Exposed plateau between Mt Pelion East and Mt Ossa

Overland Track Day 4: Frog Flats to Kia Ora Hut through New Pelion Hut

Walking from Frog Flats to Kia Ora Hut through New Pelion Hut


On Day 4 of Overland Track, the trail goes steadily uphill through the ancient thick forest with slippery, wet loose rocks and tree roots before reaching the spacious New Pelion Hut and its panoramic veranda, a perfect place for lunch. From there, the track ascends to Pelion Gap before descending to Kia Ora Hut.


Judging by the tent, the night have seen a little drizzle but it stopped by the time we woke up. We didn’t hear the rain but we heard a possum rummaging and noisily sniffing around our tent for food at night.

After checking for squirming leeches lunching on our bodies, and luckily finding none, we dragged ourselves from our warm sleeping bags. This morning was our earliest start so far. Hoping that it will set a new pattern, we packed our tent, had a quick breakfast and headed off.

At the beginning of our walk from Frog Flats to Kia Ora Hut through New Pelion Hut

Walking through forests on the way to Kia Ora Hut

Forests on the way from Frog Flats to Kia Ora Hut

Walking from Frog Flats to Kia Ora Hut

The walk from Frog Flats was going up through rainforest followed by large eucalypt trees before ending at New Pelion Hut set among the grasslands of the Pelion Plains. There are no signs of human life here – no roads, no houses. Only the boardwalks snaking through the rugged and remote landscape.

On the way, we visited the historic Old Pelion Hut. Constructed in 1916 to accommodate copper miners, it’s one of the oldest huts in the park. Today, it can be used for emergency only. There is a swimming hole nearby, perfect for cleaning up.

Our encounter with echidna near New Pelion Hut

Overland Track flora

This section of the track follows the 1898 horse trail built to transport miners from towns to mines. In places, the track became all mud, often resembling a slow-flowing creek. We tried, unsuccessfully, to keep our boots dry and clean from mud …

Soon, we arrived to New Pelion Hut, spacious and modern.

Modern New Pelion Hut

But the best is its large veranda with views over picturesque button grass plains and dolerite spires of Mt Oakleigh. New Pelion Hut is one of the places along the Overland Track, where we would love to spend a day or two.

New Pelion Hut large veranda with views over picturesque button grass plains and dolerite spires of Mt Oakleigh

The bushwalkers, as usually, have already gone, the sun was gently warming us up and the views were fantastic. So, we found a pretext to stay longer – we decided to cook us a proper lunch today. The veranda was such a perfect place to sit with a cup of coffee that we ended up staying much longer than we should probably have.

New Pelion Hut large veranda with views over picturesque button grass plains and dolerite spires of Mt Oakleigh

Reluctantly leaving the hut, we started walking up through the rainforest towards Pelion Gap, an exposed plateau between Mt Pelion East and Mt Ossa.

We continued hiking through the Pinestone Valley towards Kia Ora Hut located in eucalypt forest beside Kia Ora Creek. This is where we were greeted with even more mud, the notorious mud of the Overland Track. The narrow boardwalk ended at one point. Misjudging the extent of mud, Olga resolutely stepped in and almost her entire leg sunk deep into a swamp.

Walking from New Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut

Going through thick forests on Day 4 of Overland Track

Moss-covered forest on the way to Kia Ora Hut

Moss-covered forest on the way to Kia Ora Hut

Having a rest in a forest on the way to Kia Ora Hut

Bright green moss of Overland Track in Tasmania

Having a rest in a forest on the way to Kia Ora Hut

We come across many forests during our hiking the Overland Track in Tasmania

Moss-covered forest on the way to Kia Ora Hut

Landscape of Day 4 of our Overland Track in Tasmania

Exposed plateau between Mt Pelion East and Mt Ossa

Exposed plateau between Mt Pelion East and Mt Ossa

Tasmanian flora

Getting closer to Kia Ora Hut

“Kia Ora” is a New Zealand Maori word for welcome, and Kia Ora Hut was a true welcome from the long day of hiking through mud.

Kia Ora Hut

Water tanks at Kia Ora Hut

Water tanks at Kia Ora Hut

Cooking our dinner with freezing hands, we became tempted to get converted to the raw cuisine.

The night soon started to fall. Pitching the tent, we came to the realisation of the extent of the track’s wilderness and its unique landscape…

Cooking our dehydrated food at Kia Ora Hut

Our campsite at Kia Ora Hut

Our dinner at Kia Ora Hut

 

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


Practical Information

Distance from Frog Flats to Kia Ora Hut: 11.8 km, walking time: 3-4 hrs
Distance from New Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut: 8 km, walking time: 2-3 hrs

Side trips from Kia Ora Hut:

• Mt Ossa (1’617m): 13km return, 4-5 hrs. Climb to Mt Ossa seems to be the highlight of almost all bushwalkers. But rough and rocky climb to Tasmania’s highest mountain is difficult, with steep and very exposed sections.
• Mt Pelion East (1’433m): 10.6 km return, 3-4 hrs. Easier climb compared to Mt Ossa ascent but still challenging, with a steep final section to a rocky summit.

For more information, please refer to Overland Track Practical Information.

LOVED IT? PLEASE SHARE

Written by
Errol & Olga

Written by ANYWAYINAWAY

Olga and Errol are the Swiss-Russian couple behind ANYWAYINAWAY. Passionate about unique culture and traditions, they decided to take career breaks and explore the world with the intention to expand awareness and provide new perspectives to the understanding of ethnic minority people, customs, traditions and culture. They also show the beauty of our planet and try to find something interesting in the ordinary.

Related Posts
More Stories

Travel to the afterlife, or Hmong funerals in Vietnam

Heaven and Hell: Black House in Chiang Rai

Overland Track, A Journey Into Tasmania’s Wilderness

Walk on the wild side. Maria Island in Tasmania

Can Cau Market, or where to sell your buffalo

Hiking in Switzerland to the Orny Hut

Mekong crossing on slowboat: from Thailand to Laos

Overland Track Day 6: Bert Nichols Hut to Pine Valley Hut

Overland Track Day 2: Waterfall Valley Hut to Windermere Hut

Bushwalking in PNG: Bisianamu Rubber Plantation

Popiah skin maker at Chowrasta market in Penang

Co-working spaces and cafes for digital nomads in Chiang Mai

Papua New Guinea Festivals: Enga Show

Bushwalking in PNG: Hombrum Bluff Lookout

Ten kilos of roses please: Pak Khlong Talat Flower market in Bangkok

Bay of Fires in Tasmania

Bushwalking in PNG: Varirata National Park

Overland Track Day 7: Pine Valley Hut to Narcissus Hut

Hiking in Switzerland to the Arpitettaz Hut

Bushwalking in PNG: Koitaki Country Club

Hiking in Switzerland to the Aiguilles Rouges hut

Black and White: White Temple In Chiang Rai

Freycinet Peninsula Circuit: Hiking in Freycinet National Park

Hiking to the Chanrion Hut in Switzerland

Chingay ritual, a special ending of the Chinese New Year

Bushwalking in PNG: Taurama Barracks to Sero Beach and Pyramid Point

Papua New Guinea Culture & Traditions: Baining Fire Dance

Hiking in Switzerland to the Schönbiel Hut in Zermatt

Keeper of the art of Rattan Weaving in Penang

Overland Track Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley Hut

Papua New Guinea: Bougainville Reeds Festival

Overland Track Day 5: Kia Ora Hut to Bert Nichols Hut at Windy Ridge

Bicheno blowhole in Tasmania

West Side Story. West Coast of Tasmania

Oysters, cheese and pinguins. Bruny Island in Tasmania

The last hand-made Joss Stick Maker in Penang

Behind the satin curtains of a Chinese opera

Hiking in Switzerland in Grindelwald – Bernese Oberland

Enga Traditional Salt Making

Traditional Signboard Engraver in Penang

Hiking in Switzerland to the Sassal Mason Hut in Graubünden

Hiking in Switzerland to the Aletsch Glacier

Hiking in Switzerland to the Louvie hut

Bushwalking in PNG: Mt Diamond waterfall

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

Water buffalo or “iron buffalo”? Sanpatong market in Chiang Mai

Papua New Guinea Sepik River Crocodile Festival

Chinese New Year celebration in Chiang Mai

Papua New Guinea: National Mask Festival in East New Britain

Marcel Brunet Hut in Switzerland: a Hut Unlike the Others

Bushwalking in PNG: Taurama Barracks to Malaoro market

Bushwalking in PNG: Burns Peak

Laos without elephants ?

Beginining of our project

Hiking in Switzerland in Ticino to the Basodino hut

Dumpling syndrome, or Baba Nyonya food culture

Overland Track Day 4: Frog Flats to Kia Ora Hut through New Pelion Hut

Traditional Coffee Roaster in Penang

Tofu making in Vietnam

Hiking in Switzerland to the Mont-Fort Hut

Bushwalking in PNG: surroundings of March Girls resort

Papua New Guinea: Gulf Mask Festival

The last Songkok maker in Penang

Hand-Made Nyonya Beaded Shoemaker in Penang

Hiking in Switzerland to the Dix hut

Living an Illusion: Art in Paradise gallery in Chiang Mai

Overland Track Day 3: Windermere Hut to Frog Flats towards New Pelion Hut

Bushwalking in PNG: Mt Erima lookout

No Comments

Post A Comment


close-link

    close-link

      close-link