Overland Track section 6

Overland Track section 6 is the roughly 18-km point-to-point stage in Tasmania, Australia, running south from Kia Ora Hut through the Du Cane Range to Narcissus Hut and gaining about 250 m of cumulative elevation over one to two days. Rated moderate, it threads ancient rainforest, three named waterfalls and the highest saddle country of the entire 65-km World Heritage walk.

About the Overland Track section 6

The Overland Track is a 65-km point-to-point walk (82 km if you add the Lake St Clair shore extension) crossing the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair. Walkers are required to travel north to south on a pre-booked start date, and the route divides naturally into six to seven stages. Section 6 is the Du Cane Range leg, leading from Kia Ora Hut down to Narcissus Hut on the northern arm of Lake St Clair.

This stage is the trail's quiet, forested heart. After the open alpine plateaus of the early sections, section 6 drops into dense myrtle-beech rainforest, passes the historic Du Cane Hut, and offers short side trips to three of Tasmania's most photographed waterfalls. The Du Cane Range itself — crowned by The Acropolis and Mount Geryon — forms a serrated dolerite wall to the east. Walkers covered this ground after Bert Nichols first blazed the track in 1931, and the route was consolidated for independent walkers by 1935 and officially named the "Overland Track" in 1937.

Most hikers complete section 6 across one full day or split it over two, overnighting at Bert Nichols (Windy Ridge) Hut. Because it sits deep in the park with no road access, planning your food, weight and shelter for this leg matters as much as for any other. If you are still dialling in daily energy needs, our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day is a useful starting point before you pack.

Route Overview & Stages

The figures below break section 6 into its practical sub-legs. Distances are approximate and reflect the standard north-to-south direction.

Combined, section 6 covers roughly 18 km of main track plus optional waterfall detours, finishing at Narcissus Hut where most walkers either continue along the lake shore or radio ahead for the ferry across Lake St Clair to Cynthia Bay.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Du Cane Hut — A weathered timber hut built around 1910 by trapper Paddy Hartnett, now a protected day-use shelter and one of the oldest surviving structures on the track.
• Hartnett Falls — The largest of the section's waterfalls, dropping in a wide curtain over a dolerite ledge on the Mersey River; a popular lunch and swim spot on warm days.
• D'Alton Falls and Ferguson Falls — Two slender cascades reached via a short signposted spur, framed by ferns and moss in deep rainforest.
• The Acropolis — A 1,471-m dolerite peak on the Du Cane Range, a demanding off-track side climb for fit walkers with clear weather.
• Du Cane Gap — The saddle marking the highest point of the stage, where pandani and snow gums give way to long-range views south toward Lake St Clair.
• Narcissus River crossing — A suspension bridge over the tannin-stained Narcissus River, the gateway to the lake terminus.
• Lake St Clair — Australia's deepest natural freshwater lake (over 160 m), carved by glaciers and forming the southern end of the World Heritage walk.

Best Time to Hike the Overland Track section 6

The booking season runs from 1 October to 31 May, and this window is when the trail is safest for the great majority of walkers. The single best month for section 6 is February: as of 2026 it offers the warmest, most settled weather of the Tasmanian summer, the lowest average rainfall, long daylight for the waterfall detours, and the firmest underfoot conditions on the rainforest mud and tree roots that define this stage.

December and January are also excellent and busy; March brings cooler nights, brilliant fagus (deciduous beech) colour around the higher saddles, and thinner crowds. The Cradle Valley region records around 2,816 mm of rain annually and temperatures swing from about -8.5 °C to 30.5 °C, so even in peak summer you must carry full waterproof and warm layers. Outside the booked season (June to September) snow is common on the plateaus and the Du Cane Gap can hold ice — this is winter-mountaineering territory rather than a standard walk.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Section 6 is served by two of the track's six public huts. Kia Ora Hut sits at the start of the leg and Bert Nichols Hut (also called Windy Ridge) lies roughly midway; Narcissus Hut closes the stage. These huts sleep between 16 and 36 people, are free to use with your booked permit, and operate first-come, first-served — they are not guaranteed, so every walker must carry a tent. Tent platforms sit beside each hut. There are no paid lodges on the route itself; the nearest commercial beds are at Cradle Mountain (around €120–€200 per night) and Lake St Clair (around €100–€180 per night). Du Cane Hut and Old Pelion Hut are heritage day-shelters only and may not be used for sleeping.

Getting There & Back

Section 6 has no road access — you reach it on foot from the northern trailhead at Ronny Creek, Cradle Mountain, after four to five days of walking. The nearest airport is Launceston (LST), about 2.5 hours' drive from Cradle Mountain; Hobart (HBA) is roughly 4.5 hours from the Lake St Clair end. Scheduled shuttle coaches link both cities to the trailheads in the October–May season. At the southern end, the Lake St Clair ferry runs from Narcissus jetty to Cynthia Bay in about 30 minutes (booked by radio at Narcissus Hut), saving the final 17-km lakeside walk.

Permits & Fees

An Overland Track pass is mandatory in the booking season and costs AUD $295 per adult (about €180) as of 2026, on top of a Tasmanian National Parks Pass (around AUD $80, roughly €48, for a holiday pass). The booking system has been compulsory since 2005, numbers are capped daily, and you must start on your reserved date and walk north to south. Book through the official Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service well ahead — summer dates sell out months in advance.

Gear & Packing List

Section 6 demands a fully self-sufficient overnight kit: a tent (huts are not guaranteed), a sleeping bag rated to around -5 °C, a stove, full rain and wind shells, and at least one extra day of food in case the Narcissus ferry or weather delays you. A 50–60 litre pack carries a typical five-to-six-day Overland load comfortably. Reliable choices from our database include the Osprey Atmos AG 50 for ventilated all-round carrying, the Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L for ultralight walkers chasing a low base weight, and the rugged Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 for those who prefer a supportive harness. If you want to shave weight before you fly to Tasmania, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven packs head to head. Waterproof your gear in dry bags — the rainforest on this stage is genuinely wet.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the rainforest, alpine passes and hut-to-hut rhythm of section 6 appeal, you'll find a similar mix of dramatic mountain scenery and self-supported walking on Europe's classic multi-day routes. For a hut-based crossing with comparable grandeur, read our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania, a high pass through the Albanian Alps that rewards the same planning discipline the Overland Track demands.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike Overland Track section 6?
February is the single best month, offering the warmest, driest and most settled conditions of the Tasmanian summer with long daylight for waterfall detours. The booking season runs 1 October to 31 May. December, January and March are also good, while June to September brings snow and ice suited only to experienced winter mountaineers.

How difficult is section 6?
It is rated moderate. The terrain is mostly forested with a modest climb of about 150 m to Du Cane Gap, but mud, exposed tree roots and slippery duckboard make footing tricky in the wet. The optional waterfall and Acropolis side trips add difficulty. Reasonable fitness and full waterproof gear are essential for the variable Tasmanian weather.

How far is section 6 per day?
The main track covers roughly 18 km from Kia Ora Hut to Narcissus Hut. Most walkers split this over two days, stopping overnight at Bert Nichols Hut after about 9 km, then completing the flatter 9 km to Narcissus. Strong hikers do the whole leg in one long day, but waterfall detours add around 2 km return.

What accommodation is available on section 6?
Two free public huts serve the stage — Kia Ora and Bert Nichols (Windy Ridge) — plus Narcissus Hut at the finish, sleeping 16 to 36 people on a first-come basis. Huts are never guaranteed, so every walker must carry a tent. Tent platforms sit beside each hut, and Du Cane Hut is a heritage day-shelter only, not for overnight use.

Do I need a permit for section 6?
Yes. You cannot walk any part of the Overland Track in the October–May season without a booked Overland Track pass, which costs about AUD $295 (around €180) as of 2026, plus a Tasmanian National Parks Pass of roughly AUD $80 (around €48). Daily numbers are capped, you must start on your reserved date, and walking direction is fixed north to south.

For full official planning detail, consult the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Overland Track page and the broader UNESCO Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage listing before you book.