Overland - options outside the norm for tenting

[scouts1]

I am booked for April and have started looking at tent camping spot options. I am not at all interested in hut sleeping.
What are the options for 'legal' random tent camping along the OLT?
for example I see in the Chapmans OLT Guide that they have marked a tent spot at Lake Will but that is not marked on the TasMap Maps & Notes.
I see mentions in forums about the saddle between Doris and Pelion East.

I guess what I am asking is where can I camp away from the masses? expecting to take 6-7 days with side trips

[Mark F]

You cannot camp between Waldheim and Waterfall Valley along the OLT route. There is most probably a short section of the track as you approach Cynthia Bay that may not allow camping. You can camp on the Eastern side of Cradle around Scott Kilvert hut but not Twisted Tarns area if you have a late start or the weather is diabolical. Other than that there are no restrictions that I am aware of.

[north-north-west]

There is most probably a short section of the track as you approach Cynthia Bay that may not allow camping.

Never seen any 'no camping' signs there, but it's easy enough to pitch in a few places along the lakeside track up to and including Fergys Paddock, although it's best to avoid pitching next to the track in the main day use area (Watersmeet, Platypus Point). Apart from that and the Waldheim to Waterfall Valley restriction, and the old campsite on Pelion Creek, pick a site, any site (as long as it's not going to flood).
There are tent platforms near most of the huts, and many other good tentsites.

[Nuts]

The irony isn't lost in asking, on a public forum, for camp site suggestions 'away from the masses'.
The masses aren't overwhelming, especially by April, but there are very few 'legal' restrictions out in the park.

[scouts1]

great. I will take that all to mean camping is ok past Waterfall- but maybe best out of sight of the track.

[tastrax]

I just hope you are not in a big group....

solo off track camping is OK but there are only limited spots where are large group could camp without causing extra impacts

[Nuts]

I'm not sure what 'official' rhetoric applies but generally dispersed camping is encouraged? ie. don't use anywhere that looks to have been used before and leave your spot looking unused.. which yes, wont happen with a big group. An organised group, institutional group, should really be applying for the group camp sites (and using them)?

[DaveNoble]

Whenever I walk along the Overland Track, I keep a look out for good campsites that I may want to use in the future - and there are plenty. Some of them are close to the track (e.g. near the small creek, about 1/2 hour south of Windy Ridge, others are more discreet - behind a thicket of scrub etc. Most of these campsites are quite small - e.g. only 1 - 2 tents. But there are also some quite large campsites that in the past have been used by tent based guided parties, generally well away from the track and in nice places. These seem to have been superseded by the group camping platforms near the huts.

And you need to consider toileting. I recently camped at the north end of Lake Meston (so not on the Overland Track), where there is a nice large open grassy area where most people camp. But this is a bit exposed and nearby are some more sheltered campsites. But, unfortunately, someone had been suing these more sheltered spots for their ablutions..... and later their poo has been dug up by animals ... so what remains are holes and old toilet paper. I saw this three years ago, and it was still the same earlier this month - the holes and toilet paper are still there (or perhaps new deposits?). So, if you do camp away from the huts, then you may want to use the hut toilets, or dig deep holes well away from the track, water, campsites etc.

Dave

[scouts1]

Just in from the OLT and bush camped each night avoiding the huts. We only went in them when passing for a look.
Lots of bad stories along the way of noisy groups staying up late, even one large male group who played loud music in the huts late in the evening, each and every night. This was also a problem for the solo female walker who felt quite intimidated.
We found some amazing campsites that others obviously use.

[scouts11]

IT issues meaning change of name so I apologise to those who have emailed me for details;
Camp 1 near Flynns Tarn on way to Scott Kilvert (after climbing Cradle Mtn). Excellent spot RHS of the track just along from the ck crossing. On Chapmans map approx. 138/843. There's also camping at Scott Kilvert Hut platform.
Camp 2 approx. 700m past Windermere Hut on LHS on a grassy area just before a ck crossing with a perfect flat rock to use as a large table. Approx. 138/742.
Camp 3 Mt Doris at approx. 208/645. Make sure you climb to the top of the new steps then look for a spot on the RHS approx. 50-100m off the track. A good spot to leave the tent with gear in it in the morning as you climb Ossa. Then come back for a rest in the tent before continuing.
Camp 4 DuCane Hut has a picnic platform and hunting around some ok flattish spots (no sleeping in hut but it makes a great kitchen area just watch out for the holes in the floor)
Camp 5 approx. 30 minutes past Windy Ridge on RHS is an amazing campsite under the trees (could fit maybe 3 tents) just before a bridge and ck crossing. Good water. Approx. 243/559
Camp 6 on the beach in front of Echo Pt hut. There are 2 great tent spots here right on the sand (and others in the trees) Hut has an excellent coal burner.

[north-north-west]

DuCane Hut has a picnic platform ...

It's actually a helipad. But I've seen people camped on it.

[Strider]

DuCane Hut has a picnic platform ...

It's actually a helipad. But I've seen people camped on it.

Same at Scott-Kilvert.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[dee_legg]

IT issues meaning change of name so I apologise to those who have emailed me for details;
Camp 1 near Flynns Tarn on way to Scott Kilvert (after climbing Cradle Mtn). Excellent spot RHS of the track just along from the ck crossing. On Chapmans map approx. 138/843. There's also camping at Scott Kilvert Hut platform.
Camp 2 approx. 700m past Windermere Hut on LHS on a grassy area just before a ck crossing with a perfect flat rock to use as a large table. Approx. 138/742.
Camp 3 Mt Doris at approx. 208/645. Make sure you climb to the top of the new steps then look for a spot on the RHS approx. 50-100m off the track. A good spot to leave the tent with gear in it in the morning as you climb Ossa. Then come back for a rest in the tent before continuing.
Camp 4 DuCane Hut has a picnic platform and hunting around some ok flattish spots (no sleeping in hut but it makes a great kitchen area just watch out for the holes in the floor)
Camp 5 approx. 30 minutes past Windy Ridge on RHS is an amazing campsite under the trees (could fit maybe 3 tents) just before a bridge and ck crossing. Good water. Approx. 243/559
Camp 6 on the beach in front of Echo Pt hut. There are 2 great tent spots here right on the sand (and others in the trees) Hut has an excellent coal burner.

Sounds like a great way to experience the OLT Scouts11! PS I know what you mean about loud groups in the huts/on the track! I was out that way recently and couldn't believe how obnoxious so many of the people I came across were... they seemed totally oblivious to the fact that others might be in the bush for a bit of RnR

[Nuts]

Well. There are other tracks.

Really 'scouts'.. good on you..
But what part of the advice were you looking for, was it just the legalities?
So that's not a picnic table at Ducane, it's a helipad, same at SK hut, helipad. Some of the other sites you mention are former dispersed camping sites that get less use these days. 'Dispersed Camping', the general idea is that you don't then suggest and describe a list I'd wager you could find a reasonable campsite within 100m of any part of that track.

I tend to think that intolerance / the general level of noisy others out there is more an imagined imposition than real.
In all honesty and many times through, (with hundreds of others) it's only ever been that commercial hut at Windy Ridge that's been mentioned as notably noisy.

[dee_legg]

Well. There are other tracks.
I tend to think that intolerance / the general level of noisy others out there is more an imagined imposition than real.
In all honesty and many times through, (with hundreds of others) it's only ever been that commercial hut at Windy Ridge that's been mentioned as notably noisy.

Sounds like you've had markedly different experiences than me Nuts, lucky you! On the topic of sharing the descriptions of campsites that are not 'publicly endorsed', you're right, I often forget the forum rules on this matter. Having said that, I imagine that the vast majority of OLT walkers will continue to use the huts or the campsites around the huts due to convenience and other social factors and I personally don't believe that knowledge of other areas to camp will influence many of them to do differently. But then, that's just based on my experiences out there which as I already mentioned, sound pretty different to yours!

[Nuts]

Hi Dee,

Sorry, but just to add, in this context I mean 'imagined' generally, not intended as dismissive of anyone's particular experience.. that, like yourself, has that experience to draw on.

And say so on observations of those iv'e taken, not necessarily myself/ level of tolerance/ where i'd camp (for the environs, against unnecessary impacts or regulation not against or disputing individual opinion).

Maybe the numbers will never get high enough on that track (or from the implications for other places) to fuss over a few extra campsite scars or room for us all to express our individuality. True.