Arrive in Launceston and make your own way to the Red Feather Inn for check-in from 2pm, your accommodation for the night. Please arrive no later than 5:00pm. There will be a briefing with your guide at 5:30pm, for introductions and a gear check, followed by a group dinner served with seasonal and local produce, cooked by the in-house chef.

Meals:  D

After breakfast we journey to Waldheim in Cradle Valley. On the summit 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 walk begins at Waldheim, where Weindorfer’s story is told. We will have morning tea here then set off on the track by 11am, venturing through ancient temperate rainforest, passing the dramatic glacially-carved Crater Lake. We climb the steepest section of the whole Overland Track today. Reaching Marion’s Lookout (1,250m) after negotiating steps leading through steeper sections, offers a satisfying reward. Providing weather conditions allow, we enjoy staggering views of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. Every uphill step is worth it. If the weather is fine, we stop for lunch by the peaceful Plateau Creek. We then embark on the challenging climb of Cradle Mountain where, on clear days, the views are spectacular. It's then about another 4 hours around the base of Cradle Mountain, out along the edge of a spectacular glacial cirque, then dropping into Waterfall Valley which we cross before arriving at our hut at the base of the towering Barn Bluff. Several hours of this day’s walk is over exposed alpine plateau which allows great views on a clear day, but in rough weather the wind howls over the land making for exciting, and sometimes challenging, walking conditions.

Meals:  L,D

Today we’ll be walking across plains where glaciers once rested, slowly moving and scouring out shallow tarns. The track provides an undulating trek with a few sections of exposed moorland and multiple hill climbs and descents. 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. Further along the track, Lake Windemere offers an opportunity for an invigorating swim.This evening, at Pine Forest Moor Hut, enjoy dining with views out towards Mt. Oakleigh.

Meals:  B,L,D

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. Our quest? To climb Mt Oakleigh. It’s our biggest day at 18 kilometres, so we pace ourselves knowing the warmth and comfort of Pelion Plains Hut awaits, nestled amongst dry sclerophyll forest.

Meals:  B,L,D

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 are plenty of side trips from Pelion Gap including our mission for the day, to summit Mt Ossa. At 1617m, it is Tasmania’s highest peak. Reaching the top, there’s plenty of time to take in 360 degree island views and enjoy a well-earned lunch. Back down at Pelion Gap it's a further few hours of gentle downhill to the hut. Once we arrive at Kia Ora Hut, enjoy a Tasmanian drop with spectacular views out to Cathedral Mountain. Conditions dictate our climb, as Mt Ossa’s boulder fields can be dangerous in heavy rain and snow. Your highly-trained guides can assess whether alternate peaks are more suitable.

Meals:  B,L,D

This is a day of icy-flowing waterfalls and majestic forests. 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, surrounded 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 2,000 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.

Meals:  B,L,D

Lake St Clair is Australia’s deepest natural lake, and as with most of this area, has been shaped by glaciers. The walk is mainly through cool temperate eucalypt forest, and birdsong is all around. We arrive at Narcissus at the Northern end of Lake St Clair in time for lunch before boarding the Idaclair cruise boat for the spectacular 17km cruise back to Cynthia Bay. There is a visitor centre at Cynthia Bay, and we usually have about half an hour to look around. The return trip to Red Feather Inn is through the trout fishing mecca of the highland lakes, descending the rugged Western Tiers to the broad plains of the Northern Midlands, and passing through the rural townships of Cressy and Longford. You should arrive at Red Feather Inn by around 5pm. There will be a shuttle bus departing at 6m which goes via Launceston airport at approximately 6:15pm, arriving back at Chalmers Church Launceston at about 6:30pm. If you are staying at Quamby Homestead, a shuttle will be organised.

Meals:  B,L