The Overland Track Has Been Closed Due to Bushfire

 

Australia’s premier alpine hike, the 65km Overland Track in Tasmania, has been closed due to an uncontained bushfire started by dry lightning strikes burning within 5km of the track. 

The track will remain closed from Wednesday 5th to Friday 7th of February as emergency services work to contain the fire. 

The closure has affected around 100 walkers, with those scheduled to depart today prevented from starting the trail. Hikers north of Windermere, the second hut on the track, have been instructed to turn around and walk back to Cradle Valley.

Read more: Overland Track: A Guide to Hiking Hut-to-Hut

The track sees around 13,000 people walk it each year, with the summer months being the most popular time to trek.

The bushfire started on Monday and was sparked by dry lightning. Emergency services say that the uncontained fire is currently burning around 5km southwest of the trail, at Canning Peak.

‘The fire grew significantly overnight and is now just 5 kilometres south-west of the track’, Nic Deka, Parks and Wildlife Service north-west regional manager told the ABC.

‘Conditions are challenging and there is potential for the fire to impact the Overland Track within the next 24 to 48 hours’, he said. 

A watch and act alert has also been issued for the Windermere-Pine Fores Moor area.

Any walkers scheduled to walk the track during the closure will be given a full refund. 

Authorities are urging all walkers on the trail to follow the instructions of park rangers. For regular updates on the situation, check out the Tasmania Parks Alerts page.

Feature photo by Jo Barlow