Cradle Mountain Huts Overland Track 7D6N, Fully Guided

The starting and finishing point is Launceston. Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Launceston.

Day 1: Approximately 12 km, 7 hours
Day 2: Approximately 12 km, 6 hours
Day 3: Approximately 10 km, 5 hours
Day 4: Approximately 7 km, 4 hours, Optional summit trips
Day 5: Approximately 9 km, 5 hours
Day 6: Approximately 9 km, 5 hours

The weather in this alpine region is changeable and unpredictable, but if you are well prepared you will enjoy the many moods of the mountains and rainforests. The area has an average maximum temperature of 18 °C in Summer and 6 °C in Winter. It is important to note that temperatures can go into the minus degrees Celsius during winter – especially over night.

How often do trips depart?
The 6 day trips depart daily from 1 October through to 1 May each season, and our 4 day trips depart on selected dates during the same period.

Meeting Point
Meet at the walker’s base at Entally Lodge at 6.40am for a briefing on the departure date. This allows time for introductions and a gear check before departing for the Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park. For those staying in Launceston CBD, there is a complimentary shuttle service from The Sebel Launceston (12/14 St John Street, Launceston). You will need to be ready in front of reception at 6.20am for a 6.25am departure. For those staying at Quamby Homestead a shuttle will pick you up in front of reception at 6.30am for the 10 minute transfer to Entally Lodge.

Drop-off
The walk will conclude at Entally Lodge at 6.00pm with airport drop offs at 6.15pm and Launceston drop offs at 6.30pm.

Accommodation
Our groups have exclusive use of the only private hut accommodation along the Overland Track. Each hut has been discreetly located off the main trail and offers hot showers, a drying room and a dining and lounge area. The huts have 5 twin rooms with comfortable beds.

Food
The guides prepare scrumptious three course meals each night. We are quite happy to cater for special dietary requirements. We just need to know in advance.

Sample menu:
On arrival at hut: Antipasto platter, including Ashgrove cloth-matured cheddar, Lactos brie, Tasmanian pickled onions, pesto dip, dried apricots and cashews.
Entree: Hearty minestrone soup
Main course: Forest mushroom and pea risotto with parmesan
Dessert: Freshly baked cherry pie with cream

How many guests?
Each trip requires a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 guests. All accommodation is twin share. If you book on as a single walker and the trip fills to capacity, you may share a room with another walker of any gender.

How much weight, and what do we carry?
On the morning of your departure, the guides will carry out a thorough gear check to ensure you have suitable gear and help you reduce pack weight. If you adhere to our gear list (see below), your pack will likely weigh between 8.5 and 9.5 kg. With special attention to reducing pack weight, your pack and its contents can weigh as little as 7.5 kg. The pack and Gore-tex jacket that we provide have a combined weight of 2.5 kg, leaving 5- 7 kg for your personal items.

Each person must carry their lunch, wet weather gear, spare clothes for the hut, thermals, and warm clothing, plus any extras, such as a camera. For details, please refer to the gear list we will provide to you after booking.

How fit do I need to be?
As long as you exercise regularly, are capable of walking an average of 10 km for four consecutive days, and are comfortable with varied terrain, you’ll be fine! There are obviously steep sections, however this is part of the whole experience. Each day, there is plenty of time to sit and rest as well as explore, so you won’t feel rushed.

How many guides?
Our guides are passionate outdoor enthusiasts, educated interpreters and fantastic cooks all rolled into one. Two knowledgeable guides accompany each trip. This allows plenty of time for interpretation at interesting points along the track, photo opportunities, rest breaks and walking at your own pace.

What footwear do I need for the walk?
Lace-up hiking boots that cover the ankle and have sturdy, treaded soles (full-grain leather or Gore-tex with Vibram soles) are recommended.

It is very important for you to have appropriate footwear. Lower-profile hiking shoes, walking shoes, running shoes, approach shoes, sand shoes, elasticised boots and similar are not acceptable for the walk. Boots must be worn in to minimise the risk of blisters. The Overland Track is quite unique in the nature of its terrain. You will be unable to commence the walk without the appropriate footwear.

Do we need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend travel insurance. Consideration needs to be given to our cancellation policy, injury, evacuation, delayed flights, illness, etc. Please see our website for details and contact us if you have any questions.

What accommodation options do we have pre and post walk?
Quamby Homestead (4 star) is located 25 minutes west of Launceston, and it is a great pre- and post-walk option. The homestead is located on the same estate as our walkers' base (only 100m away), so it is very convenient. Quamby has beautifully appointed rooms in one of Tasmania’s premier historic homes. The homestead offers continental and hot breakfast options, as well as an airport shuttle service.

The Sebel Launceston (4.5 star) is an elegant, European-inspired boutique hotel located within walking distance of Launceston's CBD and colourful Seaport. Integrating boutique elegance with style and convenience, the all-suite accommodation comprises 49 beautifully detailed, fully self-contained, spacious 1 and 2 bedroom suites, all with separate bedrooms and bathrooms, many featuring a spa bath or laundry. The hotel also features a convenient fitness centre and is located in the centre of town, close to all of Launceston's Major attractions.

“The scene is an appetiser for the landscape degustation that will unfold before us over the next six days, complete with well-matched local wines!” Susanne Kennedy, Luxury Travel

Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.

Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.

A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 5 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.

Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.

General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance

Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.

Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.

Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.

Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.

Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.

Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.

Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 6 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.

Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.

Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.

For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.

Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.