Tasmania: Cradle Mountain Huts Trek

Cradle Mountain Huts Trek—4 day Itinerary:

• Day 1 Set off for the Overland Track -a classic trek that feels undiscovered.

  Cradle Mountain Huts guests meet at the hikers' base at Quamby Estate. After a gear check, introductions and light breakfast we journey to Waldheim in Cradle Valley. We then set off on the track by 11am. By lunch time we have walked through our first section of ancient temperate rainforest and witnessed the dramatic, glacially carved Crater Lake. The steepest section of the Overland Track takes us about an hour. Mostly up stair steps, this steep section leads us onto Marion's Lookout which will (hopefully) give us the famous, spectacular views of Cradle Mountain with Dove Lake at its base—worth every step.

  If the weather is fine we stop for lunch by the peaceful Plateau Creek, then continue for about another 4 hours around the base of Cradle Mountain, out along the edge of a spectacular glacial cirque, then dropping into Waterfall Valley. We cross the valley to reach our hut at the base of the towering Barn Bluff. Several hours of this day's walk are over an exposed alpine plateau. On a clear day this area allows great views, but in rough weather the wind howls over the land, making for exciting and sometimes challenging walking conditions. Some of the track is uneven underfoot, but we take our time to walk carefully and make sure we still look at the wonderful scenery all around. All meals included.

  Hiking: 12km/ 7.5 miles, 7 hrs.

• Day 2 Explore the rugged beauty of Tasmania with peaks of Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff and Mt. Pelion West surrounding you.

  The walking today is undulating with a few sections of exposed moorland. There are no large hills and the once notoriously muddy Pine Forest Moor now has a duckboard path over the mud!! We do offer an optional side trip to Lake Will. We hike across plains where once glaciers sat and slowly moved, scouring out shallow tarns. Now we see plains of button grass with ancient Pencil Pines sitting with their roots in the water. Rising from the moors, the peaks of Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff are behind us to the north, and the stately Mount Pelion West directly ahead. Take advantage of the viewing opportunities at several lookout points and complete the day through an enchanting Tasmania rainforest. All meals included.

  Hiking: 12km/ 7.5 miles, 6 hrs.

• Day 3 The scenery changes every day. From mountains to waterfall, a feast for the eyes.

  Today we begin with a long, slow descent around the base of Mount Pelion West down to the Forth River before it plunges into the Lemonthyme Valley. After a break at Frog Flats by the Forth River, we have a long, gentle ascent out of the valley onto the beautiful Pelion Plains with outstanding views of Mount Oakleigh. There are many side trips in the Pelion Plains area with mountains all around: some excellent swimming holes, abandoned copper mines and peaceful and humbling spots to simply rest quietly. All meals included.

  Hiking: 10km/ 6.2 miles, 5 hrs.

• Day 4 Eucalyptus forests and buttongrass plains - this is the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

  Today we hike east, crossing Pelion Plains and following the southern shore of Lake Ayr, mainly wandering through open eucalyptus forests and across buttongrass plains. We then follow a gradual incline along the Innes Track before having lunch near Wurragarra Creek. From this point the view is dominated by Mount Pillinger and the peaks along the Overland Track. After lunch we pass the still waters of Lake Price before the sharp descent into the Arm River valley to meet the bus. The return trip to Quamby Estate takes us through the Mole Creek Karst National Park and the arts and crafts town of Deloraine. All meals included.

  Hiking: 14km/ 8.7 miles, 6 hrs.

Cradle Mountain Huts Trek—6 day Itinerary:

• Day 1 Set off for the Overland Track -a classic trek that feels undiscovered.

  Cradle Mountain Huts guests meet at the hikers' base at Quamby Estate. After a gear check, introductions and light breakfast we journey to Waldheim in Cradle Valley. We then set off on the track by 11am. By lunch time we have walked through our first section of ancient temperate rainforest and witnessed the dramatic, glacially carved Crater Lake. The steepest section of the Overland Track takes us about an hour. Mostly up stair steps, this steep section leads us onto Marion's Lookout which will (hopefully) give us the famous, spectacular views of Cradle Mountain with Dove Lake at its base—worth every step.

  If the weather is fine we stop for lunch by the peaceful Plateau Creek, then continue hiking for about another 4 hours around the base of Cradle Mountain, out along the edge of a spectacular glacial cirque, then dropping into Waterfall Valley. We cross the valley to reach our hut at the base of the towering Barn Bluff. Several hours of this day's walk are over an exposed alpine plateau. On a clear day this area allows great views, but in rough weather the wind howls over the land, making for exciting and sometimes challenging hiking conditions. Some of the track is uneven underfoot, but we take our time to walk carefully and make sure we still look at the wonderful scenery all around. All meals included.

  Hiking: 12km/ 7.5 miles, 7 hrs.

• Day 2 Explore the rugged beauty of Tasmania with peaks of Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff and Mt. Pelion West surrounding you.

  The walking today is undulating with a few sections of exposed moorland. There are no large hills and the once notoriously muddy Pine Forest Moor is now a duckboard path over the mud!! We do offer an optional side trip to Lake Will. We travel across plains where once glaciers sat and slowly moved, scouring out shallow tarns. Now we see plains of button grass with ancient Pencil Pines sitting with their roots in the water. Rising from the moors, the peaks of Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff are behind us to the north, and the stately Mount Pelion West directly ahead. Take advantage of the viewing opportunities at several lookout points and complete the day through an enchanting Tasmania rainforest. All meals included.

  Hiking: 12km/ 7.5 miles, 6 hrs.

• Day 3 The scenery changes every day. From mountains to river valleys, a feast for the eyes.

  Today we begin with a long, slow descent around the base of Mount Pelion West down to the Forth River before it plunges into the Lemonthyme Valley. After a break at Frog Flats by the Forth River, we have a long, gentle ascent out of the valley onto the beautiful Pelion Plains with outstanding views of Mount Oakleigh. There are many side trips in the Pelion Plains area with mountains all around: some excellent swimming holes, abandoned copper mines and peaceful and humbling spots to simply rest quietly. All meals included.

  Hiking: 10km/ 6.2 miles, 5 hrs.

• Day 4 If you're feeling energetic, climb Mt. Ossa, the highest mountain in Tasmania.

  Today we hike east, crossing Pelion Plains and following the southern shore of Lake Ayr, mainly wandering through open eucalyptus forests and across buttongrass plains. We then follow a gradual incline along the Innes Track before having lunch near Wurragarra Creek. From this point the view is dominated by Mount Pillinger and the peaks along the Overland Track. After lunch we pass the still waters of Lake Price before the sharp descent into the Arm River valley to meet the bus. The return trip to Quamby Estate takes us through the Mole Creek Karst National Park and the arts and crafts town of Deloraine. All meals included.

  Hiking: 14km/ 8.7 miles, 6 hrs.

• Day 5 Today's hike takes us through the oldest forest in the park that is home to 2000 year old pine trees.

  This is a day of waterfalls and majestic forests. We depart Kia Ora hut and walk about an hour to Du Cane where a hut remains from the long-gone days of animal trapping. A fine spot to rest in the native gardens planted by trapper Paddy Hartnet's wife during her long stints in the bush with her husband.

  From there, we wander through some of the oldest forest in the National Park with King Billy Pines as old as 2000 years. Here we are above the Mersey River, which descends deeply northward towards Bass Strait. There are three major sets of waterfalls and we opt to visit one or more of these. We will probably take lunch down to enjoy beside one of the falls. During the afternoon, the group makes its way over Du Cane gap then descends beside the spectacular Falling Mountain to Windy Ridge Hut. All meals included.

  Hiking: 9km/ 5.6 miles, 4 hrs.

• Day 6 Finish this world-class trek at Lake St Clair, Australia's deepest lake and the end point of the Overland Track.

  Lake St. Clair is Australia's deepest natural lake, and as with most of Cradle Mountain's lakes has been shaped by glaciers. The walk is mainly through cool, temperate eucalyptus 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 center at Cynthia Bay, and we usually have about half an hour to look around. The return trip to Quamby Estate 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. All meals included.

  Hiking: 9km/ 5.6 miles, 3 hrs.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, the itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions.

Combine this walk with a Bay of Fires Walk for a complete Tasmania experience!

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

All accommodations are twin-share. If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations, we will attempt to find a roommate (same gender only) if one is available. If not, single accommodations will be required. There is very limited availability, and single accommodations are provided on a first come, first serve basis.

All accommodations; transfers from/to Launceston to Quamby Estate; all meals as noted on itinerary plus non-alcoholic beverages with a limited selection of Tasmanian wine; National Park and Overland Track passes; boat transfer across Lake St. Clair (day 6); use of backpack and Gore-Tex® jacket for duration of walk; sleeping bags and pillows; sleeping sheet and pillowcase; professional guides.

Air transportation to Launceston; transfers from/to airport; departure taxes; guide gratuities; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature such as beer or liquor, cost of obtaining a passport, immunizations and insurance.

REI Adventures standard payment and cancellation policies do not apply to the Cradle Mountains Huts Trek. A special cancellation policy applies which is stricter than the REI policy. A deposit of $500 per person is required for confirmation. Full payment for the Cradle Mountains trip is due at 90 days before departure. For any cancellations outside of 90 days, $250 of the deposit is non-refundable. Within 90 days, REI Adventures' standard policy applies.

This trip is rated Moderate [3]. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial and all participants should plan on engaging in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least 2-3 months prior to departure. As some of the hikes include steep ascents and descents, stair climbing is an excellent way to prepare for this adventure in addition to walking, hiking and/or running. A typical day hike will average 4-8 miles in length with varied terrain. Each day will allow plenty of time to sit and rest as well as for exploring. All guests will be carrying a pack containing personal items (clothes, toiletries and sleeping bag). Backpack should not weigh more than 20 lbs. as long as only the suggested gear is packed. The minimum age to participate on this trip is 12 years.

Tasmania's weather has four distinct seasons. Spring spans September, October and November, and brings oceans of wildflowers. Average daily temperatures are 45 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest months are December, January, February and March. The average summer temperatures are usually between 60 - 75 degrees F. Tasmania's location below the 40th parallel means the summer evenings display a lingering twilight.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

Tasmania weather has four distinct seasons. Spring spans September, October and November, and brings oceans of wildflowers. Average daily temperatures are 45 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest months are December, January, February and March. The average summer temperatures are usually between 60 - 75 degrees F. Tasmania's location below the 40th parallel means the summer evenings display a lingering twilight.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, medications, and a change of clothing (including hiking boots) in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Lace-up walking boots must have ankle support and treaded soles. We cannot over-emphasize the importance of appropriate footwear. Unfortunately you will be unable to commence the trek without the appropriate footwear.
• Hiking in denim jeans is not recommended.
• Cotton is wonderful in hot weather or in the evenings. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool, or polyester fabrics such as Capilene® or MTS®, which will insulate even if they get wet.
• Stuff sacks are great for sorting gear. Use different sizes/colors to differentiate contents.
• If you wear prescription glasses, use a safety cord and bring an extra pair if possible. Contact lens wearers should also bring an extra set, or bring eyeglasses for a backup.