Hi Ant71
Ive done the OLT twice and agree that the logistics for the start/end of the track can be a hassle, especially for interstate travellers who dont have a car in Tassie or friends to transport them to/from the track. Both times I used a track transfer company, for the simplicity of it*. They look after your non-hiking luggage, drop you at the start of the track, pick you up at the end of the track and they collect you/drop you from any location such as airport or a hotel in either Launceston or Hobart. We were on a tight schedule so this really worked well. I think Tassie link is cheaper, but the pickup/dropoff is less flexible as its a bus service. Both times I flew into Launceston and out of Hobart, and spent a couple of days in Hobart at the end of the walk, so the storage of the non-hiking luggage was an important factor. Here are my basic schedules, hope they help. I preferred the 2nd schedule because I much preferred starting the walk earlier in the day.
Trip1
Day before OLT: Arrived Launceston the day before. Stayed at a hotel in Launceston that night. Stocked up on fresh food and gas cannisters.
Day 1 of OLT: Track transfer pickup from hotel at 8am. Travel Launceston to Cradle Mountain. Picked up OLT passes. Started walking after lunch.
Last day of OLT: Took ferry to Cynthia Bay. Met track transfer at 2pm (Tasmanian Hikes). Dropped off at accomodation in Hobart about 5 or 6pm.
Next day: Picked up a hire car in Hobart and spent a few days in Hobart.
Trip 2:
Day before OLT: Arrived Launceston 8am. Track transfer pickup from airport. Travel Launceston to Cradle Mountain. Stopped at supermarket on way for fresh food. Bought gas canister from Tasmanian Hikes. Dropped off at accomodation at Cradle Mountain. Picked up OLT passes.
Day 1 of OLT: Started walking in the morning and arrived Waterfall Valley early afternoon.
Last day of OLT: Walked out to Cynthia Bay. Met track transfer at 2pm. Dropped off at airport in Hobart (about 6pm) where we picked up a hire car. Had to do a pickup of the hire car at the airport as the hire car companies close at about 5pm in Hobart itself. Spent a few days in Hobart.
Regarding tent, youre obliged/advised to take a tent as per the OLT checklist. Trip 1 was about 30 other people (Christmas) and I slept in the tent every night. Trip 2 (early October) was between only 2 and 5 other people at the hut each night and I slept in the tent 2 nights. Each hut varies, some are bigger than others, so you can make up your mind each day if you want to stay in the hut or pitch the tent. Late September its still free, and that can be a busy time as it coincides with school holidays and people get in before the booking season opens - I heard from the ranger and read in the track notes that there were about 50-60 people staying at Waterfall Valley at one point during September 2015.
There is also a sub-forum for finding/arranging transport here:
viewforum.php?f=4Edited: * There are quite a few OLT track transfer / private shuttle companies - google search will find them