Narcissus to Echo Point
Overland Track
The Hike - Saying goodbye to several members of our travelling party, and enjoying a rest in the shade at Narcissus Jetty, it was time to move on and hike around Lake St Clair to the campsite at Echo Point. Normally on multi-day hikes I don't stop that long for lunch, maybe 20-30 minutes at most, but I'd been enjoying these longer breaks on the Overland when I had run into people, or had a purpose to stop for longer. It felt like a big reset for the day, and I would mentally be starting again at kilometre zero.
Making our way back to Narcissus Hut along the boardwalk, the conditions had certainly changed a lot over the past hour and a bit. While it was still warm (mid-20s), the cloud cover had rolled over for the afternoon, and this was about as good as I could have hoped for. Coming up was a lovely section of ancient forest, that I had been told by friends that I would enjoy quite a lot, and was one of the reasons I decided to walk into Cynthia Bay instead of take the ferry. If you've read some of my other posts, you would have seen me bang on about lighting conditions too much, but as you'll see, it really makes a difference to the photos. Back at Narcissus Hut, we refilled drink bottles for the next part of the journey, and set about re-packing gear that had been taken out for lunch. There was quite a lot of activity around the hut, as it seemed like plenty of people were enjoying their summer holidays with a short hiking trip.
Obi and I checked out the inside of the hut to see what it was like, and although it's one of the older style huts, it still had the open feel and abundance of light that the newer style of shelters have. Departing with David, Alice, Obi and Rose, there is a brief section of forest that is similar to what you find all around Narcissus Hut, before you reach the wetter and boggier ground leading towards Hamilton Creek. Boardwalk replaces the hard ground for the muddier sections, and this was the start of one of my favourite sections of the whole track. I love when the thick undergrowth borders the track, and a gently curving section of boardwalk disappears into the vegetation, makes for a lovely photo. Crossing Hamilton Creek on a sturdy wooden bridge, you then reach a patch of grassy woodlands, that was really enjoyable to walk through.
The open nature of the woodlands meant that you get some great views looking ahead to the bulk of Mount Olympus. Having seen glimpses of Mount Olympus on my previous visit to Lake St Clair in 2021, it was a looming presence that I was looking forward to seeing up close when I eventually returned to complete the Overland Track. Looking a bit different now, as there wasn't a dusting of snow covering the summit, it was still a mightily impressive sight. Whether there are Greek gods sitting atop the mountain, I am unsure, but maybe one day I'll return and climb it. For now I had a much gentler task of hiking to Echo Point, finally entering the temperate rainforest, where the hiking and scenery would be taken to another level. Sections of boardwalk continued, as you walk past ancient trees, thicker than any you'll see along the track, and a healthy smattering of vivid green moss covering the forest floor.
I had slowed right up through here, having spent the first part of this section within sight of everyone, and it didn't take long before I was alone, at least visually. A family had started this part of the track right after us, and they had a small child with them, so I could hear lots of talking. I had expected to drop them quickly, as I've found children don't always keep up a good pace, but they were doing quite well. Following the orange markers through the maze of tree roots, thick trunks and mossy logs, I arrived at the side track leading to Byron Gap, an unmaintained track that eventually loops back around the other side of Mount Olympus to Watersmeet, near Cynthia Bay. I love that Tasmania has so many options for hikers looking to come out and do little 2-3 day expeditions, rather than just decide the Overland route is enough. I hope one day the Bibbulmun Track takes this approach, something that is slowly happening already.
Thoroughly enjoying the gentle meander through the forest, the wildflowers I had been seeing during the morning and around the Hamilton Creek plains were being replaced with a variety of fungi. There were all shapes and sizes represented, with lots of bracket varieties clinging to the trunks of the girthy trees, along with finding places in the decaying logs scattered everywhere. I found one example that had been ripped apart when the wood it was feasting on had collapsed, providing a better look at the composition and texture of the meaty part of the fungi. This stuff fascinates me, and it's hard not to be in awe of everything around you while walking through here. Settling deeper into the rainforest, the warm morning had been locked in by the clouds, and the humid air of the forest made it feel much warmer.
A small price to pay for the lovely lighting conditions, and it would pay off later when we reached Echo Point. Now traversing the area between Mount Olympus and Lake St Clair, the run-off from the mountainous slopes creates a lot of creek crossings to navigate, and each one has a little section of boardwalk, bridge or newer grid like planking. I tend to use words like idyllic and whimsical quite a lot writing for the website, and most of the time it is relevant, but this section was a perfect encapsulation of these words. I love how unordered the forest and undergrowth is, with something new appearing around every corner, and the chaotic nature of how and where things grow dictated by a number of factors. I eventually caught back up to Alice and Rose, and it was nice to have some people for scale against some of the larger features like fallen trees and thick trunks.
Along this first section between Hamilton Creek and Echo Point, it is easy to forget that Lake St Clair is right there on your left, as you don't see it for several kilometres. Heading as downhill as you'll walk along here, you reach a small side track leading down to the lake, and although I had been thoroughly enjoying the forest, it was a nice feeling to get out into the clear air and feel a bit of a breeze on my face. It also serves as a nice spot to take a break, with views of the mountain range on the other side of the lake providing a lovely backdrop while I inhaled some water. Heading back into the thickness of forest awaiting me, it doesn't take many steps before you are immersed in the world of moss, trees and greenery again. Up ahead was something that had been missing from the temperate rainforest up until now, an abundance of ferns.
The first large grouping of ferns was a delight, and I'm thankful it wasn't a rainy day, as they form a tunnel in places that would drench you to the bone if they were wet. Providing many different shades of green, along with a feature to photograph when I came across a larger Man Fern, it was starting to feel more like the classical Tasmanian temperate rainforest now. The ferns disappeared and a moodier and gnarlier Beech forest dominated the walking for the next little section. The Beech forest is one of my favourite types in Tasmania, as it really has a sense of enclosure to it, almost as if it is wrapping around you. I have fond memories of the area around Corinna, and this was very similar in the magic feeling it gave me as I walked through. Through here I caught back up to Alice and Rose, and eventually passed them as they took a break.
Although I was really loving the hiking, I was sure that Echo Point would be just around the corner. The guidebook states this is just a six kilometres section, and being relatively flat, I thought it would be over with in a jiffy. That wasn't the case, not that I was complaining, but there's something about expecting to see the end of the day and not seeing it that really messes with me mentally. This happen to coincide with some of the best looking scenery of the second half of the day, and boy howdy was it stunning to walk through. Having hiked a lot on open buttongrass plains, and up mountains, it was a fantastic way to finish the Overland Track with this level of quality forest. I found David and Obi taking a break on one of the small bridges that dots this part of the track, an figuring I was close to camp, I soldiered on.
Calming my farm a little, I reminded myself to slow down and enjoy the journey, something that was quite easy through here. As you can see from the photo gallery above, it was beautiful forest to end the day, and much more than I could have hoped for. This last section before camp is really special, with a mix of enchanted forest, and endless bridges over little creeks. And just like that, it was over, as I popped out into the smallest of clearing and saw Echo Point Hut off to my left. Once I'd spotted it, then the other activity around camp was more noticeable. It's not a large campsite, and the areas off the beach for tenting are well hidden in the undergrowth. The hut is small and sleeps a handful of people but I was keen on tenting it for the first time on the Overland. Walking down to the beach, it was already quite packed with hikers doing an overnight stay but I found the perfect spot just up from the edge of the water. I was soon joined by David, Alice, Obi and Rose, who decided to setup nearby.
Friends had said that Echo Point would be right up my alley, and they weren't wrong at all. What a fantastic spot this is, right on the shores of Lake St Clair, with the jetty that used to be serviced by the ferry, providing a great spot to sit and relax. Setting up my tent was a breeze in the soft sand, and I extracted everything I needed for the afternoon and evening, before placing my pack in one of the metal bins located next to the hut, as you are instructed to do. The wind had not yet picked up, so the lake was looking almost like a mirror, reflecting the moody clouds that had rolled over earlier. It was still quite warm, and although this is an alpine lake, the others that had been for a swim had said it wasn't as cold as they were expecting. Stripping down to my skins, I walked in off the beach and eventually plunged into the cold but bearable waters. David, Obi and Rose came in too, and it was great fun swimming around and enjoying a relaxing afternoon at camp.
One of the solo Overland hikers we had caught up to was a lot braver than we were, and swam out to almost the middle of the lake. After a refreshing swim, we all got out, dried off, and spent some time sitting and chatting on the jetty. It was a funny moment when three separate groups of hikers that had been together since New Pelion all discovered they were from the same suburb in Melbourne, and were discussing all their favourite spots and quirks about the area. I was happy listening, as I like to do, along with photographing the views looking over the lake, with the skies getting moodier. It was about time for dinner, and we found a nice area just off the beach to sit and cook our dehydrated meals, the last supper so to speak. We were in for one last treat after dinner, as we were doing more relaxing on the jetty, the skies turned a glorious pink and blue for maybe a five to ten minute stretch, before fading out to greys and dark blues. Similar to the sunrise I had at Mount Chance back in 2019, it was just one of those fantastic moments in life where you just stand in awe. What a way to finish the last evening on the Overland Track.
Final Thoughts – Having woken up and felt a sense of the end drawing near, this section from Narcissus to Echo Point felt like an immersion back into the joy and fun of the Overland journey.
I couldn't have asked for better weather conditions today, with sunshine in the morning for the dry sclerophyll, and clouds for the temperate rainforest around Lake St Clair.
Although I was going to hike the full length of the track to Cynthia Bay, having friends confirm that I would enjoy the walk around the lake made it a much easier decision. Having been thwarted by the sunshine in the rainforest between Kia Ora and Bert Nichols, I was a happy boi to have brilliant lighting for this section.
What a penultimate day, and topped off with a sunset I won't forget.
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