Six Days on Cradle Mountain

Tasmania's Cradle Mountain trek offers lakes, rocky peaks, mystical forests and the odd Tasmanian Devil sniffing the track. Be prepared for rain, sleet and sun, but most importantly a gratifying and healthy week to disconnect from it all!

Photo credit: Chad O'Hare

There will be rain. There is a heavy pack to carry—between fifteen and twenty kilograms. You will be in remote regions with the only escape by foot or emergency helicopter. So you must prepare for this trek both mentally and physically. Multi-day expeditions require a different mindset compared to day hikes or hut-to-hut trekking. Soggy socks cannot be thrown in the dryer, nor is there a refreshing shower to ease aching muscles at the end of the day. It was during this walk when the virtues of wool shone true for me. Although I could wring a lovely cocktail of sweaty rain droplets from their fibres, these saturated tubes miraculously kept my feet toasty warm day after day.

I was undeterred by the challenge; rather, it only spurred my enthusiasm. After all, the setting was one of the last temperate rainforests that remain on our planet. UNESCO has recognized this Tasmanian wilderness, where humans have resided for over twenty thousand years, as a region subjected to “severe glaciation.” Cradle Mountain, our hiking venue, lies in the northern niche of this World Heritage Site.

Excerpt from DUST IN MY PACK

To get a better sense of what the trail is really like, how to plan for your own trip and more captivating destinations across seven continents, grab a copy of Dust in My Pack at most online bookstores.

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Photo credit: Chad O'Hare