Farther on, the humpback mound of Mount Oakleigh rises above the canopy level, turning a rusty reddish hue in the rays of the late afternoon sun. From Pelion Hut, where I stayed for my second night, Oakleigh can be climbed before breakfast, offering a sweeping vista of the Du Cane range of mountains. But it is Mount Ossa, two hours farther along the track, that is the trophy climb — a narrow path winding its way between sheer slabs of rock hundreds of feet high, to give a view over the entire island on a clear day.

From Ossa, it is pretty much downhill all the way, with Kia Ora, Du Cane and Windy Ridge huts offering shelter on the final days of the trek.

It is the sight of Lake St. Clair, Australia's deepest lake (524 feet), that marks the end of the adventure. Most walkers take advantage of a two-way radio at Narcissus hut at the lake's edge to summon a ferry. It is either that or another five hours of walking along the shore to the visitors center and car park at Cynthia Bay.

Tasmania's wilderness is a cradle of life. With more than 20 species of mammals, five species of bats, 80 species of birds and enough flora to fill a botany book, it is little wonder that Cradle Mountain Lake — St. Clair National Park took its place alongside the Great Wall of China and Florida's Everglades National Park as a World Heritage Area in 1982.

To preserve the beauty of this unique wilderness, walkers are asked to stick to the path, even if it means wading through mud. Bushwalkers are also asked to leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but photos and memories.