Wilderness School Overland Track 24

Trekking the spectacular Overland Track | Mark Whitelock

Hiking towards Kitchen Hut on day 1 | Brad Atwal

Walking towards Du Cane Hut | Brad Atwal

Hiking through Pinestone Valley towards Kia Ora Hut | Brad Atwal

The view from the top of Tasmania, Mt Ossa 1617m | Mark Whitelock -

Enjoy the many side walks along the Overland Track, Pellion East in the distance | Brad Atwal

Group campsites on the Overland Track | Brad Atwal

Mount Pellion West, Overland Track | Peter Walton

Trekking the spectacular Overland Track | Mark Whitelock

Hiking towards Kitchen Hut on day 1 | Brad Atwal

Walking towards Du Cane Hut | Brad Atwal

Hiking through Pinestone Valley towards Kia Ora Hut | Brad Atwal

The view from the top of Tasmania, Mt Ossa 1617m | Mark Whitelock -

Enjoy the many side walks along the Overland Track, Pellion East in the distance | Brad Atwal

Group campsites on the Overland Track | Brad Atwal

Mount Pellion West, Overland Track | Peter Walton

Code: SOG8260

Overview

Highlights

A private journey for Wilderness School
Travel with the most experienced operator on Tasmania's iconic trail
Complete the internationally famous Overland Track
Discover rich bio-diversity; sublime rainforests, beautiful sub-alpine plateaus and spectacular highland landscapes
End each day at scenic campsites in the remote wilderness
Summit Tasmania’s highest peak, Mt Ossa (weather dependent)
Enjoy close encounters with native animals, birds and stunning endemic plants

The Overland Track holds legendary status as one of the finest walks in Australia.

Walking from north to south over six days we cover the highest area of Tasmania, from the base of Cradle Mountain to the rainforest-clad shores of the deepest natural lake in the Southern Hemisphere, Lake St Clair. The World Heritage listed landscape is truly breathtaking and will leave you enchanted, inspired and feeling completely connected. With each day and every step, the scenery on the trail varies dramatically taking you through ancient Myrtle forest, glaciated dolerite landscapes, past plateaus covered in sparkling tarns and lakes and to Tasmania's highest peak Mt Ossa. You will have up close encounters with the unique and endemic animals that call this wonderful area home.

Countries:

Start and Finishing Point:

Adelaide

Activities:

Grading:Moderate

Itinerary

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Day 1
Fly Adelaide to Launceston, trip and safety briefing

After all the planning and preparation the wait is over. Please make your way to Adelaide airport for your flight to Launceston. On arrival you will be met and transferred to our office for a full trip briefing to prepare you for your trek tomorrow. The briefing is a great opportunity to check gear and ask any questions. After the presentation we will transfer you to your accommodation for the night. Overnight Launceston

Meals: Nil

Day 2
Launceston to Cradle Mountain National Park, walk Waldheim to Waterfall Valley

We pick you up from your Launceston accommodation between 7-7.30am and drive 2.5 hours to Waldheim, ‘forest home’, where our Overland Track trek begins. The morning is spent walking up past lakes and tarns to the top of the Cradle Plateau where we are rewarded with views of Dove Lake and an endless horizon of impressive mountain ranges. After lunch, weather and time permitting, we may opt for a side trip to the craggy summit of Cradle Mountain before making our way to Waterfall Valley for our first night under the stars. Walking Distance: 10km + side trips | Walking Time: 5 hours + side trips

Meals: B

Day 3
Waterfall Valley to Lake Windermere

After breakfast at our campsite we continue south to Lake Windermere. A leisurely day that offers time for a side trip to Lake Will – named after a coal prospector in the 1800s. There is opportunity to have a relaxing lunch and swim from the sandy shores of Lake Will. Returning to our packs we head back across the rolling buttongrass plains to our stunning campsite. We spend the afternoon kicking back with a hot drink taking in the fabulous views from camp, and perhaps having another refreshing swim. Walking Distance: 7.8km + side trips | Walking Time: 3 hours + side trips

Meals: Nil

Day 4
Lake Windermere to Pelion Plains

Today is a wild day of moorlands and mountain views. We don our packs and walk across Pine Forest Moor with spectacular views across the massive Forth River Valley to the lofty heights of Mt Oakleigh and to today’s destination at its base. We descend around Mount Pelion West to a popular lunch spot at Frog Flats. After lunch we walk up through tall, lush forest onto the great expanse of Pelion Plains. We have the option of a short side trip to Old Pelion Hut to gain a deeper appreciation of the park’s rich history. Walking Distance: 16.8km | Walking Time: 7 hours

Meals: Nil

Day 5
Pelion Plains to Kia Ora

From camp we continue walking south through Myrtle forest, past tufted Pandani trees, then up to the saddle (1113m) between Mount Pelion East and Mount Ossa. This is the perfect place for a well deserved rest. In fine weather climbing Mount Ossa – Tasmania’s highest peak at 1617m – is without a doubt one of the highlights of the Overland Track. With magnificent views in all directions we continue south into Pinestone Valley to our creek-side campsite overlooking the grand spires of Cathedral Mountain. Walking Distance: 8.6km + side trips | Walking Time: 5 hours + side trips

Meals: Nil

Day 6
Kia Ora to Bert Nichols

Today we walk through towering rainforests of Leatherwood and Sassafrass trees, heading towards three of Tasmania’s largest and most spectacular waterfalls. The first we visit is Fergusson Falls, named after a former ranger at Lake St Clair, followed by Dalton Falls. The third of these enchanting falls is the spectacular Hartnett Falls, named after Paddy Hartnett, an eccentric Irish bushman who was rarely seen without his bowler hat. We walk up through Du Cane Gap then descend to our campsite at Bert Nichols. Walking Distance: 9.6km + side trips | Walking Time: 4 hours + side trips

Meals: Nil

Day 7
Bert Nichols to Lake St Clair and return to Launceston

Today we pack our backpacks for the final day on the track, which takes us through mixed eucalyptus and stands of temperate rainforest to the shore of Lake St Clair, the deepest natural lake in the Southern Hemisphere. As we near Lake St Clair we can gaze up to the peaks of Mt Ida and majestic Mount Olympus. We catch a 30 minute ferry across the lake, providing spectacular views back upon the mountains we’ve walked past, and a wonderful conclusion to our Overland Track trek. After time to explore the visitor centre and a celebratory lunch, we board the bus for our return drive across the Central Plateau to Launceston. You will be dropped off at your Launceston accommodation at approximately 5pm. Walking Distance: 9km | Walking Time: 4 hours

Meals: Nil

Day 8
Transfer to Launceston Airport, fly to Adelaide

Today your journey finishes with a transfer to the airport to connect with your flight to Adelaide

Meals: B

Learning outcomes for students

World Expeditions Schools journeys are designed to encourage positive personal development and the learning of life skills, while leaving the communities and environments we travel to, in a better condition than when we arrived.
The programs are designed to:
• build strong friendships and bonds with their peers, their teachers, and the local people they meet.
• increase the confidence to engage with new people, and collaboratively make informed decisions.
• discover the benefits of working cooperatively together as a cohesive team, to achieve a common objective.
• Increase the ability to face, and cope with, mental and physical challenges and therefore increase resilience.
• give students a chance to appreciate and care for the natural world. The environments we travel through are beautiful and often pristine, invariably the students will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding about how their individual actions impact on the environment.
• Learn personal skills i.e., time management, personal hygiene, responsibility for personal gear, patience, tolerance, and public speaking.
We help encourage students to learn what it means to be a true global citizen.

Inclusions

What's included

2 professional wilderness guides
5 nights camping
2 nights accom Launceston
Transport by private minibus
Lake St. Clair ferry passage
National Park fees
Overland Track Permit
Group camping equipment including all cooking & eating equipment
Emergency communications & group first aid kit

What's not included

Travel to and from Launceston
Accommodation before or after the trip
Items of a personal nature - alcoholic beverages, car parking etc
Travel insurance
Face masks and hand sanitiser
Tent, backpack and gaiters, Sleeping bag, inner sheet & inflatable sleeping mat

Accommodation

Wilderness Camping

The 5 nights of the tour will be spent camping along the track at designated commercial campsite areas. These areas have timber platforms for our tents to be pitched on and nearby rainwater tanks and composting toilet facilities. The camps have a basic kitchen prep area however there is no other shelter or seating available.

Wilderness Camping

Tasmanian Expeditions provides strong, 2 person, bushwalking tents (twin share), which provide each occupant with a personal access door and vestibule for individual use. Our tents weigh approx 3kg and this weight is shared equally by each occupant. We use a range of high quality 3-4 season tents which have been trialled and tested to withstand all weather conditions that may be encountered on our adventures.

Trail Surface

Boardwalk

The boardwalks are synonymous with the Overland Track but note that it does not extend for the entire walk. The start of the walk offers well maintained boardwalks and as you get further into your hike they will be less common. During some sections you'll encounter the original boardwalks, which do not have any extra wire on them to protect against slipping. In some places the boardwalk is quite wide and in others it is a little thinner. Walking poles are recommended.

Tree Roots

Much of the trail is not covered by the famous boardwalk, or it has old boardwalks that are not maintained. You will encounter alot of tree roots, which can be slippery. For this reason we recommend high cut boots, for extra protection against rolling your ankle. Walking poles are strongly recommended as you will need to walk over tree roots in many places along the Overland Track as you ascend and descend hills along the trail.

Grading

Moderate

This trip involves trekking for up to six or seven hours a day. The terrain is rugged and remote. Tracks may be long, rough and steep. Over the trip you will walk along boardwalks, up and down steps, through overgrown forests, over tree roots and through muddy sections. This trek should not be underestimated as it can be tough and challenging. You will need a good level of fitness and must be in good health. Suggested preparation: We recommend one hour of strenuous exercise 3-4 times per week (this can be cycling, jogging or walking) interspersed with relatively demanding bushwalks carrying a full pack weight (between 15-17kg). At least once a week, you should walk with a weighted day pack (5–7kg) for several hours for leg strengthening and aerobic fitness. The best exercise is multi day bushwalking involving relatively steep ascents and descents and in variable weather conditions.

Why travel with us

Assisted over
14,000 Students Worldwide

Since the 1980's, we have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow.

400+ Service Learning
Programs

Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.

Fully Customised
School Travel Programs

Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.

Safety and
Support - Our #1 Priority

Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.

Overland Track Testimonials

Overland Track Videos

Walk Tasmania's Overland Track with Tasmanian Expeditions

Want to find out more?

Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.