Due to the way the huts and campgrounds are spaced, most people take 6 or 7 days to complete the Overland Track, including side trips. When I was planning my trip I worked out tons of Overland Track itinerary options.
But then I sprained my ankle a few weeks before my trip, so I defaulted to the most common 6-Day Overland Track itinerary with only a few side trips. (Originally I was planning something much more ambitious!)
Rather than letting those other itineraries go to waste, I’m sharing them with you. There are slower trips for beginner walkers, faster trips for strong hikers and longer trips for peak baggers or those who want to explore less-trodden side tracks.
I’ve set out a few sample Overland Track itineraries below so you can pick the one that works best for you. Some of these itineraries also include side trips, but keep in mind that side trips to mountain peaks are weather dependent. If it’s pouring rain, snowy, icy or super windy up there, you won’t be able to get to the top. (Nor would you want to!)
This post includes:
- Choosing your Overland Track itinerary: what to keep in mind
- Standard 6-day or 7-day Overland Track itinerary: most walkers use this schedule
- 5-day Overland Track itinerary: for fast walkers
- 4-day Overland Track itinerary: for fast walkers who don’t mind skipping side trips
- Beginner-friendly Overland Track itineraries: 7-day and 9-day options
- Peak-bagger itinerary: 7-day itinerary for walkers who prioritize climbing mountains
- Pine Valley-Overland Track combo itinerary: 7-day trip that also visits Pine Valley
- Maximalist itineraries: 10, 11, and 12-day itineraries for those who want to do it all
Want more info about the Overland Track? Check out my Ultimate Guide to the Overland Track. It has a great overview of everything you need to know including how to book, what the weather is like, when to go, and how to stay safe.
Choosing Your Overland Track Itinerary
When you are planning your Overland Track trip there are a few factors to consider when choosing how many days to take.
First, consider your fitness. How many hours a day can you comfortably walk? How do you do on climbs? Read my section-by-section overview of the Overland Track to get an idea of what to expect along the way.
Be sure to consider which side trips to take. You can climb Tasmania’s highest peak, swim in a lake, visit a waterfall and more. Then read my guide to Overland Track huts and campgrounds to decide which ones look nicest.
Next figure out your priorities. Do you want to spend lots of time climbing peaks? Do you want to a rest day where you stay at the same camp for two nights? Is completing the trail in fast-and-light style more your thing? Just because the standard itinerary is 6-days doesn’t mean you need to stick to it.
Lastly, plan for the weather. Tasmania’s weather is notoriously fickle, even in the middle of summer. Keep in mind that any itinerary you choose needs to account for poor weather.
On a tight itinerary you will have to keep walking through rain and snow. But if you opt for a longer itinerary, you can wait out the storm in a hut (and forgo some of your side trips.)
READ NEXT: Overland Track Section-by-Section Overview
Standard 6-Day or 7-Day Overland Track Itinerary
This is the Overland Track itinerary I followed, and I’d say most of the people I met along the track were on the same schedule. The majority of hikers exit the trail at Narcissus on the ferry rather than walking around Lake St Clair.
Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley: 4-6 hours. Optional side trip to Cradle Mountain or Barn Bluff.
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere. 2.5-3.5 hours. Optional side trip to Barn Bluff or Lake Will.
Day 3: Windermere to Pelion: 5-7 hours. Optional side trip to Old Pelion Hut.
Day 4: Pelion to Kia Ora: 3-4 hours. Optional side trip to Mount Oakleigh, Mount Ossa or Mount Pelion East.
Day 5: Kia Ora to Windy Ridge: 3.5-4.5 hours. Optional side trip to D’Alton Falls, Fergusson Falls or Hartnett Falls.
Day 6: Windy Ridge to Narciuss Ferry Jetty: 3-4 hours.
Optional Day 7: Narcissus to Cynthia Bay: 5-6 hours. You could also walk from Windy Ridge to Echo Point (5-6 hours) on Day 6, then from Echo Point to Cynthia Bay (3-4 hours) on Day 7.
Fast 5-Day Overland Track Itinerary
If you don’t have much time, you can definitely complete the Overland Track faster than the standard itineraries. You may still even have time for some side trips. If you choose this itinerary, keep in mind that you will need to book the last ferry of the day on day 5.
Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley: 4-6 hours. Optional side trip to Cradle Mountain or Barn Bluff.
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere. 2.5-3.5 hours. Optional side trip to Barn Bluff or Lake Will.
Day 3: Windermere to Pelion: 5-7 hours. Optional side trip to Old Pelion Hut.
Day 4: Pelion to Kia Ora: 3-4 hours. Optional side trip to Mount Oakleigh, Mount Ossa or Mount Pelion East.
Day 5: Kia Ora to Narcissus: 6.5-8.5 hours. Optional side trip to Hartnett Falls.
Super-Fast 4-Day Overland Track Itinerary
If you want to go even faster, you can complete the Overland Track in 4 days. You may not have time for many side trips and you’ll be spending most of each day on the track. Remember to book the last ferry of the day on day 4.
Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley: 4-6 hours. Optional side trip to Cradle Mountain or Barn Bluff.
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Frog Flats. 5.5-7.5 hours. Optional side trip to Lake Will.
Day 3: Frog Flats to Kia Ora: 5-7 hours. Optional side trip to Old Pelion Hut.
Day 4: Kia Ora to Narcissus: 6.5-8.5 hours. Optional side trip to Hartnett Falls.
Beginner-Friendly 7-Day and 9-Day Overland Track Itineraries
These beginner-friendly itineraries prioritize short days on your feet. They also include only the easiest side trips. However, more days on the track means a heavier food bag, so it’s a trade-off.
Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley: 4-6 hours.
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere. 2.5-3.5 hours. Optional side trip to Lake Will.
Day 3: Windermere to Frog Flats 3-4 hours.
Day 4: Frog Flats to Pelion: 2-3 hours. Optional side trip to Old Pelion Hut.
Day 5: Pelion to Kia Ora: 3-4 hours.
Day 6: Kia Ora to Windy Ridge: 3.5-4.5 hours. Optional side trip to Hartnett Falls.
Day 7: Windy Ridge to Narciuss Ferry Jetty: 3-4 hours.
Optional Day 8: Narcissus to Echo Point: 2 hours.
Optional Day 9: Echo Point to Cynthia Bay: 3-4 hours.
Peak Baggers 7-day and 8-Day Itineraries
You can access many of Tasmania’s highest mountains from the Overland Track, including the tallest, Mount Ossa. Some people make a sport of trying to climb all of Tasmania’s peaks over 1100m tall, called Abels. This itinerary is designed to climb as many Abels as possible along the track (weather depending of course).
Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley: 4-6 hours. Side trip to Cradle Mountain.
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere. 2.5-3.5 hours. Side trip to Barn Bluff.
Day 3: Windermere to Pelion: 5-7 hours. Optional side trip to Old Pelion Hut.
Day 4: Stay at Pelion. Side trip to Mount Oakleigh.
Day 5: Pelion to Kia Ora: 3-4 hours. Side trip to Mount Ossa and/or Mount Pelion East.
Day 6: Kia Ora to Windy Ridge: 3.5-4.5 hours. Optional side trip to D’Alton Falls, Fergusson Falls or Hartnett Falls.
Day 7: Windy Ridge to Narciuss Ferry Jetty: 3-4 hours.
Optional Day 8: Narcissus to Cynthia Bay: 5-6 hours.
7-Day Pine Valley and Overland Track Combo Itinerary
Most Overland Track hikers do not walk the side track into Pine Valley, so it’s much quieter. There are several gorgeous day walks in the valley so it makes sense to spend at least one night at the hut there. (On my trip, the Pine Valley Track was closed due to a nearby wildfire, so I haven’t actually been there yet. But rest assured, the fire didn’t come close enough to do any damage.)
Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley: 4-6 hours. Optional side trip to Cradle Mountain or Barn Bluff.
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere. 2.5-3.5 hours. Optional side trip to Barn Bluff or Lake Will.
Day 3: Windermere to Pelion: 5-7 hours. Optional side trip to Old Pelion Hut.
Day 4: Pelion to Kia Ora: 3-4 hours. Optional side trip to Mount Oakleigh, Mount Ossa or Mount Pelion East.
Day 5: Kia Ora to Pine Valley: 6.5-8 hours. Optional side trip to D’Alton Falls, Fergusson Falls or Hartnett Falls.
Day 6: Stay at Pine Valley. Side trip to the Acropolis. Optional additional side trip to the Labyrinth.
Day 7: Pine Valley to Narcissus: 3-4.5 hours.
10-Day, 11-Day and 12-Day Itineraries for the Full Experience
This itinerary includes every single side trip along the Overland Track, including a few days in Pine Valley. You’ll have heavy packs on this trip since you’ll be packing so many days of food. Keep in mind that on a trip this length you are bound to run into bad weather which may preclude some of the side trips.
Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley: 4-6 hours. Side trip to Cradle Mountain.
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere. 2.5-3.5 hours. Side trips to Barn Bluff and Lake Will.
Day 3: Windermere to Pelion: 5-7 hours.
Day 4: Stay at Pelion. Side trips to Mount Oakleigh and Old Pelion Hut.
Day 5: Stay at Pelion. Side trip to Mount Ossa.
Day 6: Pelion to Kia Ora: 3-4 hours. Side trip to Mount Pelion East.
Day 7: Kia Ora to Windy Ridge: 3.5-4.5 hours. Side trips to D’Alton Falls, Fergusson Falls or Hartnett Falls.
Day 8: Windy Ridge to Pine Valley: 3 hours. Side trip to the Acropolis.
Day 9: Stay at Pine Valley. Side trip to the Labyrinth and Lake Elysia
Day 10: Pine Valley to Narcissus: 3 hours.
Optional Day 11: Narcissus to Echo Point: 2 hours OR Narcissus to Cynthia Bay 5-6 hours.
Optional Day 12: Echo Point to Cynthia Bay: 3-4 hours.
So now you should have all the info you need to choose your Overland Track itinerary. Don’t forget to book ferries and shuttle buses that line up with your itinerary!
For your first time, I recommend the standard 6-Day Overland Track Itinerary, but if the weather looks good I’d add on Pine Valley too. Have questions about planning your itinerary? Leave them in the comments!
MORE OVERLAND TRACK POSTS:
- The Ultimate Guide to the Overland Track in Tasmania
- Overland Track Section-by-Section Overview
- The Complete Guide to Overland Track Huts and Camping
- Your Guide to All the Overland Track Side Trips
- Overland Track Transport: How to Get There
- Overland Track Packing List: Everything You Need to Bring
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Nathalie
Wednesday 9th of December 2020
Hi Taryn, did you to the track on your own? I really want to do it on my own, but always feel a bit scared of hiking on my own. Any advice?
Taryn Eyton
Wednesday 9th of December 2020
Hi Nathalie, I hiked with my husband but I think the OT would be a great track to do solo since it's so social. Since you move from hut to hut each day, you see the same group of people over and over and end up socializing with them every morning and evening so it wouldn't be lonely.
Sophie
Tuesday 3rd of December 2019
Just did the track last week, it was amazing! Thanks for all the answers and information from you blogs!
Taryn Eyton
Wednesday 4th of December 2019
So glad you had a great trip!