It is safer to walk with other people and helpful to be able to share the load.
Find people on Bushwalk.com or on Facebook.

There are commercial operators who can help with car shuttles and transport. If you would rather find a fellow walker to help out, then try Bushwalk.com or Facebook.

If you are planning on walking end of December or early January, then you need to be ready to book when they open (9am July 1st). These days start to book out in the first 10 minutes. Otherwise, just book as early as you can and prepare to be flexible. Ohh, if you are planning on staying at Walheim Cabins (they are great), then book it once you have your pass confirmed. Again, these book out quickly (especially Friday and Saturday nights).

Very limited
There are three mobile phone carriers in Australia.
Vodaphone provides no meaningful coverage along the walk or at the start of end.
Both Optus and Telstra offer patchy coverage in a few specific (high) places along the way.
General description of phone coverage is outlined in the facility section on each of the section overviews.
There is Optus and Telstra coverage at the start and end of the walk, including near Narcissus Hut.

Yes. At the very least get ambulance insurance. Although many helicopter rescues do not usually charge the patient, the transfer to the hospital or other aspects can cost thousands of dollars. Sometimes people are carried out by ambulance staff, and an ambulance bill of over $6000 is very possible. Some states have reciprocal ambulance coverage and private health insurance usually cover ambulance, so check these options out. Travel insurance may also cover lost travel and accommodation costs if you are forced to cancel or change your trip.

The fitter and more agile you are, the more you will be able to relax and enjoy the walk. Day one is the most challenging for most people. Do some practice walks building up to your trip. Make sure you can walk 10-15 kilometres with your full pack. Also, practise on hills. Day 1 has a 300m vertical climb before lunch, so look for walks with a similar profile to practise on. Then once on track, just pace yourself, don't rush.

Most people walk the track in 5-6 days. That works well, but many people say 8-10 days is great as well. If you have the time and are happy to carry the food, then you can enjoy more side trips and just spend time soaking it up. Check the Track overview page for itinerary options.

It depends on what attracts you to the area. The busiest time on track is in December and January - it is also the time with the sunniest days. Otherwise, February and March tend to still be warm and have sunny days but be less busy. If you are experienced in walking in snow and ice, the July-September months offer some wonderful times on the track. If you want a quieter time, avoid school holidays and long weekends.

The track and signage are well designed and makes wayfinding in clear weather generally easy. Remember that snow can bury the track. Heavy rain and whiteouts can reduce visibility to just a few meters.
Take a compass and a map (and know how to use them). And of course, make sure you download the maps for this app. This will help you with wayfinding and show you your progress along the track.

Most people catch the ferry, but I suggest walking along the lake, don't rush to get home. The walk along the lake is lovely, and different from the rest of the track. The walk is easy compared to the rest of the track. You can stay at the rustic hut at Echo Point for you last night and walk into Cynthia Bay for lunch. There are good swimming opportunities as well.

Many people who are catching the ferry report a fair bit of anxiety about getting to the ferry on time. They say they felt they rush the last day, and some people even felt anxious about it before. If you want to catch the ferry, factor this in and plan your trip to avoid the anxiety.

It is lovely, but really needs at least an overnight stay to make it worth while. The rainforest is just gorgeous and there is access to some stunning extra side trips to Labyrinth and Acropolis. The Labyrinth and Acropolis are challenging walks, requiring extra bushwalking and navigation skills, compaired to the main Overland Track.

If you are very fit, start early and have clear weather, then it would be possible. It would still very tight and easy run out of daylight. Better to plan to climb up Cradle Mountain on day 1, then do Barn Bluff on the morning of day 2. Both side trips are best avoided in ice or wet conditions, as they are slippery climbs at the best of times.

Mt Ossa is the most popular and the higest peak in Tasmania. Mt Pelion East is the shortest and has the narrowest summit, feeling like a real summit. Mt Oakleigh is more remote, less popular, but the views are stunning. If you are staying for two nights at Pelion, then Mt Oakleigh is a great 'rest' day walk (assuming favourable weather). Otherwise I would suggest Mt Ossa for bragging rights, climbing the highest mountain in Tassie - or Mt Pelion East if you want a more purist experience. All these side trips require rock scrambles and favourable weather.

Yes, all huts on the Overland Track (except the day use only shelters and Echo Point) have water tanks. They also all have nearby creeks (or lakes) if you would rather. Parks Tasmania recommend treating the water before use.

All closures can be found on the park's website.

Most people do finish the walk in the time frames they plan, but crazy weather and injuries do happen from time to time. The ferry and some of the bus transport companies allow a bit of flexibility of the exact day you finish. If you need extra wiggle room, consider planning a rest day on track. If plans change, you can skip the rest day and get there on time. So plan ahead first, work out your best itinerary and go from there.

If you have one car, best to leave it at Lake St Clair end, as it give you more flexablity on your finish date. Some of the companies do a shuttle from Cynthia Bay to Cradle, otherwise you may need to go via one of the larger cities. Check out your options in this transport article.

A few options. Reach out to the ferry company and see if they are planning a special ad hoc trip. Consider the cost of of paying full fee for the ad hoc service. Otherwise plan to finish a bit later, or just enjoy the extra days' walk along the lake - it is lovely.

Easy, Waldheim Cabins. You can walk out of your cabin and straight onto the track. Otherwise, try to stay in the Cradle Mountain area, there are lots of great accommodation options. Being able to start early and fresh is great.

There are a bunch of (mini) bus companies that can get you to the Visitor Centre near the start of the track. From the Visitor Centre, there is a free shuttle bus to Ronny Creek Trackhead - the start of the Overland Track.

The main access roads to Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and to Cynthia Bay are good quailty sealed roads. There are dirt roads in the area, but these can be avoided.

They vary a fair bit. Most platforms can set up 2 two-person tents. There is a large platform at Pelion that can set up 4 tents. Windy Ridge platforms are smaller and only for single tents.

Don't stress, just start preparing. First review your gear and supplies, and make your pack as light as possible. Then start training. Start doing shorter bushwalks and build your pack weight up over time. As you start to feel stronger, start introducing hills. Aim to be able to walk about 12km with a 300m (altitude gain) steeper hill in it, similar profile to day 1 or 4 of the track.

Also make sure you have a good quality pack that is fitted well.

I hope so. A few options to consider. Look into a guided trip with Cradle Huts, there you only need to carry a small pack.

If you prefer a self-guided trip. Plan extra rest days and chat with local staff about the nature of your disability and your plans. They may be able to provide extra tips based on your specific abilities.

Also, look into Ultralight Hiking, it is possible (with a fair bit of work, practice and skill) to get your pack down to less than 10kg. Make sure you chat with your doctor about your plans and look at a fitness plan to build up to it.

Start building up your bushwalking skills closer to home with longer and longer walks. Also, take some friends that can be practically helpful and supportive on track.

Consider building up your experience on the track, walk into Pine Valley from Lake St Clair or doing other shorter walks in the region before

Most of the time not a big issue, but on warmer days early in the year they can get really annoying. Mozzies at some of the campsites can also get pretty annoying. If you're asking, then it's probably worth packing a head net to put over your hat, to keep flies off if your face. And pack some good DEET based repellent.

For an adult you are looking for somewhere around 10,000 - 16,000 kJ. It is a big range, I know. Aim for about 25% more than your usual kJ intake, about 35-50% more if walking in winter. If you are worried, pack some extra hot chocolates and packets of soup. Desserts are another good way to get some extra yummy food. Plan your menu and enjoy your food. It is not just about energy.

Most packaged food is fine. Not fresh food. On entry to Tasmania (at the airport and ferry), a team of people is working to avoid the import of pests, weeds and diseases onto the island. Check their requirements and work with them. Feel free to ask questions and please do not cut corners.

If you are planning on buying food, you can buy it in the major cities, no worries. There is a local company Strive that make great easy meals.

Some people just prefer to snack for lunches with different bars, nuts, chocolate, dried fruit. Most people make wraps with mountain bread or use crispbreads - with salami, cheese, tuna or peanut butter. Hot chocolate and cappuccino/mocha are always a nice treat before dinner. Most people do commercial freeze-dried meals. These work, but get pretty boring after a few days. Lots of menu and food options outlined here.

If you are on a guided trip, the operator will provide some gear and usually all your food. Use their gear list and avoid carring extra bits as it just adds weight. If you have good quality bushwalking gear or specific questions, send details to the guides and they will let you know what will work best.

Hiking poles are one of the most polarising questions. Some people love them, many people walk the track with them attached to the side of their packs. They are especially handy for people with weak knees or ankles, or for people who are less steady on their feet. If you think that is you, see if you can borrow a set and try walking with them on your practise walks. Poles take a fair bit of practice to get used to, and can cause hand/wrist injuries, so learning to use them on track is not advisable. If you like walking with poles, then yes, take them. If you have done plenty of bushwalking and don't see the point, then don't take poles.