for cooking and socialising with other trekkers.

Even if you plan to stay in the huts, carrying a tent’s a good idea, just in case the huts are already full when you arrive. A tent offers more privacy and you won’t have to worry about being kept awake by noisy snorers! In most cases, the campgrounds are right next to a hut and you are welcome to use the huts for cooking, even if you aren’t staying inside.

There are composting toilets at each huts/tent platforms (bring your paper) and untreated drinking water tanks. While you need to bring your own stoves and fuel, there are metal countertops in the huts for preparing meals.

Bookings for the Overland Track (plus a $200 fee) are essential during the peak trekking season from 1st October to 31st May. During these dates, you must walk the trail from north to south (Cradle Mountain to Lake St. Clair).

While it’s possible to hike the Overland Track outside of these dates, it’s important that you come prepared for the cold, wet and windy weather. Much of the walk is above 1,000 metres in elevation and on an exposed plateau, as well as being very remote.

For many people, spring and summer are the best times to trek the Overland Track due to the warm days. But the changing of the fagus (Australia’s only native deciduous tree) makes hiking in late autumn a treat. If the weather is favourable, winter is a good option for experienced trekkers who want to avoid the crowds as you will have the Overland Track largely to yourself.

All walkers should call the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre before departure to ask about the latest track conditions, as well as checking the weather forecast with the Bureau of Meteorology. If there are bushwalker alerts, be prepared to adjust your plans for the safety of you and your trekking companions. Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) can be hired from the Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair visitor centres and activated in the event of a life-threatening emergency on the track.

At the end of the Overland Track, many hikers opt for the ferry across Lake St Clair as a restful and scenic finale to their adventure. Rather than walking the final 17.5km along the lake’s edge, you can board the Ida Clair ferry, operated by Lake St Clair Lodge, for a 45-minute cruise to Cynthia Bay.

The ferry runs three times daily from Narcissus Bay, departing at approximately 10:30am, 2:00pm, and 4:30pm. These departures align with incoming trips from Cynthia Bay at 9:00am, 12:30pm, and 3:00pm. While these times are generally reliable, they may vary slightly with weather conditions.

To secure your place, pre-booking is essential—especially during the busy summer season. Once at Narcissus Hut, hikers confirm their spot via the on-site radio

We get it – plans change, especially when you’re booking ahead. That’s why we offer a no-hassle refund policy. If you need to cancel or change group numbers, we’ll sort it out quickly and easily. No stress, no fuss.

No payment is needed when you book. We’ll sort payment about 30 days before your trip. You can pay by bank transfer, credit card, or – if you prefer – in cash when we meet.

When booking select $0.

Of course if you want to pay early not an issue!

Yes – and we encourage it! Many of our guests prefer to pay in cash when we meet. In rural Tasmania, access to ATMs is limited and mobile coverage can be patchy, making card machines unreliable. Paying by cash helps us keep things flowing smoothly and supports the local economy.

Shuttles are run on demand. If your date is not showing please contact us to open the date for you.