PLC Overland Track Expedition

Trekking the spectacular Overland Track | Mark Whitelock

Watch the landscape change colours when you trek the Overland Track in autumn | Jason Charles Hill

The Overland Track, Tasmania's most famous walk | Mark Whitelock

Walk past spectacular landscapes on Tasmania's Overland Track | Mark Whitelock

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

Mount Pellion West, Overland Track | Peter Walton

Walking in Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park | Don Fuchs

The iconic Cradle Mountain and boat shed at Dove Lake | Adrianne Yzerman

Trekking the spectacular Overland Track | Mark Whitelock

Watch the landscape change colours when you trek the Overland Track in autumn | Jason Charles Hill

The Overland Track, Tasmania's most famous walk | Mark Whitelock

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

Mount Pellion West, Overland Track | Peter Walton

The iconic Cradle Mountain and boat shed at Dove Lake | Adrianne Yzerman

Code: SOG7348

Overview

Highlights

A private adventure for PLC School
Travel with the most experienced operator on Tasmania's iconic trail
Explore deep forests, sub-alpine plateaus and spectacular highland landscapes
End each day at scenic campsites in the remote wilderness
Summit Tasmania’s highest peak, Mt Ossa
Enjoy close encounters with native animals, birds and stunning endemic plants
Walk Australia's internationally famous Overland Track
Independent exploration of Launceston

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 epic craggy spires 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.

This full pack trek is suitable for first time bushwalkers as the inclusion of food drops will help keep your pack as light as possible. Your professional guides will ensure your adventure is immensely memorable and enjoyable, providing support and care, creating delicious meals, and bringing the track to life with their local knowledge and enthusiasm for the Tasmanian wilderness.

Countries:

Start and Finishing Point:

Launceston

Activities:

Grading:Moderate

Itinerary

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Day 1
Fly from Perth to Launceston, full trip briefing, transfer to accommodation

After all the planning and preparation the wait is finally over. On arrival in Launceston you will be met by our experienced crew and transferred to our head office and warehouse for a full trip briefing and to size up gear to prepare you for your trek tomorrow. The briefing is a great opportunity to ask any questions about your expedition. After the presentation we will transfer you to your accommodation for the night. Overnight Launceston Hotel *Dinner tonight is at the groups expense

Meals: Nil

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

This morning you will need to rise early for breakfast. 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,L,D

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: 8km + side trips | Walking Time: 3 hours + side trips

Meals: B,L,D

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: 17km | Walking Time: 7 hours

Meals: B,L,D

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: 9km + side trips | Walking Time: 5 hours + side trips

Meals: B,L,D

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: 10km + side trips | Walking Time: 4 hours + side trips

Meals: B,L,D

Day 7
Bert Nichols to Lake St Clair, transfer 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 our vehicle for the drive to Launceston. On arrival you will be dropped off at your hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight Launceston Hotel *Dinner tonight is at the groups expense Walking Distance: 9km | Walking Time: 3 hour

Meals: B,L

Day 8
Fly Launceston to Perth

Today our team will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your outbound flight.

Meals: B

Learning outcomes for students

A World Expeditions Schools adventure is a unique learning experience. Our journeys are designed to encourage thriving and positive youth development along with leaving the communities and environments where we travel in a better condition than when we arrived.
The programs are designed to enhance the following life skills that will help you grow as an individual:
• the confidence to lead a group and make decisions
• the value of working together as a cohesive team to achieve a common objective
• the ability to face mental and physical challenges
• the ability to adapt to new environments outside of their 'comfort zone'
• to appreciate and care for the natural environment. The environments we trek 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
• build strong friendships and bonds with their peers and also the local peoples
• basic outdoor skills obtained on trek such as personal hygiene, pitching a tent, helping to prepare meals
Importantly our adventures help increase general well-being and build resilience in young citizens to help them deal with adverse situations in life.

Inclusions

What's included

2 professional wilderness guides
2 teachers from PLC School accompanying the program
5 nights camping, 2 nights hotel accommodations
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners snacks and hot drinks
Food drop provisions along the track
Arrival transport by private minibus and to and from the start of the trail
Lake St. Clair ferry passage
National Park fees
Overland Track Permit
Tent, backpack and gaiters
Sleeping bag, inner sheet & inflatable sleeping mat
Group camping equipment including all cooking & eating equipment
Emergency communications & group first aid kit

What's not included

Flights from Perth to Launceston - World Expeditions Schools can provide this service for you
Items of a personal nature
Travel insurance (Covered by PLC)
Face masks and hand sanitiser
Dinners not included in Launceston

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. Tasmanian Expeditions provides strong, 2 person, bushwalking tents (twin share), which provide each occupant with a personal access door and vestibule for individual use.

Wilderness Camping

Our tents weigh between 2.0 and 2.5 kg 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.

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 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 (up to 20kg). 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.