Overland Track Day 8: Narcissus Hut to Lake St Clair visitor centre at Cynthia Bay

The last day of Overland Track is an easy and rather flat walk to the St Clair visitor centre, the official end of the Overland Track. The trail goes across the forest along Lake St Clair, passes through the rustic Echo Point Hut before reaching Cynthia Bay and its visitor centre.

The next morning, after leaving our campsite near Narcissus Hut, we followed the shores of the lake, walking through the forest, until we reached Echo Point. Here, there is a small and rustic Echo Point Hut located on the shores of Lake St Clair, Australia’s deepest natural lake.

The ferry normally does not stop here, only upon request. But our arrival to Echo Point coincided with arrival of a small boat. Here, Errol gave up – he could not resist the temptation and got on board, with all our backpacks. The rest of us decided to walk all 82 km of the Overland Track to make it real experience.

From Echo Point, the flat and easy trail goes along the edge of Lake St Clair. Walking through the ancient rainforest, with tall eucalyptus followed by tall ferns, we savoured the last moments on the Overland Track before we reached Cynthia Bay. Unexpectedly, eight days didn’t feel that long anymore. Although we really felt our knees, cold bear and a burger awaiting at the finishing line made us walk faster and faster.

With its spectacular, rugged landscape, the Overland Track was an extraordinary experience. It was physically and mentally challenging but stunningly beautiful and incredibly varied. The days were long, and the terrain was not easy. Carrying our heavy backpacks, we constantly walked up and down, often knee-deep in mud and across gnarly, ankle-twisting tree roots, wearing wet socks and sleep-deprived. We froze in our tents at night and ate more dehydrated food than our health conscious-self could accept. But the Overland Track turned out to be one of our favourite hikes. Even now, looking at the photos, we have a vivid memory of the whole track and incredible Tasmania’s wilderness.

Overland Track: Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley Hut
Day 2: Waterfall Valley Hut to Windermere Hut
Day 3: Windermere Hut to Frog Flats
Day 4: Frog Flats to Kia Ora Hut through New Pelion Hut
Day 5: Kia Ora Hut to Bert Nichols Hut at Windy Ridge
Day 6: Bert Nichols Hut to Pine Valley Hut
Day 7: Pine Valley Hut to Narcissus Hut
Day 8: Narcissus Hut to Lake St Clair visitor centre