Cradle Huts Overland Track walking holiday in Tasmania

Cradle Huts Overland Track walking holiday in Tasmania

How Cradle Huts Overland Track walking holiday in Tasmania makes a difference

Environment

Operating in such a delicate environment like Cradle Mountain National Park, our partners place a great deal of importance on minimal impact track and hut practices and the huts are designed to be ecologically sustainable. Each hut is architecturally designed to maximize cross flow ventilation and operate with maximum efficiency with renewable energy.

The remote location of the huts demands that they are autonomous in terms of servicing; rain water is channelled off the roof into tanks and self-composting, water-free batching toilets are used. Phosphorous free soap is provided for guests and all waste water is separated through grease traps and sand filters, and the residue is physically removed from site regularly along with all other rubbish. Gas and solar are the only sources of power used for lighting, heating and cooking.

The provisioning of these huts ready for each operating season is a unique procedure, once again due to their remote location. Only twice each season, supplies of food, wine and gas cylinders are flown in by helicopter over a two day period, while all garbage and waste matter is flown out. Nothing is left within the National Park. All waste is removed by helicopter.

Our entire team shares a deep commitment to maintaining the integrity of the Tasmanian wilderness. Accordingly we have established an operation that follows a Leave No Trace philosophy and are proud of the fact that we have effectively left no human trace behind over two decades of operating in Tasmania’s most delicate environs. The places we take our travellers remain in the same excellent and pristine condition as when we first found them.

Our leaders encourage and promote an understanding to our travellers of local conservation, including:

Stay on track: If no track, fan out and do not follow in each other's footsteps. Where there is a graded trail, stick to it.

Pack it in - pack it out: Take all of your rubbish out with you! Collect any other bushwalkers' garbage off the track!

Flora/Fauna: Don’t disturb or feed nesting birds or browsing animals. Avoid introducing weeds or seeds into new areas by thoroughly cleaning boots tents and other equipment before and after each trip. The root rot fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi is present in Tasmania help stop the spread we ensure our travellers clean their gear including boots, gaiters and tent floor, before, during and after a trek.

Community

Cradle Mountain National Park is uninhabited - the only other people you will encounter are other trekkers.

Our commitment to the community is to utilise local good and services and to promote nearby conservation efforts. For example we take Youth Groups to visit the Devils at Cradle Sanctuary to learn about the important work being done to help save this endangered Australian animal.

As part of our operations manual we make it very clear that resources, where and when possible, should be purchased from local sources. We have a food policy, whereby it states that the produce on trips should be both Tasmanian owned and produced. If both are not possible it should then be either produced or owned locally before even considering any mainland or overseas alternatives.

All guides and support staff are locally employed.

All vehicles are maintained frequently locally in Launceston.

As a pioneer and leader in the Tasmanian adventure industry, we help to bring together smaller operators and include some of their experiences in our multi-activity packages so they benefit from our marketing activities as well.

There is a check of local gear and equipment before every tour at a local gear shop. If a client is deemed lacking essential equipment we have obtained favourable rates for them to purchase the gear from the locally owned outdoor shop.

Each year we run at least one charity fundraising trek which benefits a Tasmanian charity financially as well as through raising their profile through the marketing activities we undertake to promote the trek.

We have also been a voice for local threats to the environment by engaging our database of travellers through newsletters and social media advising them what the issue is and how they can help. The most recent example has been the threat to the Tarkine rainforests and our assistance for the campaign to have the region World Heritage listed.

Cradle Huts Overland Track walking holiday in Tasmania

Cradle Huts Overland Track walking holiday in Tasmania