On our Cradle Mountain Signature Walk
Day 1: Eager & Excitement
Guests always arrive with an equal balance of eagerness and excitement. Some today were a bit nervous but after a quick gear briefing, everyone's minds are set at ease! It always makes guests feel less nervous once they know they have the right gear and they get to see how thier pack feels. Dinner at Red Feather is such a nice way to start the trip, with everyone having the time (and energy) to get to know each other before heading out on the track. After dinner we all said goodnight, heading back to our rooms for a final pack and a cozy sleep. Bring on tomorrow!
Day 2 : The Journey Begins
After a serious day of walking, we’ve finally made it to the hut! This first day wears people out like you wouldn’t believe. It’s probably got something to do with the early wake up, the nerves, and the unknown.
As the bus pulled in to Waldheim this morning it was obvious the guests were all buzzing with excitement! Getting up to Marion’s Lookout was a bit of a trudge, but the view is always so worth it! Blue skies shone all the way across Dove Lake and towards Cradle. Kitchen Hut was a hive of activity when we stopped for lunch, with many of the independent walkers stopping to say hello while they were deciding whether to face Cradle Mountain. There are definitely times I’m glad to not be heading up there, and earlier today, sitting there with my chocolate biscuit and peppermint tea, I was definitely glad we weren’t attempting the climb.
The second half of the day was full of stunning alpine scenes: dolerite looms to the left and valleys fall away to the right. Not to mention, fresh spring water that tastes like it has flowed straight down from heaven – We always look forward to filling up our bottles at Fury Gorge!
We bumbled past the public hut like we always do - only a short stint still to go. When we eventually made it up the driveway, we all knew we deserved the warm showers waiting for us.
Dinner has been made and eaten, the hut is toasty warm and the last few stragglers are sitting on the couches chatting away – all that’s left now is to collapse into bed and get ready for tomorrow.
Day 3: Panoramic Vistas & Rejuvenating Plunges
It was a bit of a struggle to get out of bed this morning, but it didn’t take long to start gaining momentum for the day! I was tasked with making lunches while my co-guide Molly was whipping up breakfast. One by one, our guests popped their heads into the living room, chirpy good mornings being passed around.
After everyone was packed and the hut in good order, I set off with the group to our first stop: a side trip (without bags, thank goodness!) to go see Lake Will and its sandy beaches! I always make the most of a little lie down in the sand and leave feeling rejuvenated for the hike to lunch.
We had a few brave souls in our group who jumped into the cool depths of Lake Windermere. A warm drink ready for when they get out is a reasonable bribe. It’s always so nice to realise that we are in much less of a rush today than the day before, and everyone has made the most of it.
We had two more lookouts to visit on the way to our next hut. The first offers an insanely good panorama of what we have to come over the next few days, and the other is an impressive view into the deep, deep Forth Valley. I took off after the first one, to head to the hut and start whipping up a storm!
The group arrived one by one, filing off into the showers, or hanging around the living room, recounting their journey through the steep Enchanted Forest.
Everyone felt a little more comfortable around the table at tonight’s dinner, and we were even lucky enough to set up the outdoor table. Some of us stayed out to watch the sunset, while others went back in to stay cozy by the fire and enjoy a cup of tea before heading to bed.
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Day 4: Oh, that’s right, we’re on a wilderness adventure
It’s usually by day three that the group is well into the swing of things, and it shows! We had boots on and were out the door, heading toward Mt Pelion West just before 9am. We did warn everyone that today has a fair bit of mud, but after the sprinkling of rain we had last night, the puddles and sludge were out in full force. With all our luxuries, it can be easy to forget that we’re doing a wilderness walk. The mud is always a nice reminder that some parts of this are meant to be tricky and slightly uncomfortable. ‘
We zoomed through Frog Flats and up Heartbreak Hill, to our well-deserved lunch stop at Old Pelion Hut. Again, we had some swimmers willing to brave the cold river water and my co-guide took a bunch to check out the old mine shaft. They reported back to us with stories of cave crickets, glow worms, and a lot more mud.
An afternoon spent relaxing around Douglas Creek is such a great way to spend the rest of the day, and knowing about our hut-host James is waiting for us at Pelion hut, with glorious food already whipped up and everything ready to go, life just keeps getting better.
Day 5: Bluebird Days on Ossa
It was a massive day, but after a big breakfast, we took off up Pelion Gap full of energy. The group got even more enthusiastic when they were able to drop their bags at the Gap and start climbing up to the Japanese Gardens a few kilos lighter with only day-packs.
Japanese Gardens were outstanding (as usual) and the view from there was enough for a couple of people in the group. The rest of us kept trundling uphill, determined to reach the top of Tasmania.
The weather was looking slightly overcast this morning, but as we reached the summit, you would have never have known that the clouds had been laying low that morning. I know I’ll never get sick of the view from the top, especially on bluebird days like today. So much rugged wilderness and so many beautiful mountains all around, I can’t help but feel a deep respect for this beautiful place.
What a day out there! We’ve long since had dinner and Molly is strumming away on the guitar, a peaceful background tune for everyone still up and chatting. Most of the group has turned in early tonight, which is to be expected after climbing up the tallest mountain Tasmania has to offer.
Day 6: Rainforests & Waterfalls
If you ask most guides, they’ll tell you that today is their favourite day, and I’m no exception! The majority of the walk is spent in the depths of gorgeous myrtle rainforests, and there’s something about that that is so calming. I always talk for ages at the Du Cane Hut stop, I get so excited about the history of that place!
Another favourite part of today for me is the silent walk that we take part in for the next little while. This area of the world is so stunningly beautiful, and I love to see everyone have that time to fully be present, reflect on the past few days and fully sink into (and embrace) the nature around them!
We decided to visit Hartnett Falls and spend lunch at the top. We had some seasoned swimmers by this point, and the thought of a hot drink afterwards was enough to get most people in.
There is a sense of both celebration and melancholy whenever we make it in to our final hut, but not too long after that, the good food gets eaten and the good wine starts flowing, and we spend the evening sharing our highlights and lowlights of the trip, clinking glasses with new friends and recapping what a wonderful experience it has been.
Day 7: Final Farewells
Just like that, another trip has come to a close. It always flies by so fast, and before we know it, we’re right back at Red Feather Inn.
Today’s walk was an enjoyable, relatively easy one to finish off with. It’s nice to be able to focus on the track itself and absorb the sounds and sights, knowing we don’t have very long left in there.
We had lunch at the jetty and my co-guide and I did the necessary Lake St Clair jump-in. The ferry pulled in just after that, and we were loaded into our seats and shuttled across the lake. I always find it so strange to be moving fast again, after using only my own leg power for the last few days!
Our bus driver was at the other end already so we gave the guests half an hour to get drinks and souvenirs, before jumping on our last leg of the journey (this one notoriously gets slept through).
When we arrive back at Red Feather Inn, there is a host there to greet us with canapes and champagne. One final toast to another great trip, in a truly remarkable landscape. How good is my job?!
One thing that constantly surprises me about guiding on the Overland Track is that as soon as people get on the bus on that last day, plans immediately start forming for the next adventure. It shows the mark that this place has on people, that the main question on our guest's minds isn’t “What did I miss at work?” or “Do you have a phone charger?” it's “Can we all do it all again?”
Until we meet on the track again…
