Mount Kosciuszko Summit walk (nr. Charlotte Pass) — Attraction in Charlotte Pass

Walk is invigorating, not for the faint hearted. Take water, sun block, extra cloths and be ready for quite a crowd in school holidays. The weather conditions can change in seconds - Your day may start out lovely and turn quite cold and wet fast. Please stay on the board walk (metal walkway) to protect the fragile Alpine flora. There are snakes off the board walk in summer hence, best to stay on it. You can expect a magnificent floral display in wildflower season. Not wise to take little ones unless you are willing to carry them quite some distance, most will give up. A fall while on the board walk can result in significant injuries due to the unforgiving metal design, intended to reduce slipping in ice conditions. Best to walk with running signed as strongly discouraged, (there is no immediate medical help should you take a tumble). The Kosciusko express from Thredbo is probably the best family access method with a 5hr (13km) walk, up hill all the way. It can be daunting for little legs or those not well prepared or who have minor joint ailments. There are those who head up in shorts and T-shirts only to come down frozen solid. This is a walk above the tree line and the weather can turn in seconds. Wear long sleeves, pants and take light wet weather gear, even on a sunshine day. This walk will take you across the origins of the Snowy River over to Rawson Pass. Rawson Pass is where the Charlotte Pass Walk (18.8 km) intercepts the hike to the summit. You will find toilets at Rawson Pass that are well kept with ETOH handwash available. While the aim is the summit, there is a great deal more to see and appreciate on the way so take your time and enjoy this hike as a DAY trip if leaving from Thredbo Kosciusko Express (15 min chairlift ride). I advise starting the hike early in the day (9 am) as the afternoon can see significant weather changes. The more adventurous and fitter of us may like the much longer up hill walk from Charlotte Pass, a shared walk and bike track - up hill all the way. At Rawson Pass, the bikes are parked for the remainder of the climb if traveling via Charlotte Pass access. No bike access from Thredbo Kosciusko side hike. At the summit in school holidays, be ready for a long line if you anticipate a photo of your...

Superb experience. Beautiful drive from Sydney / Canberra. First Stop at Cooma McDonald’s for a quick snack. Grab a coffee, caffeine will keep you active driving along the mountains. Drive slowly and look out for wild life.

Fee payable to entry national park. Approx $20. Turn left towards Therdbo, keep driving and turn right into Friday drive. Plenty of parking available but find somewhere close to chair lifts. Trust me you will feel when you return.

Three walking options to Summit-

Charlotte’s pass - 18km one way Walk from base - 11km one way (4km to Eagle nest Restaurant and 7km from there, this 4km is like hundreds of big stairs up the hill) Chair lift from base and walk from Eagle nest restaurant - 7km one way.

For option 1&2: lots and lots of training is required. Trust me again, it’s grade 4 and you will regret if you have not trained.

Chair lift one way ticket is $31 or $38 two way. Purchase two way, Just in case if you need it. Chair lift closes at 4:30pm sharp. So, plan accordingly.

Option 2, walking from base may take up to 3.5-4hrs one way.

Option 3, chair lift to restaurant and walk from there may take may 1.30-2hrs one way.

Take lot of water, sun screen, hat, food, jumper for wind, camera. Restaurant sells water & food. Toilets available at the restaurant and near summit. Distance between two toilets is about 6km and 1.5-2hrs away. So, plan accordingly. You will see hundreds of people walking on a weekend so nature is not an option for toilet.

If you miss last chair lift? You will have to walk along uneven surface down, which is not easy. Can take over an hour to come down.

Summit is beautiful and it’s an amazing feeling to hike one of the highest mountains in the world.

Stay safe...

MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO (WOW)

Mt Kosciuszko summit walk can be challenging to oneself depending on your hiking ability!

There are several ways to challenge yourself to get on the highest part of Australia 🇦🇺

Taking the chairlift from Thredbo to Eagles Nest, you will find the start point of the Kosciuszko summit walk!

The summit walk from Eagles Nest is roughly a 13 km return trip with unbelievable views along the way, one being Lake Cootapatamba located at 2,048 mts and is a post glacial tarn, but wait the views get are even better once you make it to the top of Australia!

I've now done it twice, once in September 2023, at the end of the winter period, and now March 2024, the summer period!

September, a perfect day with snow around making it a little difficult to walk without snow shoes, but the steel grate platform appeared out of the snow in most parts

March, crazy no snow steel grate fully exposed but nearly twice as hard with solid head winds of around 35 + kms an hour making trekking a lot harder!!!

With saying this, check the weather before heading up! and most levels of fitness can make this hike in the summer months as the steel grate is fully exposed...

Be prepared to pack all the right equipment for your day out with plenty of water, food, and some spare chothes just in case... Also, sunscreen helps, and don't forget to fill in the intention form with (NPWS)! National Park Wildlife Service...

There is a toilet at the start of the summit walk (Eagles Nest), and one at Rawson pass about 1.6 kms from the summit...

Well worth every bit of...