The Overland Observe Tasmania is recurrently quoted because the finest multi-day hike in Australia. After spending 8 days bushwalking the Overland Observe, who am I to argue? Right here is all the knowledge you have to hike the Overland Observe in 2025.
Overland Observe Tasmania Info
- Trekking Tasmania Overland Observe has nice wildlife-spotting alternatives
- The great thing about the path is taking the facet trails to locations just like the High of Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Mt Ossa, and The Acropolis.
- Many of the huts on the path are quite comfy and make for a pleasant social climbing expertise
- The path can typically be crowded, however not like many different hikes around the globe
- The path is pricey, it price me over $500 for my 8-day hike
- The climate might be questionable if not harmful, many individuals have died on this hike. Don’t underestimate how unhealthy the climate can get, even in the course of summer time.
- There are many boardwalks within the worst muddy part of the path.
- On the finish of the weblog submit, I’ve info on gear, transport, guidebooks, and extra.
Overland Observe Transport
Transport to and from the Overland Observe is simple, but it surely takes loads of time to get there.
Overland Observe Permits and Reserving
It’s essential to guide and get a allow to hike the Overland Observe. It may get fairly busy through the peak durations between December to February so prior planning is really useful.
Verify for Reserving at Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Reserving Website.
Overland Observe Guidebook
How a lot does it price to hike the Overland Observe
- Transport to the beginning of the path – $85-$110
- Transport from the top of the path – $85-$125
- Park entry charges – $295
- Whole for 8 days climbing on the Overland Observe – $465-$530
Trekking Tasmania Overland Observe will not be an affordable possibility for most individuals. Transport prices are excessive and the park charges are very excessive, then there’s the price of attending to and from Tasmania!
Overland Observe Journey Journal
Right here is the day by day journal of my hike on the Overland Observe. It might offer you some inspiration and concepts of what it’s wish to hike the Overland Observe Tasmania.
Day 1 Overland Observe
As a result of poor public transport in Tasmania, I arrived initially of the hike at round 1 pm. The allow registration was fast and easy. Earlier than setting off on the hike I checked out the gear retailer. For any hiker that forgot to carry a rain jacket, gloves or some other important piece of climbing gear, there was no excuse. It was nicely stocked with high quality gear.
I took the provided transport to the shores of Dove Lake for lunch. I packed out a Subway sandwich that I bought in Davenport earlier within the day. The climate was crisp however clear and I used to be trying ahead to the hike.
I took the steep ascent to Marions lookout and stored going until I made it to Kitchen Hut. Whereas there I met Valerie and Sonia. Valerie was a eager bicycle traveler like myself and she or he had stayed with me in my hometown of Darwin a number of months earlier. They arrived a day sooner than me and set off within the morning to climb Cradle Mountain at a extra leisurely tempo. After greetings, I saved my 20kg backpack within the close by hut to stop the crafty Currawongs from raiding my meals shops. They’ve realized that every one backpacks have meals they usually have develop into expert at opening zippers.
The climb to Cradle Mountain didn’t take too lengthy and I used to be greeted with 360 diploma views. I’ll let the photographs under substitute the thousand phrases that I might use to explain the views of the highlands. After a time of self-reflection and a begin to the journey that promised solely good issues I descended and made it to the Waterfall Valley Hut, my first camp for the evening. Though I carried a tent I selected to remain within the hut and socialise with the others.
After dinner, a number of of us went trying to find nocturnal wildlife and sighted a wombat and several other wallabies.
Whole of 12km in 5 hours together with all stops for rests / photographs / lunch and so on.
Day 2 Overland Observe
After a quite sleepless evening due partially to my lack of earplugs we set off early to climb the dominating Barn Bluff which towers above the campsite and was a 7km spherical journey. The climate forecast for the following couple of days dictated our climbing plans. There was a low-pressure trough approaching in a day or two and any facet journeys to the peaks must occur now whereas the climate was calm and nonetheless.
Myself, Valerie, Sofie, Doug, and Keiren (I believe) from Broome, Jennifer and Lawrence from New South Wales, Doug the Canadian, and the three different backpackers set off. The opposite 25 or so individuals determined to maintain strolling the observe and never take this deviation. The climb was not so troublesome, over damaged boulders close to the summit, however a bit of simpler than the climb to Cradle Mountain in my view. Others thought the climb was harder. As soon as once more the views had been gorgeous over the alpine area with many lakes seen.
By lunch, we had been again within the hut for a fast feed and drink earlier than setting off to our in a single day vacation spot of Windermere Hut. It was 3 pm once we all arrived. The hut is positioned subsequent to Windermere Lake. After dinner, a number of of us went for a brief stroll in the hunt for Platypus or Wombats. All we discovered had been Wallabies and a few noisy Inexperienced Parrots.
15km in 8 hours together with all stops for rests / photographs / lunch and so on.
Day 3 Overland Observe
The climate at this time began to take a flip with drizzle and a little bit of wind. It was simply Tasmania telling us that good climate doesn’t final too lengthy. the path crossed the alpine areas with sections of soggy moorlands, damp rainforest, and dryer forested areas. Valerie heard a noise within the bushes, it was an echidna. It disappeared within the thickly wooded scrub earlier than we might get near {photograph} it.
I’m so impressed with the contrasting modifications within the surroundings on the hike. Our hut for the evening is the big and spacious New Pelion Hut, which afforded nice views over the buttongrass plains to Mount Oakley. Because the climate was holding off, simply, we went for a stroll to the Outdated Pelion Hut for a glance. Some courageous soles went swimming within the close by river, I moist my ft solely they usually felt like they had been going to fall off, I’m not acclimatised to the chilly but!
19km climbing together with facet journeys to Outdated Pelion Hut in 5 hours 30 minutes together with all stops for rests / photographs / lunch and so on.
Day 4 Overland Observe
The climate was crap. No different solution to describe it. Crap, crap, crap. Rain, low clouds, wind, chilly. The promised low-pressure trough had arrived on time and as promised. We set off with all the very best intentions of climbing Mt Ossa, the best mountain in Tasmania.
When myself, Valerie and Sofie arrived the wind, chilly, and low clouds had been saying to maintain strolling to the closest shelter however I needed to remain and anticipate some time and see if there was any probability of a change within the climate. Because of Sofie needing to catch a flight to France, she must preserve shifting and never take the detour so I bid farewell to each Valerie and Sofie. After about quarter-hour of ready I made a decision that I might stroll up the path towards the summit and preserve re-assessing the climate and switch again if or when it was past my consolation zone.
Climbing Mt Ossa
Canadian Doug, Ellie, and Lachie from Melbourne joined me to attempt to make it to the summit of Mt Ossa. half-hour got here and went. Whereas the climate was crap I used to be not feeling chilly or uncomfortable so stored climbing, so did the others. I used to be sporting thermals, fleece, and gortex, together with by beanie and gloves. I used to be extra fearful about overheating and sweating an excessive amount of which might make the chilly worse.
After an hour we reached a niche between Mt Dorris and Mt Ossa. It acted as a wind tunnel with winds gusting to round 80km/h. The sunshine rain was stinging my face. As soon as by the hole the stroll was sheltered from the wind and the climb started. At this level, it was Doug and I as all the opposite hikers circled.
The damaged boulder subject had slippery rocks however we managed to cross them and make it onto the summit plateau. Visibility was non-existent when Doug and I made it to the summit. I assume we solely stored going as a result of we deemed it protected and that we had been solely going to the highest as a result of we had been already so shut.
The descent from Mt Ossa
Would have been nice to see the view, however we had been greeted with rain, wind, and cloud. We raced again to Pelion Hole after which raced right down to the close by Kia Ora Hut. It was a small however cozy hut cozy that was stuffed with chilly moist hikers. After dinner, I went to mattress early. As my eyes began to shut for the evening there was a commotion. A gas range was knocked over. Flames unfold throughout the bench and ground. Not an awesome sight in a wood hut.
I bought away from bed and grabbed the hearth blanket subsequent to the door. With the assistance of the opposite hikers, we smothered the hearth. One hiker grabbed the hearth extinguisher and was able to spray the flames with the dry powder. I can solely think about the mess if that will have occurred. However the hearth was extinguished and I went again to sleep. Ah, aid.
15km in 6 hours half-hour together with all stops for rests / photographs / lunch and so on.
Day 5 Overland Observe
It was nonetheless raining within the morning. The evening had been very windy. The day had all of the promise of the 4 seasons in in the future kind climate. Very typical of Tassie. The views of Cathedral Mountain and the Du Cain vary had been sporadic.
Made a brief cease on the historic Du Cains Hut after which a facet journey to Hartnett Falls which supplied a glimpse of a pumping waterfall. Shortly after crossing the Du Cain Hole, I used to be surprised once I nearly stepped on a Wombat. It was climbing in the course of the path. They’re usually nocturnal however this creature was extra occupied with consuming and strolling than in my presence. I used to be inside a meter of him and he didn’t appear fazed.
Inside 20 minutes of the wombat we had been at Bert Nichols Hut (also called Windy Ridge Hut). A big hut that had views of close by mountains akin to The Acropolis which I hoped to climb.
11km in 4 hours half-hour together with all stops for rests / photographs / lunch and so on.
Day 6 Overland Observe
The climate was nonetheless not the very best. I hoped to make one other detour off the observe to the world generally known as Pine Valley. The climate was nonetheless unpredictable. I wait till the flip off to make the selections to make the facet journey to Pine Valley. With probably good climate I set off with Doug and two different hikers for Pine Valley and the Acropolis.
We reached the hut at 12pm. An earlier dialog with a ranger on the path suggested that the climate was clearing and could be good within the afternoon adopted by a few days of wonderful climate.
Overland Observe Acropolis Facet Journey
We had been eager to make it to the summit of The Acropolis in good climate. Although it was a late begin we made a cracking tempo up the preliminary steep observe to the pretty flat ridge line. Once we reached the world above the tree line the climate was clear and the summit was in view, issues had been trying good for us.
As we neared the final part it grew to become fairly a scramble and climb. It was not like climbing Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff or Mt Ossa. It was not too troublesome, though a few different individuals we handed didn’t make it previous the troublesome sections. Within the late afternoon we had been all standing on the summit. The views had been the very best out of all of the summits I had been on over the last week.
I had reception on the summit. I used to be capable of verify the climate forecast, despatched / acquired SMS messages and guide bus tickets for the top of the hike. Again to the Pine Valley Hut for what promised an awesome sleep, besides the others within the hut had concepts of speaking and laughing the evening away, had I identified I might have stayed in my tent for the evening. In a single day karma had most of their backpacks raided by mice, my backpack was spared.
16km in 8 hours together with all stops for rests / photographs / lunch and so on.
Day 7 Overland Observe
I deliberate for a lazy day at Narcissus Hut, about 8-9km away. I reached the hut fairly early and after a reunion with Jennifer and Lawrence who I hadn’t seen since Pelion Hut I stored climbing. Earlier within the day I used to be suggested that 2 hikers died through the unhealthy climate a few days in the past. The numbers might have been increased as many hikers struggled with the unhealthy climate and hypothermia.
By early afternoon I noticed my first Tiger Snake of the journey and by mid-afternoon I used to be tenting on a seaside subsequent to Echo Level Hut on the banks of Lake St Clair. I even went for a swim within the removed from tropical waters, though I did really feel higher for the dip I’m in no rush to do it once more. I spent the afternoon studying and socialising on the waters edge, with a platypus coming for a night go to. Greatest campsite for the hike.
16km in 5 hours together with all stops for rests / photographs / lunch and so on.
Day 8 Overland Observe
A gradual morning with the promise of a Hamburger lunch on the Lodge on the finish of the hike. I set off with a bit of objective of strolling the entire distance of 11km and not using a relaxation cease. I began the path carrying 8 days value of meals with 1 spare breakfast and one spare dinner. My meals weighed 8kg in whole which was on the heavy facet. I believe I placed on weight through the journey. My gas was one other 1kg. So it was that my pack was now a lot lighter on the final day .
My pack was about 11kg, gentle in my view. (My Pack Baseweight is now about 4kg) Aside from a short cease for a photograph or two of wildlife akin to wallabies and echidnas or rainforest crops, I accomplished the stroll and rewarded myself with an Overland Burger with the lot! I camped within the close by campground whereas I waited for the bus the next day.
Verify for Reserving at Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Reserving Website.
Incessantly Requested Questions?
Is the Overland Observe Tasmania any good?
Sure, completely. Be ready for the wind, rain, snow, solar, sunburn. The Nationwide Parks Centre initially of the hike that they had a wide selection of appropriate clothes at cheap costs. So if you’re unprepared for the unpredictable climate, there is no such thing as a excuse. Gloves, beanies, thermal tops and pants, socks, fleece jackets, rain jackets.
Greatest Locations to Purchase Out of doors Gear in Australia:
Snowys.com.au | Macpac | WildEarth
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The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small unbiased adventurer and outside gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
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The writer, Brad McCartney is a really skilled triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Learn extra). He was a supervisor of an out of doors retail retailer and may be very skilled in what’s essential when utilizing and testing gear for evaluations like this.
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