Cradle Huts Tasmania Overland Guided Walk Australia
Walking Tasmania's Famous Overland Track
It's time for
you to rediscover your nomadic ways in a truly amazing place. The
60 kilometres between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair forms
Tasmania's famous Overland Track. Step by step you will be
transformed by images of serene mountains, calm lakes and dark
forests and the pace of life will slow.
As you move through this dramatic and timeless Tasmanian
landscape, your senses will sharpen. You'll experience the detail
of nature with new clarity - the shift and play of dappled light
on fallen leaves; unfamiliar birdsong rising from the rainforest;
the subtle scent of leatherwood and sassafras; the cold purity of
mountain stream water; the rough warmth of sunny, glacier-carved
rock; the microcosm of cushion plants and the grand spectacle of
landscape.
Evoked by the ancient rhythm of walking, you will find that this
close encounter with wild country is a powerful way to put your
busy life back in perspective and to feel perhaps for the first
time what it really means to be free.
In this place of quietness, incredible beauty and unrestrained
horizons, you'll feel the regenerative power of the Tasmanian
wilderness.
Itinerary
The Cradle Mountain Huts six-day walk is a fabulous journey
within Tasmania’s World Heritage Area. Following the famous
Overland Track, the walk extends from Cradle Valley to Lake St.
Clair through a variety of spectacular landscapes.
Day One
The first day begins with a drive from our walking base near
Launceston through the historic countryside of Deloraine and
Sheffield to Cradle Valley. The walk begins at the romantic
Waldheim Chalet in Cradle Valley, where you are greeted by
inquisitive wallabies. You climb onto the alpine plateau with
spectacular views of Dove and Crater Lakes. Lunch is held below
the spires of Cradle Mountain or at Fury Gorge. In the afternoon
you walk the rim of the glacial cirque before passing through
Waterfall Valley. The night is spent at Barn Bluff Hut which
nestles beneath this majestic mountain.
Day 1 is approximately 11 km, 5 hours.
Day Two
Crossing the sedgeland moors, you pass many glacial tarns. Lunch
is usually on the shores of Lake Windermere. In the afternoon
you'll enjoy spectacular views of the Lemonthyme Forests from the
Forth Valley lookout. The Pine Forest Moor Hut is located on the
edge of the forest.
Day 2 is approximately 12 km, 6 hours.
Day Three
The walk follows the historic Innes Track sheltered below Mt.
Pelion West, mainly through rainforest. A stop is made at Frog
Flats at the headwaters to the Forth River. The final section of
the day's walk is on to the Pelion Plains where Pelion Hut is
located.
Day 3 walk is approximately 10 km, 4 hours.
Day Four
Views to the South-West wilderness are possible from Pelion Gap,
and it is from this point that you can elect to climb Mt. Ossa
(Tasmania's highest peak). The afternoon walk is to Kia Ora Hut
located below Cathedral Mountain.
Day 4 walk is approximately 9 km, 4 hours (3-4 hours extra to
climb Mt. Ossa).
Day Five
This day begins with a visit to the beautiful 'Leatherwood Garden'
at the historic Du Cane Hut. The middle section of the day is
spent meandering along the Mersey River visiting the spectacular
waterfalls including the D'Alton, Fergusson and Hartnett Falls.
The hut at Windy Ridge is reached through magical myrtle forests.
Day 5 walk is approximately 9 km, 4 hours.
Day Six
The northern shores of Lake St. Clair are reached through superb
eucalypt forests. Here you are met and taken on a 17km boat cruise
along Tasmania's deepest and most spectacular lake. Leaving the
Overland Track behind you as you pass over the waters of the lake
is a memorable way to conclude your walk. The return trip to
Quamby Estate is through the trout fishing mecca of the highland
lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers, past the majestic
Quamby Bluff and through Golden Valley.
Day 6 walk is approximately 9km, 3 hours.
Warm shelter in Cradle Huts
At the end of each day's walk, your private hut is a haven of
warmth, shelter and comfort. It's a place to relax, rest and be
refreshed after the pleasant exertions of a day on the track.
First, a steaming hot shower and fresh-baked afternoon tea, then
enjoy the simple pleasures of life in a bush hut: Mellow gaslight
and candles; strong-brewed coffee; a good book from the small
collection; sitting by the potbelly heater and warm, dry socks.
Later on, the rustic dining table is the focus for convivial
company - a hearty three-course meal prepared by your guides, with
fine Tasmanian wine and cheerful conversation.
At the end of the evening in your private twin-share room, a soft
bed and sound sleep will prepare you for the discoveries of a new
day.
True shelter, something that gives protection and refuge, simple
and sustainable, clean and comfortable.
Your Guides
Your guides, enthusiastic Tasmanians with a combination of bush
skills and diplomacy, will enhance the journey with their
knowledge and understanding of the flora, fauna, geology and
history of the Overland Track and the wonders of the World
Heritage Area. In the words of one traveller "...their love of the
wilderness was obvious in the gentle way they encouraged us to
care for it as much as they did themselves. Their leadership was
superb - allowing distance where indicated and closeness and words
of encouragement where needed. The trip would always have been
memorable. With the extra input by the guides it became
fantastic."
Leave only footprints & take only photographs
At 1.38 million hectares, the World Heritage Area is one of the
largest and most important reserves. Natural values of
international significance include extensively glaciated
landscapes, pristine catchments, a profusion of threatened rare
and endemic plants, a complex mosaic of vegetation - moorland,
rainforest, alpine, eucalypt and riparian communities, undisturbed
stands of millennia-old endemic pines, a collection of the world's
largest carnivorous marsupials (Tasmanian devils and quolls), and
two of the only three surviving species of monotremes - the most
primitive group of mammals in the world (platypus and echidna).
In the mountainous heart of this amazing area, Cradle Huts has
built five comfortable, well-appointed huts. Hidden in forest
along the Overland Track, they are the only private huts allowed
in the area.
We believe that it is a special privilege to operate in this
delicate and immensely important environment, so we observe
minimal-impact track and hut practices. We tread lightly and leave
nothing and our huts are designed to be ecologically sustainable.
Services are non-polluting and self-contained and we use careful
waste management practices. This minimal-impact use of the
wilderness means that the values of this fragile environment are
preserved for the future, while enabling it to be enjoyed and
understood now by a small number of people.
FAQ
Following are some frequently asked questions about Cradle
Mountain Huts you may find useful …
WHAT TIME DOES THE CRADLE MOUNTAIN HUTS WALK START AND FINISH?
You will be met at a pre-arranged location in Launceston at 6.15am
and transferred to the walk base at
Quamby Estate. Here
you will meet your guides who will provide a briefing on the walk,
check your gear and assist with preparing your pack. There is then
time for breakfast before departing at 8am for Cradle Mountain
lake St. Clair National Park.
You will return to the walk base at approximately 5pm on Day 6. A
complimentary transfer is available back into Launceston at 6pm.
WHERE SHOULD WE STAY PRE AND POST OUR WALK?
The walking base is located at Quamby Estate, 20mins from
Launceston. From here the daily walks depart and return, making a
stay at Quamby Homestead an ideal option. Built in the 1830's the
homestead has been restored in keeping with the original features
while not compromising today's luxuries. Modern bathrooms, luxury
bedding and flat screen televisions are just a few of the new
additions. Special rates are available for walkers.
WHAT GEAR IS PROVIDED?
A backpack and Gore-tex jacket are provided for the duration of
the walk. Sleeping bags, pillows and comfortable mattresses are
provided at each hut. We will provide you with a sleeping sheet
and pillowcase to be carried in your backpack. Bio-degradable
liquid soap is supplied at each hut.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I TAKE?
Read through the gear list on the right which outlines the
essentials required to enjoy your walk in comfort and safety. Any
extras will need to be carried by you, so be aware of the overall
weight of your luggage. Your comfort and enjoyment is important to
us, and keeping your pack weight to a minimum is our intention.
Aim for one set of warm clothes for evenings and another set to
wear whilst walking. Thermals are necessary due to their
lightweight, quick-drying and warm properties.
CAN I STORE LUGGAGE THAT I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE ON THE WALK?
We will securely store all extra luggage at the walk base for you
to collect when you return.
HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
The walk is graded “moderate” by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife
Service. If you are medically healthy and participate in some form
of physical activity on a regular basis, then you should enjoy our
walking holiday. Needless to say the best preparation for walking
is walking, with a pack if possible. If you follow the gear list,
your pack can weigh as little as 7.5kg. The average walking time
each day is 6 hours. The Overland Track is rugged under foot and
muddy in sections, it is therefore essential that you have good
lace-up walking boots with treaded soles and firm ankle support.
All the suggested gear is provided for your comfort and safety.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN EACH GROUP?
Walking groups consist of a maximum of 10 and a minimum of 4
people, plus 2 qualified guides.
DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?
Yes. Just ask us at the time of booking and we can add travel
insurance to your reservation at a reasonable cost.
If you choose to opt out of travel insurance, we require that you
sign a waiver form accepting all consequences and costs associated
with any incidents or accidents which would normally be covered by
a travel insurance policy.
If you are 69 years of age and older, or have a pre-existing
medical condition that is likely to affect your ability to
complete the walk, you will also be required to obtain medical
clearance
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