Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley

The Overland Track starts by guiding you through some amazingly diverse and spectacular landscapes. You start from the bus stop and car park at Ronny Creek, then wander for a few hundred meters through the buttongrass plains beside Ronny Creek. After this the uphill starts, it is very steep in places, take your time and enjoy the views. You will pass Crater Falls in a lovely rainforest before emerging at the mouth of the glacier-carved Crater Lake. The climbing continues up from here, with chains to assist one short rocky scramble up to Marion's Lookout and the amazing views over Dove Lake. Continue along the Overland Track to Kitchen Hut (a great lunch spot) where there is the potential side trip to Cradle Mountain. The Overland Track then continues 'behind' Cradle Mountain before wandering down the lovely Waterfall Valley. Before heading down to Waterfall valley is the option challenging side trip to Barn Bluff. One of the more challenging days on track with a stunning environment, start early and take your time to soak it all up. 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.

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Warning
This journey requires significant bushwalking experience, specialised equipment and navigation skills.
Please ensure you and your group well prepared and equiped for this journey.

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Segment	This is part of longer journey and can not be completed on it is own.
Full Journey	The Overland Track
Start	(-41.635871,145.9492627)
Mode	Bus Car
Directions	From Cradle Mountain Road, C132, Pencil Pine. Turn on to then drive for 5 m
Finish	At the intersection of Waterfall Valley Hut Track & Waterfall Valley Hut Toilet Track (-41.7147627,145.9469659)
Mode (end)

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Visitor Center at Cradle Mountain catch the settle bus towards Dove Lake, but get off about halfway at "Ronny Creek". There is a small car park and small shelter at Roony Creek, fill out the logbook, then cross the road to follow the timber boardwalk past the well signposted formal start of the Overland Track.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Find the Ronny Creek Registration Booth at the start. Find the Ronny Creek Registration Booth at the start.
	After another 10 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Dove Lake Road) continue straight, to head along Overland Track (a walking track). After another 40 m pass the "Overland Track" (4 m on your left).
	The starting point of an alternate access track. The alternate Access track to Waldheim Cabins on Connells Ave Details below. After another 680 m turn left, to head along Overland Track. Then cross the bridge (about 15 m long) Then head down the wooden steps (about 3 m long)
	Crater Lake After another 5 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Lake Lilla Track) by following the "Crater Lake" sign turn right, to head along Overland Track. After another 6 m head up the steps (about 15 m long) After another 590 m head up the steps (about 10 m long)
	Overland Track After another 6 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Horse Track) by following the "Overland Track" sign continue straight, to head along Overland Track. After another 6 m head up the steps (about 25 m long) After another 410 m pass the "Crater Falls" (9 m on your right). After another 20 m pass a seat (on your right).
	After another 460 m pass the "Crater Lake Hut" (on your right).
	After another 450 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Wombat Pool Track) veer right, to head along Overland Track. After another 10 m come to the viewpoint (15 m on your left). After another 335 m pass a seat (9 m on your left).
	After another 95 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Chain Track) continue straight, to head along Overland Track.
	After another 205 m continue straight, to head along Overland Track.
	After another 30 m come to the "Marion's Lookout" (30 m on your left).
	Turn right, to head along Overland Track. After another 920 m cross the bridge (about 10 m long)
	After another 630 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Horse Track) veer left, to head along Overland Track.
	After another 380 m pass the "Kitchen Hut" (6 m on your right). After another 35 m pass the "Kitchen Hut Toilet" (30 m on your right).
	After another 8 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Kithen Hut Toliet Track) continue straight, to head along Overland Track.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. An optional side trip to climb the famous Cradle Mountain. Very steep and slippery so not recommended in wet or icy conditions. There is some rock scrambling near the summit that requires extra care. Requires between 2-3 hours to enjoy this side trip. To start this optional side trip veer left here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 100 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Cradle Mountain Face Track) veer right, to head along Overland Track.
	After another 2.9 km (at the intersection of Overland Track & Lake Rodway Track) continue straight, to head along Overland Track. After another 75 m pass the "Emergency Shelter" (15 m on your left).
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. Barn Bluff side trip. This is for very experienced walkers comfortable with rock scrambles, exposed heights and faint tracks. Leave 3-4hrs to complete this sidetrip. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip turn sharp left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 670 m (at the intersection of Overland Track & Barn Bluff Track) veer left, to head along Overland Track. After another 1.7 km come to "Waterfall Valley Hut". About 20 m past the end is "Waterfall Valley Tolilets". About 35 m past the end is "Waterfall Valley Public Camping Platform". W:www.parks.tas.gov.au
	Continue another 0 m to find at the intersection of Waterfall Valley Hut Track & Waterfall Valley Hut Toilet Track at the end.

An optional side trip to climb the famous Cradle Mountain. Very steep and slippery so not recommended in wet or icy conditions. There is some rock scrambling near the summit that requires extra care. Requires between 2-3 hours to enjoy this side trip.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	At the intersection of Cradle Mountain Face Track & Overland Track Start heading along Cradle Mountain Face Track (a walking track).
	After another 35 m (at the intersection of Cradle Mount Summit Track & Cradle Mountain Face Track) veer right, to head along Cradle Mount Summit Track.
	After another 1 km turn right, to head along Cradle Mount Summit Track. After another 55 m come to "Cradle Mountain".
	Continue another 0 m to find Cradle Mountain at the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 1.1 km to the main route.

The alternate Access track to Waldheim Cabins on Connells Ave

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start.
	After another 430 m turn right.
	After another 60 m continue straight. After another 110 m pass the toilet (25 m on your left). About 75 m past the end is a car park.
	The end.

Barn Bluff side trip. This is for very experienced walkers comfortable with rock scrambles, exposed heights and faint tracks. Leave 3-4hrs to complete this sidetrip.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. After another 3.1 km come to "Barn Bluff".
	Continue another 0 m to find Barn Bluff at the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 3.1 km to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley

Grading

	Class 5/6 Very challenging
Length	10.8 km
Time	4 h to 6 h

Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)
Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
Weather	Forecasted & unexpected severe weather likely to have an impact on your navigation and safety (5/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There is one 10.8 km from the start.

Hut: There is one 10.8 km from the start.

Shelter: There are 3 on route, on average they are 2.7 km apart with the largest gap of 5.4 km.

Toilet: There are 3 on route, on average they are 3 km apart with the largest gap of 5.4 km.

Seat: There are 2 on route, on average they are 3.6 km apart with the largest gap of 7.7 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Shelter	4 m	Ronny Creek Registration Booth
Toilet	730 m + 590 m	[toilet]
Seat	1.8 km	[seat]
Seat	3.1 km	[seat]
Shelter	5.4 km	Kitchen Hut
Toilet	5.4 km	Kitchen Hut Toilet
Shelter	8.5 km	Emergency Shelter
Hut	10.8 km	Waterfall Valley Hut
Toilet	10.8 km	Waterfall Valley Tolilets
Camp site	10.8 km	Waterfall Valley Public Camping Platform

Articles Discover more details to thrive on track

Welcome to The Overland Track
Planning, preparing and packing for The Overland Track, Tasmania

Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley
Walk past Cradle Mountain and see some of the most spectacular Glacial Lakes. A great start to the Overland Track.

Transport
Options for transport at the start and end of the walk

Waldheim Cabins
Most rustic, cheapest and closest accommodation to the start of the Overland Track

Kitchen Hut
Emergency shelter.

Emergency Hut
Emergency shelter located just beside the Overland Track, 75m south of the intersection with the Lake Rodway Track.

Waterfall Valley Hut
A majestic valley and a lovely overnight stay with spectacular views of Barn Bluff

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Cradle Valley Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
  
  Sunday 3 November
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h decreasing to 20 to 25 km/h in the late evening.
  
  Monday 4 November
  
  3°C → 10°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light in the late evening.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 9:10am to 4:40pm, UV Index predicted to reach 8 [Very High]
  
  Tuesday 5 November
  
  2°C → 15°C
  Cloudy.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h turning north to northeasterly in the evening.
  
  Wednesday 6 November
  
  5°C → 18°C
  Shower or two.
  60% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h increasing to 25 to 35 km/h during the morning then shifting westerly 20 to 30 km/h during the afternoon.
  
  Thursday 7 November
  
  2°C → 12°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h increasing to 30 km/h before turning north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the evening.
  
  Friday 8 November
  
  1°C → 10°C
  Showers.
  80% chance of rain
  0 → 7mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely during the morning. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning westerly 25 to 40 km/h during the morning.
  
  Saturday 9 November
  
  2°C → 9°C
  Shower or two.
  70% chance of rain
  0 → 5mm
  
  Cloudy. High chance of showers. Winds westerly 25 to 35 km/h.
  
  Sunday 10 November
  
  1°C → 10°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely during the morning. Winds southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h shifting easterly 15 to 25 km/h later.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Tasmania Parks & Wildlife service
  When planning and before starting your trip please check Parks Tas closure website for anything that may impact on your plans. It is also worth checking the Parks Facebook page for more timely information.

Weather Forecast

Alerts