Day 7 of our Overland Track winter crossing

Hiking, Overland Track, Tasmania, Trail Journal

Final 10km of the Overland Track: hail, snow, rushing rivers, and muddy trails led us to Cynthia Bay, ending our epic 7-day, 80km adventure.

Echo Point Hut to Cynthia Bay (3 hrs, 10km)

The warmth from the coal-fired heater lingered in the air overnight, making for a very comfortable sleep.

And there were no encounters with the famed black resident rat overnight, much to our relief.

We woke around 5:30am, light filtering through the quaint little windows overlooking Cynthia Bay.

Strong winds gushed through the trees and rolled over the hut, while light hail pitter-pattered across the corrugated roof.

At 8am we farewelled our hut buddies, took a moment to take in the views from the little jetty, then began our final 10km home stretch to Cynthia Bay.

With rain, hail, and snow forecast, we donned all our wet-weather gear and followed the track deep into ancient forest, where little waterfalls gushed and massive trees lay strewn across the path.

In a show of its four-seasons-in-one-day reputation, light rain fell, soon turning to hail, then faint snowflakes.

We trudged through muddy tracks, no longer bothering to skirt around puddles — the finish was in sight.

A roaring sound emerged from nowhere, and soon we glimpsed the rushing waterways of Watersmeet, where the Cuvier and Hugel Rivers converge.

Directional signs promising the “Visitor Centre” appeared one after another, a playful tease.

With just moments to go, the sun emerged — the fourth season.

With a final push, we crossed the finish line, marking the end of our epic 7-day, 80km Overland Track crossing.

There was something magical about those final steps. We capped it off with steaming hot showers, lattes, and hot chips at the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre and lodge.