6 days one way, 65km one wayGrade 4: Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.
COVID-19: Check the safety page for important COVID-19 Safety Information on personal measures to take. Overnight walker registration, bookings and walker numbers affect this park location.
WARNING: The Overland Track is a serious undertaking, for well–prepared walkers, with a good level of fitness and who understand the risks of walking in a remote alpine area. The track is not recommended for children under 8 years. Weather can change rapidly and deaths have occurred, even in summer, when people have been caught underprepared in cold, wet and windy weather.
WATCH: This safety video (English subtitles) will help you understand the dangers of being cold and how to be prepared. (Safety video with Chinese subtitles).
A valid parks pass is required for entry to Tasmania's national parks.
Fees:
Overland Track Pass Fees apply from 1 October 2021 - 31 May 2022 inclusive.
- Adults - $200
- Children (17 years and under) - $160
- Concession - $160
Bookings:
SUMMER : 1 October 2021 to 31 May 2022 (inclusive)
Everyone planning to go on the Overland Track is required to book online, in advance (including payment) - at least 24 hours prior to your departure date. The starting point is Cradle Mountain and you will move from north to finish in the south (Lake St Clair). A current National Parks Pass is required.
Constructions works are planned for Windermere and Kia Ora huts sites throughout the 2021/22 summer season. See the Upgrade of facilities on the Overland Track for frequently asked questions.
For more information to assist you in your booking, please see our Booking information page.
Once you start walking, the next road and commercial centre you will come to at the end of the track, six days later. You will need to carry your own equipment and food for the entire journey.You can board the Shuttle Bus outside the Visitor Centre and travel to the departure point at Ronny Creek. Make sure you sign in at the Walker Registration booth at Ronny Creek.
About
The Overland Track is Australia's premier alpine walk. This exhilarating and life-changing journey attracts walkers from across the globe. Beginning at the iconic Cradle Mountain and ending at Australia’s deepest lake – Lake St Clair, this 65 kilometre, six-day trek takes you through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, part of the magnificent Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
Your journey will be physically demanding, emotionally challenging and scenically spectacular. This is a landscape of glacially carved valleys, ancient rainforests, fragrant eucalypt forests, golden buttongrass moorlands and beautiful alpine meadows. Optional side-trips take you to cascading waterfalls and mountain summits, including Tasmania’s highest peak, Mount Ossa (1617 m).
The Overland Track is about you and your time in the wilderness, so while six days is the average time taken to walk the track, you can create your own pace depending on how many rest days or side-trips you wish to enjoy.
Most walkers finish their journey at Narcissus Hut at the head of Lake St Clair where they board a small privately run ferry (prior booking required) to reach the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre at Cynthia Bay. Or you might choose to walk the 17.5 km length of the lake through rainforest to the visitor centre, extending your journey by a day.
Almost half of the track is above 1000 metres in elevation on exposed plateaus in a remote area. Thorough preparation and good gear is essential.
It’s no wonder the Overland Track has secured its reputation as one of the world’s great wilderness bushwalks.
Walker information
- Overland Track - plan your trip
The Overland Track is a walk to remember, but it also a serious undertaking that requires careful planning. Read through our planning material to make sure you have all the bases covered. - Overland Track - walk options
There are many options available for walkers on the Overland Track. Find out more about individual, group, tour experiences, walking with children, educational groups and winter walking. - Overland Track - booking information
Find out everything you need to know about booking your walk. - Overland Track - walk notes
Wondering what to expect on your Overland Track experience? Take the time to look over our walk notes to plan out your itinerary. - Upgrading facilities on the Overland Track
A three year project is underway to improve facilities on the Overland Track.