Windermere to Pelion

   5 h to 7 h

15.1 km
oneway

Climb: 477m
Descent: 626m

Hard track
Starting from Lake Windermere, the first part of the walk will take you through buttongrass plains. You can take your first side trip here to the Forth Valley Lookout with great views over the valley. When crossing Pelion Creek you'll start your descent through the myrtle-beech rainforest to reach the Frog Flats - the Overland Track's lowest section at 730m above sea level. There's a campsite just after crossing the Forth River at Frog Flats, if you decide to stay here. Otherwise, continue your way up through the rainforest and eucalypt forest to come to the New Pelion Hut. You can take a side trip to the Old Pelion hut, just a few hundred meters before the new one. Let us begin by acknowledging the Palawa people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. 


Turn map Directions & comments
Start
Start heading along Windermere Hut Track.

Windermere Hut.
After 30 m come to the "Windermere Public Camping Platform" (10 m on your left).
Veer right
At the intersection of Overland Track & Windermere Hut Track veer right, to head along Overland Track.

After another 35 m pass the "Windermere Hut Toilets" (10 m on your left).
After another 120 m come to the "Windermere Public Camping Platform" (25 m on your right).
Continue straight
After another 3 m continue straight, to head along Overland Track.
Side trip to Mersey River Viewpoint with great views over the Forth River valley. Details near bottom of page.
Continue straight
After another 4 km (at the intersection of Overland Track & Mersery River Viewpoint Track) continue straight, to head along Overland Track.

After another 1.2 km (at the intersection of Overland Track & Pine Moor Private Hut Track) continue straight, to head along Overland Track.
After another 250 m cross the bridge (about 8 m long)
After another 470 m cross the bridge (about 6 m long)
After another 1.2 km cross the Pelion Creek Bridge (about 15 m long)
Continue straight, to head along Overland Track.
Continue straight
After another 155 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Pelion West Track) continue straight, to head along Overland Track.

After another 3.3 km cross the Frog Flats Bridge (about 30 m long)
Side trip to the charming Old Pelion Hut, constructed around 1916. If you're up for a refreshing swim, follow the foot track to a swimming hole in Douglas Creek. Details near bottom of page.
Continue straight
After another 3.4 km (at the intersection of Overland Track & Old Pelion Hut Track) continue straight, to head along Overland Track.

After another 870 m pass the "New Pelion Hut Toilets" (on your left).
After another 20 m come to "New Pelion Hut".
A side trip to Mt Oakleigh from Pelion Hut. A great option if you are having a rest day at Pelion Hut, have favourable weather and are up for more challenging side trips. Walk along the porch 'behind' the hut (away from the toilets and down the timber steps to initially follow the Arm River Track. Then the Mt Oakleigh track leads up the southern flank. The track is very steep, not always clear and can be very muddy as it leads through the low lands. On top, you can enjoy the views from the first lookout or keep going to the far end of the mountain. The tops of the cliffs are not fenced. The views are amazing. Details near bottom of page.
The end
Continue another 0 m to find at the intersection of Arm River Track & Overland Track at the end.

Side trip to Mersey River Viewpoint with great views over the Forth River valley. Side trip to Mersey River Viewpoint with great views over the Forth River valley.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start
At the intersection of Mersery River Viewpoint Track & Overland Track Start heading along Mersery River Viewpoint Track (a walking track).

After another 65 m come to "Mersey River Viewpoint".
The end
Continue another 0 m to find Mersey River Viewpoint at the end.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 65 m to the main route.

Side trip to the charming Old Pelion Hut, constructed around 1916. If you're up for a refreshing swim, follow the foot track to a swimming hole in Douglas Creek. Side trip to the charming Old Pelion Hut, constructed around 1916. If you're up for a refreshing swim, follow the foot track to a swimming hole in Douglas Creek.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start
At the intersection of Old Pelion Hut Track & Overland Track Start heading along Old Pelion Hut Track (a walking track).

After another 440 m come to "Old Pelion Hut".
The end
Continue another 0 m to find at the intersection of Forth Valley Track & Old Pelion Copper Mine Track at the end.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 440 m to the main route.

A side trip to Mt Oakleigh from Pelion Hut. A great option if you are having a rest day at Pelion Hut, have favourable weather and are up for more challenging side trips. Walk along the porch 'behind' the hut (away from the toilets and down the timber steps to initially follow the Arm River Track. Then the Mt Oakleigh track leads up the southern flank. The track is very steep, not always clear and can be very muddy as it leads through the low lands. On top, you can enjoy the views from the first lookout or keep going to the far end of the mountain. The tops of the cliffs are not fenced. The views are amazing. A side trip to Mt Oakleigh from Pelion Hut. A great option if you are having a rest day at Pelion Hut, have favourable weather and are up for more challenging side trips. Walk along the porch 'behind' the hut (away from the toilets and down the timber steps to initially follow the Arm River Track. Then the Mt Oakleigh track leads up the southern flank. The track is very steep, not always clear and can be very muddy as it leads through the low lands. On top, you can enjoy the views from the first lookout or keep going to the far end of the mountain. The tops of the cliffs are not fenced. The views are amazing. A side trip to Mt Oakleigh from Pelion Hut. A great option if you are having a rest day at Pelion Hut, have favourable weather and are up for more challenging side trips. Walk along the porch 'behind' the hut (away from the toilets and down the timber steps to initially follow the Arm River Track. Then the Mt Oakleigh track leads up the southern flank. The track is very steep, not always clear and can be very muddy as it leads through the low lands. On top, you can enjoy the views from the first lookout or keep going to the far end of the mountain. The tops of the cliffs are not fenced. The views are amazing.
Turn map Directions & comments
Start
At the intersection of Arm River Track & Overland Track Start heading along Arm River Track (a walking track).

Then come to the "New Pelion Hut" (on your left).
After another 540 m cross the bridge (about 30 m long)
Turn left
After another 7 m (at the intersection of Mount Oakleigh Track & Arm River Track) turn left, to head along Mount Oakleigh Track.

After another 350 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long)
After another 1.7 km come to the viewpoint (on your right).
The end
After another 1.6 km come to the end.

Turn around and retrace your steps back the 4.3 km to the main route.