Overland Track

During the booking season (October to May), a permit is mandatory and Parks Tasmania enforces a daily cap of 34 walkers starting from Ronny Creek. That limit fills fast: popular dates, especially in February and March, can book out within hours of release. The booking system opens around July each year for the following season.

Outside the booking season the track is not closed (you can walk it year-round), but permits are not required and the quota does not apply.

Here's the thing though: the track is rarely actually full. People's plans change. Work happens. Groups lose a member. Someone's knee gives out. Cancellations trickle in constantly. They just disappear in minutes when they do.

If the track looks booked out, it's worth watching. That's what Spotbagger does: we check the Parks Tasmania booking page every few minutes and alert you the moment a cancellation appears, so you can grab it before anyone else sees it.

October and November are shoulder months: cooler, wetter, occasionally snowy at altitude, and notably quieter on the track. Worth considering if you don't mind the extra gear weight.

December through February is peak season. Longer daylight hours, better weather odds (though "better" is relative in Tasmania), and the highest chance of fully booked dates. February tends to be the warmest and driest.

March and April are underrated. Fewer walkers, stunning autumn colour in the deciduous beech, still reasonable temperatures. April shoulder prices may apply on accommodation either side of the track.

May is the last month of the booking season. Expect serious cold, shortened days, and the first heavy snowfalls at altitude.

June through September, the track is open but unmanaged and the huts are unstaffed. Snow and ice are common on the alpine sections, extended rain events can last days, and river crossings can become dangerous. This is genuine winter wilderness walking. Only experienced, well-equipped parties should attempt it.

Expect four seasons in a single day regardless of when you go; this is Tasmania. A hard-shell rain jacket is not optional.

Six main huts are spaced roughly one day's walk apart: Waterfall Valley, Windermere, New Pelion, Old Pelion (day trip from New Pelion), Kia Ora, Bert Nichols, and Echo Point. Each has bunk beds, gas cookers, drop toilets, and emergency communication. No showers.

Tent platforms sit next to most huts for those who prefer to sleep under canvas. Hut bed allocations are part of your permit: you can't turn up and claim a spare bunk.

The track is well-marked and self-navigating for most walkers, but conditions can turn fast at altitude. The short gear list:

• Rain jacket: hard-shell, not a softshell. Breathable but waterproof.
• Warm layers: fleece or down mid-layer, even in summer
• Waterproof boots: actually waterproof, not just water-resistant
• Sleeping bag: rated to at least 5°C; colder in shoulder months
• Gaiters: near-essential during wet sections
• Navigation: the route is obvious, but carry a map and compass for the side trips

Parks Tasmania publish a detailed gear list; read it before you finalise your pack.

The track is point-to-point, so you'll need to sort both ends. Start at Ronny Creek near Cradle Mountain; finish at Cynthia Bay on Lake St Clair. From the track's end at Narcissus Bay you can catch a ferry across to Cynthia Bay, saving a few flat hours of lakeside walking. Book the ferry ahead in peak season.

Shuttle buses connect both trailheads to Launceston, Hobart, and Devonport. Overland Track Transport and Overland Track Shuttle are the main operators; book well in advance, especially in peak season.

When do Overland Track bookings open?

The booking system opens around July each year for the following season (October to May). Popular dates, especially in February and March, can book out within hours of release.

The Overland Track is booked out. Can I still get a permit?

Often, yes. Cancellations come back constantly as plans change; they just disappear in minutes when they do. Set up a watch and we'll alert you the moment a place frees up on your start date.

Do I need a permit in winter?

No. Outside the booking season (June to September) permits aren't required and the quota doesn't apply, but the huts are unstaffed and conditions are genuine winter wilderness. Experienced, well-equipped parties only.

Can I walk south to north?

Not in the booking season: permits are for a north-to-south walk, starting at Ronny Creek near Cradle Mountain and finishing at Lake St Clair.