Walking the Overland Track in winter is a serious and challenging undertaking. It is suitable only for highly experienced bushwalkers and presents significant risk for those with limited alpine experience.
Registration is free; however, you will need a valid national parks pass. A shuttle bus ticket is also required if you plan to use the shuttle bus service at Cradle Mountain.
In winter, Tasmania’s Overland Track transforms into a stark, breathtaking wilderness of snow-draped peaks and silent forests.
The air is crisp, every step crunching over frost or sinking into powder. Frozen lakes mirror pale skies, while alpine plains stretch in ghostly stillness. Beauty comes with challenge: icy boardwalks, sudden storms, and biting winds test endurance and resolve.
Navigation demands focus as markers vanish beneath snow. Yet in the solitude, there’s a rare magic — each hardship sharpening the senses, each vista earned. Walking here in winter is not just a hike, but a humbling encounter with nature at its most raw and unforgiving.
However, you may prefer to walk the Overland Track in summer, when conditions are usually more favourable (bookings open in July 2026), or choose another walk that is lower risk during the cooler months.
Also here's a helpful video on what to carry on an Overland Track winter walk.