Tasmania’s Overland Track is famous the world over and our 5 day expedition trip is a great way to experience it if you’re short on time. We’ll walk the last three days of the Overland Track entering the Wilderness World Heritage Area via the Arm River Track through to Lake St Clair.
The journey begins with a welcome dinner and briefing at the historic Red Feather Inn, just outside Launceston. The next morning, we set off towards Cradle Mountain, embarking on a fully guided, 42-kilometre adventure through Tasmania’s iconic wilderness to the shores of Lake St Clair—Australia’s deepest natural lake. Over five days, our expedition experience immerses you in breathtaking landscapes
Perfect for the eager-Overlander who can’t find 6+ days.
Preparing for a big walk is crucial, that is why we start our 5 day Cradle Mountain Signature Walk the night before at our walker base at the historic and quaint Red Feather Inn.
Here you will meet your guides as they take you through what to expect from the next four days and conduct a gear check. After our short briefing, the night of celebration begins – Your Overland Track adventure is finally here! Get to know your fellow walkers over a dinner of local fare, cooked for you by the in-house chef and paired with local wines.
The rooms at Red Feather Inn are designed for your comfort, giving you the perfect excuse to head off to bed early and get a restful night's sleep before your early start the next day.
Approximately 6 hours walking (more in challenging weather)
After an early breakfast, we depart by bus for Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. Entering the Wilderness World Heritage Area via the scenic Arm River Track, we wind through lush forest, cross clear streams, and pass towering eucalypts.
Today’s trail offers a fresh perspective of the Overland Track, with views of Lake Price and Mount Pillinger. After a steep climb, the landscape opens to reveal the vast Pelion Plains and the dramatic dolerite spires of Mt Oakleigh. We end the day in comfort, nestled in dry sclerophyll forest at Pelion Plains Hut.
Approximately 4 hours walking (more in challenging weather)
We begin with a steady climb through lush rainforest to Pelion Gap, a scenic plateau stretching between Mt Pelion East and Mt Ossa. This vantage point offers fantastic, sweeping views to both the north and south. From here, you can enjoy a gentle side trip to explore the beautiful Japanese Gardens on the slopes of Mt Doris.
After relaxing at Pelion Gap, it's a gentle two-hour descent to Kia Ora Hut. Once at the hut, you can unwind with a premium Tasmanian drop and soak in the spectacular, rewarding views across to Cathedral Mountain.
Approximately 5 hours walking (more in challenging weather)
Today is all about waterfalls and ancient wilderness. After leaving Kia Ora Hut, we walk for about an hour to Du Cane Hut, a rustic relic from the early 1900s, nestled beneath the dramatic Du Cane Range.
From here, the trail winds through some of the National Park’s oldest forest, where towering King Billy pines—some over 2,000 years old—stand sentinel. Above the Mersey River, we follow the terrain as it tumbles toward Bass Strait, carving deep cliffs and cascading waterfalls.
Approximately 5 hours walking (more in challenging weather)
Our final day leads us to Lake St Clair—Australia’s deepest natural lake, shaped by glaciations over two million years ago. The trail winds through flowering dry sclerophyll forest, with birdsong guiding us to Narcissus Bay at the lake’s northern edge.
After lunch, we board a spectacular 17km cruise across the lake to Cynthia Bay, taking in the last views of this remarkable wilderness. The return trip to Red Feather Inn is through the trout fishing mecca of the highland lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers.
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