Blog home / Overland Track Weather and Climate
While the below table indicates average temperature, rainfall and other weather factors along the
Overland Track, we recommend visiting the
Bureau of Meteorology for up-to-date weather information before your trek.
Temperatures along the Overland Track
The weather in the
Cradle Mountain Lake St Clare National Park can be changeable and unpredictable throughout the year. however, if you are well prepared with your clothing, equipment and supplies, the many moods of the mountains and rainforests can be one of the highlights of a trek along the Overland Track. The area has an average maximum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius in Summer and 7 degrees Celsius in Winter. Evenings can be especially cold during winter and it is not uncommon for temperatures to dip into the minus overnight during the cold winter months. While the rest of Australia basks in warm summer days, Tasmania’s summers are relatively cool– the average maximum temperatures sit at 18°C (though it can be possible for temperatures to reach 30°C as well!). Flowers are in full bloom, adding vivid bursts of colour to the plains, and the long days mean your chances of side trips is much more likely. Evenings are still cool at around 6 degrees Celsius, so while sleeping in an insulated sleeping bag counters the chill, trekkers need to make sure they are adequately prepared for cold nights with insulated sleeping bags, beanies, gloves and thermal underwear. Alternatively, Autumn provides comfortable trekking conditions, as the weather is as stable as the summer months, and the landscape starts to come alive with the spectacular colours of the deciduous beech (also known as fagus), Australia’s only autumn deciduous tree. As autumn progresses there is usually an increase of rain – an average of 138mm of rain per month, with snowfall usually falling in May. Temperatures reach a maximum of 13 °C, with minimums of 3 °C.
Rainfall on the Overland Track
While August is considered the wettest month, the area around the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National park experiences some level of rainfall for most of the year. During the prime trekking months in Summer, the average rainfall sits around 104mms. Weather in the park can be more localised than other areas. Coming out winter, the months of September and October are usually the windiest months of the year, and still fairly wet with up to 198mm rainfall each month.