Peace Fixation

Hiking the Overland Track

I completed the Overland Track with two mates in March 2026, a popular 65 kilometer multi-day hike through the Tasmanian wilderness, starting at Cradle Mountain and ending at Lake St Clair.

We spent 6 days on the track, camping at huts along the way. The weather was excellent, with low cloud and light rain on the first day, followed by sunny days with clear skies.

https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/cradle-mountain/overland-track

https://www.overlandtracktransport.com.au/

Here are some photos to give you a sense of the place.

Waking up at the Highlander Lodge, Cradle Mountain.

Waking up at the Highlander Lodge, Cradle Mountain.

The beginning of the Overland Track, and the first hill near Dove Lake.

The beginning of the Overland Track, and the first hill near Dove Lake.

A pretty plant.

A pretty plant.

The chain track, very steep!

The chain track, very steep!

Crater Lake

Crater Lake

Marion's Lookout

Marion's Lookout

Marion's Lookout and Dove Lake, with Cradle Mountain in the background.

Marion's Lookout and Dove Lake, with Cradle Mountain in the background.

Cradle Mountain in low cloud.

Cradle Mountain in low cloud.

Walking further in past Marion's Lookout.

Walking further in past Marion's Lookout.

Cradle Mountain, we barely saw thee.

Cradle Mountain, we barely saw thee.

Kitchen Hut, and the approach to the back of Cradle Mountain.

Kitchen Hut, and the approach to the back of Cradle Mountain.

Walking past Cradle Mountain.

Walking past Cradle Mountain.

The back of the range after Cradle Mountain.

The back of the range after Cradle Mountain.

Such a pretty range.

Such a pretty range.

The flat plateau before Waterfall Valley.

The flat plateau before Waterfall Valley.

The boys walking on duckboards on the swampy plateau.

The boys walking on duckboards on the swampy plateau.

About to drop into Waterfall Valley.

About to drop into Waterfall Valley.

Waterfall Valley Hut

Waterfall Valley Hut

Sitting on the porch of Waterfall Valley Hut, looking at Barn Bluff

Sitting on the porch of Waterfall Valley Hut, looking at Barn Bluff

Stopped for lunch overlooking the Pelion Range and Lake Windemere.

Stopped for lunch overlooking the Pelion Range and Lake Windemere.

Soaking up the view.

Soaking up the view.

Lake Windemere

Lake Windemere

Windemere Hut

Windemere Hut

The view of Barn Bluff from Windemere Hut

The view of Barn Bluff from Windemere Hut

Waking up at Windemere Hut on a foggy morning.

Waking up at Windemere Hut on a foggy morning.

Dewey spider webs in the morning light leaving Windemere Hut.

Dewey spider webs in the morning light leaving Windemere Hut.

An enchanting thicket of trees.

An enchanting thicket of trees.

Pelion West

Pelion West

Pelion West

Pelion West

Our first view of Mount Oakleigh.

Our first view of Mount Oakleigh.

Onwards!

Onwards!

Halfway through the longest day, about to enter the forest near Pelion West.

Halfway through the longest day, about to enter the forest near Pelion West.

A delightful forest path, some mud.

A delightful forest path, some mud.

Out of the forest and into the sunshine.

Out of the forest and into the sunshine.

The end of a long day at Pelion Hut with a clear view of Mount Oakleigh.

The end of a long day at Pelion Hut with a clear view of Mount Oakleigh.

The creek near Pelion Hut.

The creek near Pelion Hut.

Mount Oakleigh in the late afternoon light.

Mount Oakleigh in the late afternoon light.

Good morning Mount Oakleigh!

Good morning Mount Oakleigh!

An arduous climb up to Pelion Gap.

An arduous climb up to Pelion Gap.

Pelion Gap looking at Mount Doris (foreground) and Mount Ossa (background).

Pelion Gap looking at Mount Doris (foreground) and Mount Ossa (background).

The Japanese Garden on the approach to Mount Ossa.

The Japanese Garden on the approach to Mount Ossa.

The Japanese Garden looking back at Pelion East.

The Japanese Garden looking back at Pelion East.

The steep climb up Mount Ossa.

The steep climb up Mount Ossa.

The boys!

The boys!

A short rest.

A short rest.

A long way to go! It's so steep, the photos don't do it justice.

A long way to go! It's so steep, the photos don't do it justice.

Happy place.

Happy place.

Waiting for slow pokes to catch up.

Waiting for slow pokes to catch up.

Stunning vistas on the way up Mount Ossa.

Stunning vistas on the way up Mount Ossa.

The boulders were endless!

The boulders were endless!

The approach is very steep and the legs are burning now.

The approach is very steep and the legs are burning now.

The high road.

The high road.

The final approach.

The final approach.

Looking up towards the summit.

Looking up towards the summit.

Taking the scenic route.

Taking the scenic route.

Taking it in.

Taking it in.

The summit of Mount Ossa, the highest point in Tasmania.

The summit of Mount Ossa, the highest point in Tasmania.

The big man himself, on top of the world.

The big man himself, on top of the world.

Down to Kia Ora Hut, looking back at Mount Ossa.

Down to Kia Ora Hut, looking back at Mount Ossa.

A thundering waterfall in between Kia Ora and Bert Nicholls Huts.

A thundering waterfall in between Kia Ora and Bert Nicholls Huts.

A very friendly path through the lush rainforest.

A very friendly path through the lush rainforest.

The Ducane Range from the track near Bert Nicholls Hut.

The Ducane Range from the track near Bert Nicholls Hut.

Our Overland Track group at Bert Nicholls Hut, bunch of legends.

Our Overland Track group at Bert Nicholls Hut, bunch of legends.

In a hurry to catch an early ferry, a quick breakfast in a magical dell.

In a hurry to catch an early ferry, a quick breakfast in a magical dell.

The final stretch of track towards Narcissus Hut.

The final stretch of track towards Narcissus Hut.

Almost there.

Almost there.

Three handsome blokes waiting for a ferry at Lake St Clair.

Three handsome blokes waiting for a ferry at Lake St Clair.