The Overland Observe Tasmania is usually 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 data it’s good 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 Prime of Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Mt Ossa, and The Acropolis.
- Many of the huts on the path are fairly snug and make for a pleasant social mountain climbing expertise
- The path can generally be crowded, however not like many different hikes all over the world
- The path is pricey, it value me over $500 for my 8-day hike
- The climate may be questionable if not harmful, many individuals have died on this hike. Don’t underestimate how dangerous the climate can get, even in the course of summer season.
- There are many boardwalks within the worst muddy part of the path.
- On the finish of the weblog put up, I’ve data on gear, transport, guidebooks, and extra.
Overland Observe Transport
Transport to and from the Overland Observe is simple, nevertheless it takes quite a lot of time to get there.
Overland Observe Permits and Reserving
It’s essential to e-book and get a allow to hike the Overland Observe. It could possibly get fairly busy throughout the peak durations between December to February so prior planning is really useful.
Examine for Reserving at Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Reserving Website.
Overland Observe Guidebook
How a lot does it value to hike the Overland Observe
- Transport to the beginning of the path – $85-$110
- Transport from the tip of the path – $85-$125
- Park entry charges – $295
- Complete for 8 days mountain climbing on the Overland Observe – $465-$530
Trekking Tasmania Overland Observe will not be an inexpensive choice for most individuals. Transport prices are excessive and the park charges are very excessive, then there may be the price of attending to and from Tasmania!
Overland Observe Journey Journal
Right here is the each day journal of my hike on the Overland Observe. It could provide you with some inspiration and concepts of what it’s prefer to hike the Overland Observe Tasmania.
Day 1 Overland Observe
Because of the poor public transport in Tasmania, I arrived firstly 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 another important piece of mountain climbing gear, there was no excuse. It was effectively 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 wanting ahead to the hike.
I took the steep ascent to Marions lookout and saved 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 forestall the crafty Currawongs from raiding my meals shops. They’ve realized that each one backpacks have meals and so they 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 images under change the thousand phrases that I may 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 night time. 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.
Complete of 12km in 5 hours together with all stops for rests / images / lunch and many others.
Day 2 Overland Observe
After a fairly sleepless night time 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 mountain 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 feel) 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 tougher. As soon as once more the views had been beautiful 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 looking 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 / images / lunch and many others.
Day 3 Overland Observe
The climate as we speak 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 may get near {photograph} it.
I’m so impressed with the contrasting modifications within the surroundings on the hike. Our hut for the night time 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 Previous Pelion Hut for a glance. Some courageous soles went swimming within the close by river, I moist my toes solely and so they felt like they had been going to fall off, I’m not acclimatised to the chilly but!
19km mountain climbing together with facet journeys to Previous Pelion Hut in 5 hours 30 minutes together with all stops for rests / images / lunch and many others.
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 one of the best intentions of climbing Mt Ossa, the very 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 look forward to some time and see if there was any likelihood 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’d 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 saved climbing, so did the others. I used to be carrying 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 discipline had slippery rocks however we managed to move them and make it onto the summit plateau. Visibility was non-existent when Doug and I made it to the summit. I suppose we solely saved going as a result of we deemed it secure 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 all the way down to the close by Kia Ora Hut. It was a small however cozy hut cozy that was filled with chilly moist hikers. After dinner, I went to mattress early. As my eyes began to shut for the night time there was a commotion. A gasoline range was knocked over. Flames unfold throughout the bench and ground. Not an excellent sight in a picket hut.
I acquired 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 might have occurred. However the fireplace was extinguished and I went again to sleep. Ah, reduction.
15km in 6 hours half-hour together with all stops for rests / images / lunch and many others.
Day 5 Overland Observe
It was nonetheless raining within the morning. The night time had been very windy. The day had all of the promise of the 4 seasons in in the future sort 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 offered a glimpse of a pumping waterfall. Shortly after crossing the Du Cain Hole, I used to be surprised after I virtually stepped on a Wombat. It was mountain climbing in the course of the path. They’re usually nocturnal however this creature was extra interested by 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 equivalent to The Acropolis which I hoped to climb.
11km in 4 hours half-hour together with all stops for rests / images / lunch and many others.
Day 6 Overland Observe
The climate was nonetheless not one of the best. I hoped to make one other detour off the observe to the world referred to as Pine Valley. The climate was nonetheless unpredictable. I wait till the flip off to make the choices to make the facet journey to Pine Valley. With doubtlessly 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 advantageous climate.
Overland Observe Acropolis Aspect Journey
We had been eager to make it to the summit of The Acropolis in good climate. Though 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 wanting good for us.
As we neared the final part it grew to become fairly a scramble and climb. It was in contrast to 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 one of the best out of all of the summits I had been on over the past week.
I had reception on the summit. I used to be capable of verify the climate forecast, despatched / obtained SMS messages and e-book bus tickets for the tip of the hike. Again to the Pine Valley Hut for what promised an excellent sleep, besides the others within the hut had concepts of speaking and laughing the night time away, had I identified I’d have stayed in my tent for the night time. 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 / images / lunch and many others.
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 saved mountain climbing. Earlier within the day I used to be suggested that 2 hikers died throughout the dangerous climate a few days in the past. The numbers may have been larger as many hikers struggled with the dangerous 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 seashore 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 / images / lunch and many others.
Day 8 Overland Observe
A sluggish morning with the promise of a Hamburger lunch on the Lodge on the finish of the hike. I set off with a bit of aim of strolling the entire distance of 11km with out 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 complete which was on the heavy facet. I feel I placed on weight throughout the journey. My gasoline 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 equivalent to wallabies and echidnas or rainforest vegetation, 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.
Examine for Reserving at Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Reserving Website.
Regularly Requested Questions?
Is the Overland Observe Tasmania any good?
Sure, completely. Be ready for the wind, rain, snow, solar, sunburn. The Nationwide Parks Centre firstly of the hike that they had a wide selection of appropriate clothes at cheap costs. So in case you are unprepared for the unpredictable climate, there isn’t any 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 creator, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small unbiased adventurer and outside gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
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The creator, 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 outside retail retailer and may be very skilled in what’s necessary when utilizing and testing gear for opinions like this.
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