Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey completes the Overland Track descending the valley from Windy Ridge to catch a boat across Lake St Clair before we return over the central highlands back to Launceston.
Today's Journey
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The sun rises with a thin sliver of sunlight filtering between the layers of cloud on the mountains behind the Bert Nichol Hut as we make an early departure. |
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For a couple of hours the trail gradually descends through the forest along the Narcissus Valley. The forest on this side of the mountains is much drier than the forests to our north. |
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Eventually the forest clears and we follow the boardwalk over the swampy plain as the valley widens. |
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After a few minutes crossing the plain, we cross a swingbridge crossing the Narcissus River. |
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We follow the river a little further downstream to Narcissus Hut where we briefly rest before completing the last two hundred metres of the Overland Trail. |
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The track ends at a jetty at the mouth of the river where it flows into Lake St Clair, Tasmania's deepest lake. |
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A small water taxi takes us across the crystal clear waters of the lake to its far end. The source of the Derwent River flowing to Hobart starts a little further along the coast. |
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A short track heads to the official end of the trail where I pose with the group I have hiked with over the past six days before having lunch at a nearby restaurant. |
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Departing the end of the track, we head across the Tasmanian highlands ends with a long descent into the fertile lowlands as we head northwards towards Launceston. |
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We arrive in the relative warmth of Launceston, where we part ways and relax for the rest of the afternoon. |
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