Overland Track, TAS

For SINGLE WALKERS 'Just Ladies' 40 years & over
Saturday 12 - Friday 18 November 2011 (7 days)

Itinerary

TOUR MAP



ACCOMMODATION
The first night of the Overland Track Tour will be accommodated at Black Jack Cabins. These rustic, multi-share, timber cabins are ideally located on Cradle Mountain Road, just outside of the National Park boundary. The cabins are set in 260 acres of bushland, offering a private wilderness setting away from the crowds of the big hotels and public huts.  There is a large cabin which contains a comfortable living area, kitchen, dining room and 2 separate bedrooms that can sleep 3 people in each room. A second smaller cabin contains 4 sets of bunk beds sleeping 8 people in total. Separate shared bathroom facilities are available. Both cabins are heated & fully powered so please feel free to bring your camera chargers etc with you for the first night of the tour.

The remaining 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. 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. Brands that are mostcommonly used are Wilderness Equipment and Eureka.

WHAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY
On the 7 day Overland Track bushwalking expedition you will need to carry all personal equipment in a full trekking backpack that is 70-90 Litres in capacity. This includes sleeping bag, inflatable sleeping mat, a proportion of the shared tent, a proportion of the group's fresh food supplies and all personal items as specified in our gear list. Depending on the quality and quantity of personal gear and toiletries, the average pack weight should be 12-15kg.

A comprehensive gear list is available to detail what equipment/clothing is included in the tour cost, what items are available for hire and what you will need to bring with you. Every bushwalking expedition operated by Tasmanian Expeditions will commence with a full gear check by your guiding team to ensure the right mix of gear for your adventure is present.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Itinerary:
Physical and mental preparation for your 7 day Overland Track Tour cannot be highlighted enough. Come open minded and ready for a wonderful experience whatever the weather, whoever the group, whatever your preconceived ideas. Your guides will be working to enhance your trek and maximise your safety. Each day, each group, each guide may influence itinerary details but the following will give you an idea of daily timing.

Each day on the track will start with a hot drink call from your guides. They will then prepare breakfast, whilst you get ready for the day and pack up all your equipment. After breakfast the guides will finish their last minute packing and then set off for the day's walk.

Each day is different but usually the morning walk is 3-4 hours in duration with numerous snack, photo and water breaks along the way. A leisurely lunch is served which provides the chance to put your feet up, take photos, or simply enjoy the magnificent scenery around you. The afternoon walk is usually shorter then the morning walk getting us to camp with plenty of daylight and time for exploring, relaxing or just enjoying a welcome hot drink and a chat. A hot dinner and dessert is served around 7pm with time to tell a few stories and hear a brief on the following day's activities. Your guides will not expect any assistance but will appreciate it if you have the energy to help collect drinking water when arriving at camp, wash up the lunch dishes in readiness for the evening meal etc.

Food:
Tasmanian Expeditions aims to provide high quality local Tasmanian produce to supply interesting and nutritional meals for its guests. Our guides have remarkable wilderness culinary skills and pride themselves on the variety, quality, nutritional levels and presentation of their meals and their ability to cater to a wide range of dietary requirements. A typical evening meal that can be expected on both accommodated and remote adventures with us includes:

Entree: Tasmanian cheese platter, fresh antipasto, crackers & dips
Main 1: Tasmanian lamb curry served with basmati rice, fruit chutney and a side salad
Main 2: Pumpkin, mushroom, lemon & sage risotto with fresh rocket salad
Dessert 1: Local strawberry and blueberry pavlova
Dessert 2: Stewed sweet apple strudel
Dehydrated foods are combined with fresh food meals on some of our most remote expeditions to lighten the loads carried by our guides and guests.

Day 1 Launceston to Cradle Mountain National Park
Today we begin our journey to Cradle Mountain. We meet at Mountain Designs Equipment Store at 1pm for a thorough group briefing and gear check. We then transfer up to our cabins at Cradle Mountain, taking approximately 3 hours including a mid journey leg stretch in Sheffield - Tassie's town of murals.  On arrival you will have time to relax & organise your gear while your guides prepare a feast for dinner. Tonight we sleep in the comforts of our warm and cosy cabins, well fed, rested and ready for the start of our trek tomorrow.

Meals: D 

Day 2 Dove Lake to Waterfall Valley
Your guides will have you up early this morning for breakfast and any last minute packing. We drive the short distance to Dove Lake where our Overland Track Trek begins. We spend the morning walking up to the top of the Cradle Plateau where we are rewarded with views of Dove Lake below. After enjoying lunch we may opt for a side trip, weather and time permitting, 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
Today we continue south from Waterfall Valley to Lake Windermere. A leisurely day that offers time for a side trip past the diggings of Joseph Will a coal prospector in the 1800's to Innes Falls. At Lake Will we will have the opportunity for a relaxing lunch on its sandy shores. Returning to our packs we head back across the rolling button grass plains towards our campsite at Lake Windermere. We spend the afternoon relaxing, taking in the fabulous views and maybe go for a refreshing swim in the lake.

Walking Distance: 8Km
Walking Time: 3 Hours
Meals: B, L, D

Day 4 Lake Windermere to Pelion Plains
Today is a wild day of moorlands and mountain views. Our morning takes us across Pine Forest Moor offering spectacular views across the Forth River Valley to the heights of Mount Oakleigh and to today's destination, Pelion Plains, at its base. We descend around Mount Pelion West to a popular lunch spot at Frog Flats. Our afternoon takes us up onto Pelion Plains with marvellous views of fluted Mount Oakleigh and some of the biggest wombats our guides have seen in the park!!! Our main food drop is hidden not far from here and your guides will make time to collect supplies.

Walking Distance: 17Km
Walking Time: 7 Hours
Meals: B, L, D

Day 5 Pelion Plains to Kia Ora
From camp we continue walking south and the view opens up to reveal Cathedral Mountain and Pelion East on our left, followed by Mount Ossa on our right. We rest at the saddle (1113 meters) between Mount Pelion East and Mount Ossa. In fine weather, climbing Mount Ossa (1617m), Tasmania's highest peak is without a doubt one of the highlights of the Overland Track. With magnificent views in all directions we continue south into beautiful Pinestone Valley.

Walking Distance: 9Km + side trips
Walking Time: 5 Hours + side trips
Meals: B, L, D

Day 6 Kia Ora to Windy Ridge
Today we walk through towering rainforests of Leatherwood and Sassafras trees, heading towards three of Tasmania's largest and most spectacular waterfalls. The first we visit is Ferguson Falls, named after a former ranger at Lake St. Clair followed by Dalton Falls. The third of these large falls is Hartnett Falls, named after the eccentric bushman with the bowler hat Paddy Hartnett. We make camp in the afternoon at Windy Ridge.

Walking Distance: 10Km + side trips
Walking Time: 4 Hours + side trips
Meals: B, L, D

Day 7 Windy Ridge to Lake St Clair and return to Launceston
Today we pack our backpacks for the final day on the track, which takes us through dry sclerophyll forest toward the shores of Lake St Clair. As we near the lake we can gaze up to the peaks of the Labyrinth and look forward to majestic Mount Olympus. We then catch a 30 minute ferry across Lake St Clair, the deepest natural lake in the southern hemisphere, providing a spectacular conclusion to our Overland Track Trek as we look back upon the mountains we've travelled through. After some time to inspect the visitor centre and indulge in a picnic lunch we board the bus for our return drive across Tassie's Central Plateau to Launceston. You will be dropped off at your accommodation in Launceston at approx 5pm.

Walking Distance: 9Km
Walking Time: 3 Hours
|Meals: B, L