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 famous Overland Track, venturing through ancient temperate rainforest, passing the dramatic glacially-carved Crater Lake.

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We climb the steepest section of the whole journey today fueled by a hearty lunch. Reaching Marion’s Lookout 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.

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We continue around the base of Cradle Mountain along the edge of a spectacular glacial cirque before dropping into Waterfall Valley. Our private hut awaits beneath towering Barn Bluff, a welcome retreat after several hours walking over exposed alpine plateau.

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Distance: 12 km

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Barn Bluff Hut

Today we walk across plains where glaciers once rested, moving slowly and leaving behind shallow tarns. 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.

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Those looking for an additional challenge today can take a side trip to Lake Will. 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.

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This evening, at Pine Forest Moor Hut, enjoy an outdoor dining setting with views as far as Mt. Oakleigh in fine weather.

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Distance: 12 km

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation​: Pine Forest Moor Hut

This morning we venture through gorgeous myrtle-beech rainforest as we descend around the base of Mt Pelion West, down to the Forth River before it plunges into Lemonthyme Valley. We take a break at Frog Flats beside the Forth River, which happens to be the Overland Track’s lowest point.

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From here, we ascend gently back out of the valley. We leave thick Eucalyptus forest behind as the trees part to reveal Pelion Plains. Uninterrupted views of Mt Oakleigh’s dolerite spires now come into play.

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The Pelion Plains area offers a host of side trips, hugged by mountainous terrain. There are excellent swimming holes, peaceful nooks to rest and abandoned copper mines to explore. Come nightfall, we are nestled among dry sclerophyll forest at Pelion Hut.

 

Distance: 10 km

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation​: Pelion Hut

Today begins with a challenging 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.

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There’s plenty of time for side trips from Pelion Gap including the option to summit Mt Ossa. At 1617m, it is Tasmania’s highest peak. There are other less challenging climbs, including Mt Doris.

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From Pelion Gap it's a further two hours of gentle downhill to the hut. Today, choose to keep things relaxed or challenge yourself to stand atop the island’s highest point. Once we arrive at Kia Ora Hut, enjoy a Tasmanian drop with spectacular views out to Cathedral Mountain.

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Distance: 7 km

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Kia Ora Hut

Day five is about icy-flowing waterfalls. We depart Kia Ora hut and walk about an hour to Du Cane, where a historic hut built in 1910 stands as a reminder of the long-gone days of animal trapping. Du Cane Hut is a fine spot to rest, surrounded by native gardens and overlooked by the spectacular Du Cane Range. 

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From there, 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.

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Distance: 9 km

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Windy Ridge Hut

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 flowering dry sclerophyll forests.

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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 Center here.

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The return trip to Entally Lodge is through the trout fishing mecca of the highland lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers. We’ll cross the broad plains of the Northern Midlands, passing through the rural townships of Cressy and Longford.

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Distance: 9 km

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch