Overland Track Trail

A 65 km, typically six-day route through Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia; most walkers travel north to south from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair.

Time to Hike: Six days is the standard itinerary for the full 65 kilometre track, with daily stages of 8 to 16 kilometres. Walkers often allow an extra day or two for bad weather and side trips.

Best Time to Go: The official walking season is generally in the warmer months - typically October to May - when bookings are required and facilities are open. Summer is busiest; shoulder seasons are quieter but cooler.

Getting there: Fly into Launceston or Hobart then take a shuttle or hire car to the park; the usual northern trailhead is at Cradle Mountain and the southern exit is at the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre. Most parties walk north to south.

Costs: A Parks and Wildlife booking and fee apply during the official season, and there are modest fees for huts or designated campsites. Budget for travel to Tasmania, transfers, food and basic park fees - allow extra for guided services or commercial transfers.

Difficulty: Mostly well-formed track with boardwalks, rocky and steep sections, exposed alpine plateaux and some boggy ground; daily climbs can be strenuous. Weather changes fast - hypothermia risk and slippery sections are the main hazards.

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park contains the Overland Track, which threads through button-grass moorlands, high alpine plains, cool temperate rainforest and glacial lakes. The scenery shifts from craggy peaks around Cradle Mountain to the deep waters of Lake St Clair, offering wide vistas, close-up mountain faces and quiet river valleys.

The route is notable for its concentration of varied Tasmanian landscapes in a compact distance and for reliable infrastructure - marked trail, boardwalks and designated campsites and huts. Highlights include panoramic lookouts, reflective lakesides and long stretches across open high country where weather and light change rapidly.

The nearest major airports are Launceston and Hobart; Launceston is the shorter drive to the northern start at Cradle Mountain. Regular shuttle operators and park transfer services run from both cities and from nearby towns to the trailheads, and many walkers pre-book a one-way transfer so they can finish at Lake St Clair.

Most walkers start at the northern end near Cradle Mountain and walk south to the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre, though walking in either direction is possible; plan transport in advance as public options are limited.

The walkable season is typically October to May when the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service runs its booking system and track facilities are staffed. During this period you must book and pay the park fee in advance if walking the classic route.

Expect highly variable conditions - warm sunny days can turn to cold rain or snow, especially on the high plateau. Book huts or campsites in peak months, carry full waterproofs and warm layers, and be prepared for boggy ground and strong winds.