Overland Track registration site hit with soaring demand as punters compare it to Taylor Swift mania

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service’s website buckled under the pressure of hikers keen to hit the Overland Track, with some comparing the hours-long queue to last week’s Taylor Swift mania.

The queue to register to hike the Overland Track was hours-long, with some comparing it to trying to purchase Taylor Swift tickets. Main photo: Taylor Hill/TAS23/Getty Images

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service’s website buckled under the pressure of hikers keen to hit the Overland Track, with some comparing the hours-long queue to last week’s Taylor Swift mania.

Overland Track bookings for the 2023/24 season opened at 9am on Tuesday, with demand causing headaches for many who tried to log on and book a space.

“With only 34 places each day, popular dates can sell out very quickly and we recommend that you plan alternate dates in case your preferred date is unavailable,” PWS warned hikers.

Walkers on the Overland Track

Avid hikers vented their frustrations about the lengthy queue times, even comparing the ordeal to waiting in the dreaded Ticketek lounge to purchase Taylor Swift tickets that caused headaches across the nation last week.

“Three hours on the knocker! Sheesh, very stressful,” David Brewster posted on the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Facebook page. “Once I got through, I got a timeout error after selecting the date. Just clear it and click Next again, and repeat until it works. Don’t refresh!”

“Is Taylor Swift performing at Pelion Hut?” Darren Barone asked.

Bec Grundy said she had been trying to book a spot on the Overland Track “for SIX hours and it keep crashing every time I get below 200, how is this fair?”

In a reply eerily similar to Ticketek’s response to outraged Swifties last week, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service posted: “The system is working, please stay in the queue and do not refresh your page. Thanks for your patience.”

PWS advised walkers if they are unsuccessful in securing a booking, they should “regularly monitor the booking system, which updates in real time as cancellations occur.”

The Overland Track. Photo: Tayla Gentle

A PWS spokesperson told the Mercury there was “very high demand” from walkers that “caused some delays in the queue system”.

“This popularity reflects the quality and uniqueness of the experience and the recent investment in world-class visitor facilities including two new huts at Windermere and Kia Ora,” they said.

“Despite the heavy load, the booking system has remained active throughout the day and as at 3pm over 3000 walkers have made a confirmed booking.

“For those who have issues or are still in the queue, we apologise for the frustration and ask for their continued patience due to the heavy demand.”

There are 34 places available for booking each day over the season, which equates to 8296 walkers over the full season.

PWS said they would review the effectiveness of the system after this year.