Australia: Hike the Overland Track in Tasmania

Sunday, March 24, 2019 – Arrive in Launceston
Land in Launceston, Australia, and grab a taxi to the Entally Lodge on your own – it’s just 20 minutes from the airport. When you check in, just say you’re part of the AdventureWomen group. Settle into your room this afternoon.

This afternoon you’ll meet your AdventureWomen Ambassador and your group for introductions and any last-minute gear organization questions.

Walk about 25 minutes to your welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant. Toast the start of a wonderful hiking adventure. Walk or take a taxi back to the lodge after dinner.
Dinner

Overnight: Entally Lodge

Monday, March 25, 2019 – Launceston to the Overland Track
You’ll be picked up early this morning for your meeting prior to starting your hike.

Drive to Waldheim in Cradle Valley, and set off on the track by late morning. By lunch time, you’ll have walked through your first section of ancient temperate rainforest, and you’ll have witnessed the dramatic, glacially-carved Crater Lake. The steepest section of the whole Overland Track is now behind you. This steep section is mostly stairs and will take about an hour, but you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views (weather permitting of course!).

Enjoy a picnic lunch by the peaceful Plateau Creek.

This afternoon, continue hiking for about four more hours around the base of Cradle Mountain. Drop into Waterfall Valley and cross it before arriving
at your hut at the base of the towering Barn Bluff. Several hours of today’s walk is over exposed alpine plateau, which allows great views on a clear day, but in rough weather, the wind can howl, which makes for exciting and sometimes challenging walking conditions. Some of the track is uneven underfoot, but you’ll take your time to walk carefully and make sure to look at the wonderful scenery around you.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Barn Bluff Hut

Hiking Time: 7 Hours

Tuesday, March 26, 2019 – The Overland Track
Today’s hike is over undulating terrain with a few sections of exposed moorland. There are no large hills, and the once notoriously muddy section is now a nice path over the mud. Travel across plains where glaciers once sat, and see the plains of button grass with ancient Pencil Pines sitting with their roots in the water. The peaks of Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff sit behind you, and the stately Mount Pelion West lies directly ahead. Enjoy several lookout points and finish your hike through an enchanting rainforest.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Pine Forest Moor Hut

Hiking Time: 6 Hours

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 – The Overland Track
Begin the morning with a long, slow descent around the base of Mount Pelion West. Head down to the Forth River before it plunges into the Lemonthyme Valley. After a break at Frog Flats by the Forth River, you’ll have a long, gentle ascent out of the valley and onto the beautiful Pelion Plains. Enjoy outstanding views of Mount Oakleigh as well as side trips in the area to swimming holes, abandoned copper mines, or simply a peaceful spot to rest quietly.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Pelion Hut

Hiking Time: 5 Hours

Thursday, March 28, 2019 – The Overland Track
Begin today with a climb to Pelion Gap where there are phenomenal views both back from the north and forward to the south. You’ll have extra time today for side trips from Pelion Gap, including an optional 5 hour trip to climb Mount Ossa. From Pelion Gap it’s a few hours of gentle downhill to the hut, so this is an option for a relaxing or a challenging day.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Kia Ora Hut

Hiking Time: 3.5 Hours (5 hour optional climb of Mount Ossa)

Friday, March 29, 2019 – The Overland Track
Depart your hut this morning and walk for about an hour to Du Cane, where a hut remains from the long-gone days of animal trapping. From there, you’ll wander through some of the oldest forest in the National Park, with King Billy Pines up to 2,000 years old! You’ll get to visit one (or more) of the three major sets of waterfalls nearby, and likely enjoy lunch by the falls.

This afternoon, make your way over Du Cane Gap, and then descend beside the spectacular Falling Mountain to your hut for the evening.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Windy Ridge Hut

Hiking Time: 4 Hours

Saturday, March 30, 2019 – The Overland Track to Launceston
Walk through cool eutcalypt forest (also known as sclerophyll forest), with bird song all around. Eucalypt forests host the highest diversity of flora and fauna of any area in Tasmania. You’ll arrive at Narcissus at the northern end of Lake St. Clair in time for lunch.

Hop on the Ida Clair cruise boat for the ten mile cruise back to Cynthia Bay. Look around the visitors center and perhaps grab an ice cream before heading back to Launceston.

Check into your hotel and then take a 15 minute walk to a dinner to celebrate the end of your hike! Walk back to your hotel or take a taxi back if you prefer.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: The Sebel Launceston

Hiking Time: 3 Hours

Sunday, March 31, 2019 – Depart Launceston
Make your own way to the airport in Launceston by taxi to connect with your flights home.
Breakfast

Extension Option:

Sunday, March 31, 2019 – Launceston to Port Douglas
Head to the airport in Launceston with the group quite early. Your flight departs at 6:20am (time subject to change). You’ll have a stop along the way and land in Cairns around 11:20am, where you will be met and transferred to Port Douglas.

Meet with a Kuku Yalanji Traditional Custodian on Cooya beach where they continue to practice their cultural activities and maintain their cultural heritage. After explaining the cultural importance of this country, you will learn about traditional fishing, which is done by spear-throwing, and is still practiced here today. Take your spear along Cooya beach and learn about cultural medicine and food plants. Join in as your guide goes about his daily spear fishing and gathering for his family into the mangroves and onto the mudflats.

Before heading back to your lodge, see some Kuku Yalanji artifacts, and hear rare stories from their traditional land while they prepare their daily food for their families.

Settle in at your hotel and relax after a very busy day. Dinner is on your own this evening.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: By The Sea

Monday, April 1, 2019 – Port Douglas
Enjoy a full-day snorkeling tour of the Great Barrier Reef. Explore some of the very best snorkelling sites on the outer Great Barrier Reef with great coral, fish life, and exceptional visibility. This means you will be immersed in the most pristine coral gardens amongst abundant wildlife at these unique locations. During lunch, marine biologists conduct an interactive reef talk. This is where you can ask questions on anything that you’ve seen through
the day or simply relax and learn all about the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef.

Use of a wet-suit and snorkeling gear is included.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: By The Sea

Tuesday, April 2, 2019 – Port Douglas to Sydney
Pack up this morning and head out on a rainforest excursion. This is the ideal tour for nature lovers and adventurers! Travel through untouched ancient areas of the rainforest where we explore hidden gems, both above and below the water’s surface!
Immerse yourself in the tranquil crystal clear river of the rainforest, as the slow current drifts you along unexplored waters. Along the way, you will encounter a diverse range of river marine life. Turtles and stunning fish frequent these waters, so be sure to keep a look out for them as you snorkel and drift along. An expert private river guide will escort you as you follow the gentle current through the stunning rainforest, providing information and insight about this magical setting.

Transfer to Cairns airport and fly to Sydney. You’ll be transferred to your hotel in a great location.

Dinner is on your own tonight – explore one of the many delicious restaurants in Sydney.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Spicers Potts Point

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 – Sydney
Today, you will see the major attractions in the city, but also the real Sydney from a true local’s perspective. Start your day within the city centre.

Explore The Rocks area and some of the first streets developed as part of Sydney’s original urban plan.Hear how the city was designed and what makes it so unique on a global scale.

Drive through the beautiful and highly sought after suburbs of Darlinghurst, Paddington and Woollahra. Discover Bondi Beach and the other famous Eastern Suburb beaches along the sandstone coastline.

Drive past Tamarama and Bronte Beach to get a real feel for Australian surf and swim culture. Walk along beautiful Bronte Beach – a true local’s beach with deep history and amazing viewpoints.

Visit an authentic Aboriginal Art Gallery to view art sources from some of the most remote Aboriginal communities in the country. Head north along the peninsula and stop at Dudley Reserve for uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbor. Visit the infamous Gap to see the sandstone heads of Sydney Harbor.

Next cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge and find yourself in Sydney’s leafy north shore. Travel through the charming suburbs of Mosman, The Spit, Middle Harbour and finally Manly. Enjoy a lunch of fine Australian cuisine in a beautiful seaside setting on Manly Beach. Returning to the city, you have the choice to taking the Ferry, to Circular Quay from Manly (on your own) or being driven back to your accommodation by your guide. You will arrive back at your hotel at approximately 5:00pm.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Spicers Potts Point

Thursday, April 4, 2019 – Sydney
Discover the rugged natural beauty of Australia’s oldest National Park, the Royal National Park. Venture off the well-worn tourist path to truly immerse yourself in Australia’s wilderness in this pristine bushland setting. Visit the majestic Garie Beach where you can choose to swim at the beach or in salt water lagoons, sunbathe, and relax. Take in the breathtaking panorama from Garie North Head.

Venture on a tranquil bushwalk through a temperate rainforest, discover the Australian bush and get up close to Australian wildlife. Audley is an area full of history and you’ll discover some unique birdlife here. Hike along part of the Coast Track – which is one of Australia’s bucket list walk between Bundeena and Otford. The whole walk is 26km but there are many options for shorter day walks. Enjoy incredible coastal lookouts, swimming spots, and seasonal wildflowers.

For lunch, enjoy a quintessentially Australian gourmet picnic lunch, set atop Bald Hill with awe-inspiring views right down the coastline. On the drive back to Sydney, finish the day on Grand Pacific Drive including the incredibly scenic Sea Cliff Bridge – an engineering marvel that swerves out from the cliffs over the ocean.

Enjoy a farewell dinner as a group to toast the end of a spectacular adventure!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Spicers Potts Point

Friday, April 5, 2019 – Depart Sydney
Say goodbye to your new AdventureWomen friends as you head to the airport for your flights home.
Breakfast