Cradle Mountain Huts 'The Nature of Leadership' Walk
Available by request for private groups
Leadership matters. In these changing and uncertain times, it is arguably more important than ever to invest in leadership.
Combine Australia’s epic six-day Overland Track Walk with a curated program for emerging leaders. Leaders emerge able to nurture growth and wellbeing.
One of the hallmarks of effective leaders is their creation of challenging yet achievable goals within a supportive environment. The Nature Of 'Leadership' is a fully guided, physically demanding journey through Tasmania's vast wilderness and a leading practice program. Participants experience first-hand how connections to nature can unlock improvements in individuals, teams, brands, sales and relationships.
At a time when organisational success is increasingly focused on unlocking human potential, and developing more purposeful, inclusive and engaging work; this unique retreat leverages leading research into the future of work and nature connectivity to better grow and nurture emerging leaders.
Offered in partnership with Dr Gary Veale, this unique retreat provides the insights, inspiration and actions to:
- refresh and challenge participants
- explore what leadership actually means
- improve leadership outcomes
- understand the most important leadership competencies
- explore your own leadership styles and profile
- share leadership insights and stories
- understand and explore the relevance of everyday nature experiences to leadership and the future of work
- create a leadership development plan and priorities
Direct bookings only. For all enquiries and bookings please contact Tasmanian Walking Company via email Daniel@taswalkingco.com.au
Discover our full collection of special interest and featured guest walks
Introducing Gary Veale
Gary is an expert on the human-nature relationship and future of work, and an experienced facilitator, speaker and trusted advisor to organisations large and small. He is an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne, a practice partner with Monash Business School and a former Director with KPMG. He holds a PhD in the role of nature in unlocking human potential (University of Melbourne), is a qualified educator and brings over 25 years of professional experience.
Gary is currently an Executive Director at the Centre for Sustainability and Business at the Melbourne Business School
The Nature Of Leadership Workshop... a program tailored to you
Unearthing evidence. Growing what matters. Bearing fruit.
The Nature Of ‘Leadership’ incorporates a world-class walking experience (along the Overland Track staying in our private huts) with tailored facilitation, curated professional development and leading research into the human-nature relationship, leadership and future of work.
Typical elements include:
• Pre-walk: discussions to understand your context and confirm your objectives and participants
• Pre-walk: tailored masterclass for participants by Dr Gary Veale
• Pre-walk: materials to prepare participants for the walk and experience
• Fully guided 6-day walk and hut experience accompanied by Dr Gary Veale (including curated leadership development sessions)
• Post-walk: individual follow up with all participants and their organisations to help integrate insights and development priorities arising from the retreat.
Why choose a walking workshop in nature?
“There is a huge amount we know about how to build effective teams but too often the knowledge is not curated and teams are not well trained”. - Dr Gary Veale
Your team can relax...
Cradle Mountain Huts Walk (6-days)
Tasmania’s Overland Track is famous the world over. Across six days, the fully guided walk begins at Waldheim in Cradle Valley and journeys some 65 kilometres through to Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest natural lake. Our signature trip does not include multiple side trips, but there is the opportunity on Day 4 to summit Mount Ossa.
Day 1: Waldheim to Barn Bluff Hut
Approximately 7 hours walking
On the summit of Cradle Mountain in 1910, Austrian-born Gustav Weindorfer proclaimed, “This must be a national park for the people for all time.” It’s fitting our journey begins at Waldheim in Cradle Valley, where Weindorfer’s story is told. We set off on the track, venturing through ancient temperate rainforest, passing the dramatic glacially-carved Crater Lake.
We climb the steepest section of the whole Overland Track today fuelled by a hearty lunch. Reaching Marion’s Lookout (1250m) takes about an hour, with steps leading through steeper sections. The reward, providing weather conditions allow, is staggering views of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. Every uphill step is worth it.
We continue around the base of Cradle Mountain along the edge of a spectacular glacial cirque before dropping into Waterfall Valley. Our private hut awaits, beneath towering Barn Bluff, having completed the steepest part of your journey (excluding side trips). It’s a welcome retreat after several hours walking over exposed alpine plateau where some days the wind howls - a reminder of nature’s power.
Day 2: Barn Bluff Hut to Pine Forest Moor Hut
Approximately 6 hours walking
Today we’ll be walking across plains where glaciers once rested, slowly moving and scouring out shallow tarns. Although an undulating trek with a few sections of exposed moorland, there are no significant climbs today.
We take our time venturing across vast button grass plains where ancient pencil pines fringe alpine tarns. Rising from the moors, the peaks of Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff are behind us. Look ahead, and the stately Mt Pelion West comes into view.
Those looking for additional challenge today can take a side trip to Lake Will. Hugged by pencil pines and with its narrow quartzite sand rim, Lake Will is striking. Keep an eye out for gravel mounds along the way, remnants of Joseph Will’s coal mining efforts in the 1890s.
This evening, at Pine Forest Moor Hut, enjoy our outdoor dining setting with views out to Mt. Oakleigh in fine weather.
Day 3: Pine Forest Moor Hut to Pelion Hut
Approximately 5 hours walking
This morning we venture through gorgeous myrtle-beech rainforest as we descend around the base of Mt Pelion West, down to the Forth River before it plunges into Lemonthyme Valley. We’ll take a break at Frog Flats beside the Forth River, which happens to be the Overland Track’s lowest point.
From here, it’s a gentle ascent back out of the valley. We leave thick Eucalypt forest behind as the trees part to reveal Pelion Plains. Uninterrupted views of Mt Oakleigh’s dolerite spires now come into play.
The Pelion Plains area offers a host of side trips, hugged by mountainous terrain. There are excellent swimming holes, peaceful nooks to rest and abandoned copper mines to explore. Come nightfall, we’ll be nestled amongst dry sclerophyll forest at Pelion Hut.
Day 4: Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut
Approximately 4-9 hours walking (Optional 5hr side trip to Mt Ossa)
Today begins with a climb of almost 300m to Pelion Gap through beautiful rainforest. Pelion Gap is a plateau stretching between Mt Pelion East and Mt Ossa, affording fantastic views to the south as well as back to the north.
There’s plenty of time for side trips from Pelion Gap including the option to summit Mt Ossa. At 1617m, it is Tasmania’s highest peak. There are other less challenging climbs, including Mt Doris.
From Pelion Gap it's a further two hours of gentle downhill to the hut. Today, choose to keep things relaxed or challenge yourself to stand atop the island’s highest point. Once we arrive at Kia Ora Hut, enjoy a Tasmanian drop with spectacular views out to Cathedral Mountain.
Day 5: Kia Ora Hut to Windy Ridge Hut
Approximately 4 hours walking
Day five is about icy-flowing waterfalls. We depart Kia Ora hut and walk about an hour to Du Cane, where a 1910-built hut remains from the long-gone days of animal trapping. Du Cane Hut is a fine spot to rest, surounded by native gardens and overlooked by the spectacular Du Cane Range.
From here, we wander through some of the oldest forest in the National Park, with King Billy pines as much as 2000 years old. Now, we are above the Mersey River, which descends deeply northward towards Bass Strait, spilling down cliff faces.
There are three major sets of waterfalls in the area. We aim to visit one or more of these, choosing the best to have lunch beside depending on conditions. During the afternoon, we make our way over Du Cane Gap, then descend beside the spectacular Falling Mountain to Windy Ridge Hut. Tonight is a celebratory one, our last evening on the track.
Day 6: Windy Ridge Hut to Lake St Clair
Approximately 3 hours walking
Our destination today is Australia’s deepest natural lake - Lake St Clair - shaped by glaciations over two million years. Birdsong helps us along this final day as we walk mainly through flowering dry sclerophyll forests.
We arrive at Narcissus at the northern end of Lake St Clair in time for lunch, before boarding the Idaclair cruise boat for a spectacular 17km cruise back to Cynthia Bay. There’s typically around half an hour to look around the Visitor Centre here.
The return trip to Entally Lodge is through the trout fishing mecca of the highland lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers. We’ll cross the broad plains of the Northern Midlands, passing through the rural townships of Cressy and Longford.
Our Private Huts
Our groups have the exclusive use of the only private hut accommodation along the Overland Track. Each hut has been discretely located off the main trail and offers a hot shower, drying room and twin share accommodation.
Operating and owning the only private hut accommodation along the Overland Track is a great privilege, and we take our responsibility toward the National Park & the natural environment very seriously. Operating in such a delicate environment, Cradle Mountain Huts places a great deal of importance on minimal impact track and hut practices and the huts are designed to be ecologically sustainable. Each hut is architecturally designed to maximize cross flow ventilation and operate with maximum efficiency with renewable energy. Our private Cradle Mountain Huts are maintained by us to ensure your comfort.
There will be afternoon tea, as well as some time to relax and enjoy your surroundings before dinner is served. In the evening, you are free to relax or take an early night and feel refreshed and revived in the morning.
There are games and a number of books in each hut, which can be enjoyed in the lounge area or, in warm weather, out on the deck or helipad.
The remote location of the huts demands that they are autonomous in terms of servicing. Rain water is chanelled off the roofs into tanks and the huts incorporate self-composting, water-free batching toilets. We provide phosphorous-free soap for our guests, and all waste water is separated through grease traps and sand filters. The residue is regularly removed from each site, along with all other rubbish. Gas and solar are the only sources of power, used for lighting, heating and cooking.
Provisioning of these huts is a unique procedure, once again due to their remote location. Only twice each season, supplies of food, wine and gas cylinders are flown in by helicopter over a two-day period, while all garbage and waste matter is flown out. Nothing is left within the National Park.
Itinerary Details
Cradle Mountain Huts The Nature Of ‘Leadership’ Walk
- with Dr Gary Veale
Available by request
- Price: Walk fee + Facilitator Fee
- 6 Day Guided Walk (Twin Share)
- Maximum guests - 11 (Twin Share)
Direct bookings only:
- Direct bookings only. For all enquiries and bookings please contact Tasmanian Walking Company via email Daniel@taswalkingco.com.au
- or complete the below enquiry form
Single supplement
Single supplements are available for this experience.
Special Interest Walks - Terms and Conditions
- All prices are quoted per person in $AUD including GST
- A deposit of $500 per person and the Guest Information Form are due within five days of booking
- Minimum numbers are required three months prior to departure.
- The final payment is due three months before departure. For reservations made three months or less from departure date, full payment is due at time of booking.
- Prices are subject to change without notice
- Travel and pre and post-trip accommodation expenses are not included.
- This walk cannot be booked in conjunction with any other offers and discounts.
Please view our traditional booking terms and conditions
Peace of Mind Booking Assurance
After the minimum number of bookings has been achieved, the trip is guaranteed to depart. If for any reason, the trip cannot go ahead due to restrictions placed upon travel due to Covid-19, guests will be permitted to reschedule their walk to the new date provided or cancel with no additional fee or rebook a traditional Cradle Mountain Huts Walk within 24 months. Guests can transfer to a traditional Cradle Mountain Huts Walk itinerary and have the difference in price refunded. Cancellations for other reasons will incur our standard cancellation fees.
Inclusions
- Return transfers between Launceston and the walk base
- Accommodation each evening in one of our five private huts - twin share
- All meals and non-alcoholic beverages, plus a limited selection of Tasmanian wines
- National Park and Overland Track passes
- Boat transfer across Lake St Clair (on Day 6 of the six day walk only)
- Use of a backpack and Gore-tex jacket for the duration of the walk
- Sleeping bags, pillows and a comfortable mattress at each hut
- Sleeping sheet and pillowcase to carry with you
- Two qualified guides for the duration of the walk
Additional information
- Have a burning question? Check out our FAQ page, and if you need further help please don't hesitate to contact our friendly reservations team
- Ready to start planning your next adventure and want to know what to bring. Check out our detailed gear list, including details on what's provided. If your unsure about anything on the gear list please call us or talk to you local outdoor adventure store.
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