Trekking the legendary Overland Track, Tasmania | Matt Horspool
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Why does everyone say you should trek the Overland Track?
With pristine and remote landscapes, iconic trails, protected national parks, there are spectacular walking tracks to discover. There is no denying one of the most popular and iconic walking tracks is the Overland Track in Cradle Mountain National Park. With each step you will be surrounded by breathtaking views, from the stunning crags of Cradle Mountain to the rainforest-clad shores of Lake St. Clair.
Here’s 10 reasons why you should trek the Overland Track!
1. The Challenge
There’s no denying that 6 days on the Overland Track can be a hard slog. With opportunities to summit some of Tasmania’s highest mountains, including Mount Ossa, the track is a test of your physical stamina as much as it is of your mental. However, while your muscles may be tired after day two, you’ll surely forget all about those aches as you journey through the glacially carved landscape filled with waterfalls, dolerite mountains, lakes, tarns and a diverse ecosystem.
It’s not an easy trek, as trekkers carry a full pack weighing between 15–18kgs, and the weather system can change dramatically from sunny, clear days to strong winds, rain and even snow! But part of the fun on the Overland Track is the physical and mental challenge - and the sense of accomplishment that comes after it!
2. The Scenery
The Overland Track is one of the top treks in Australia, let alone Tasmania, and it’s no wonder with 65km of stunning ever-changing scenery. The Overland Track is packed full of such beautiful and varied colours and textures. Journey past golden buttongrass plains and alpine moorlands, through towering rainforests, and along serene lakes, with side trips to raging waterfalls, craggy summits and majestic lookouts.
What’s more, the track completely transforms from summer to winter, where the once gold and green colours of the warmer months turn into a dazzling white winter wonderland. With mountains around you at every turn, their beauty and rugged character give the landscape a unique and breathtaking look.
3. Feeling of Accomplishment
One of the main takeaways from a trek along the Overland Track is the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. As the old saying goes, nothing good comes easy. The Overland Track is a challenging trip, so the feeling you get when you have completed the six day trip is second to none.
From challenging yourself physically carrying your own full pack, climbing peaks, walking for hours on end, to the mental challenge of keeping on walking even if you feel like giving up; you’re proving to yourself that it really is mind over matter, and that with perseverance, persistence and drive, you can do anything! Not a bad by-product from a 6 day trek, right?
4. Helps You Feel Alive
Spending so much time exploring a landscape on your own two feet can give you a deeper understanding of yourself and appreciation for mother nature. You learn to live in the moment, gain a deeper appreciation for the land, nature and the planet, and realise things about yourself that you never realised; how capable you are and all the places you will see.
The invigorating effects of trekking are one of the reasons people get addicted to trekking – it makes you feel alive!
5. Turn Off and Tune In
For the ultimate detox from your everyday world, escape to the Overland Track. There’s limited mobile coverage, which means a forced disconnect from the frantic digital world – and an ability to connect with the real world...
6. Overall Improved Fitness
Spending multiple hours on the trail and ascending hills gives your whole body a workout, improving your strength, agility and cardio fitness...
8. You Meet Great People
One of our favourite things about trekking the Overland Track is seeing how many new friendships are forged within our groups...
9. It’s Always Different
An experience on the Overland Track can be different from one day to the next...
10. You Reconnect with Nature
There’s a reason why there’s a smile on everyone’s face after they’ve come back from a trek: because they’re happier for it!