Hiking to Mt Kosciuszko from Charlotte Pass

It’s been on my bucket list for a while now, but finally, I have completed the hike to Mt Kosciuszko from Charlotte Pass.

If you’ve also been thinking of conquering Australia’s tallest peak, it is possible for us mere mortals who don’t climb mountains.

Now that I have hiked the beautiful, challenging terrain of the Charlotte Pass to Mt Kosciuszko walk, I can tell you that you’re in for an awesome experience.

Here is my first-hand account to help you prepare, execute your hike, and make the most of your trek up Australia’s highest mountain. 

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

Ready to get started?

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Mt Kosciuszko Main Range Walk at a glance

• Route: Charlotte Pass → Main Range Walk → Mt Kosciuszko → Summit Trail → Charlotte Pass
• Distance: 22km official route
• Grade: Grade 4
• Suggested time: 7–9 hours
• Highest point: 2,228m
• Our time: About 6¾ hours including roughly 30 minutes at the summit
• Our actual distance: About 25km according to my Fitbit
• Best for: Walkers wanting the more challenging and scenic Charlotte Pass route

We started walking just before 6:30am and were back at the car at around 1:15pm. While there are some challenging sections, I found the distance rather than the climbing to be the hardest part.

Planning Mount Kosciuszko

This is no ordinary mountain. Sure, it is one of the seven peaks on the Seven Continents trail, but this one is not like the others. Our special Australian mountain is a mere 2228m (7310 feet) tall.

Mount Kosciuszko does not need you to be a mountain climber, plan for months in advance, stay overnight or even be particularly fit.

Most ordinary people can simply come to the Snowy Mountains and go for a day hike to reach the top.

The Path to Mt Kosciuszko

There are three main routes you can take to reach the summit of Mt Kosciuszko:

• From Thredbo: Take the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift up the mountain, then walk the 13km return track to the summit. Allow around 4–5 hours.
• Summit Trail from Charlotte Pass: An 18.6km return walk following a wide management trail. Allow around 6–8 hours.
• Main Range Walk from Charlotte Pass: A 22km loop, walking out via the Main Range and returning along the Summit Trail. Allow around 7–9 hours.

I chose the third option.

We walked along the Main Range track on the way to Mount Kosciuszko and returned via the Summit Trail.

It’s the longest and more challenging of the three options, and NSW National Parks grades the Main Range Walk as Grade 4. Some bushwalking experience is recommended.

That said, I’m not a serious hiker and I found it perfectly doable. For me, the distance was more challenging than the climbs.

And if you’re wondering whether the extra effort is worth it, I think it is. The scenery along the Main Range was one of the highlights of the whole day.

You will have stunning views over the Snowy Mountains, including seeing the Blue Lake, Albina Lake (two of the four glacial cirque lakes in Australia) and the Ramshead Range.

Best Time to Hike Mt Kosciuszko from Charlotte Pass

In the warmer months, from December to March, the temperatures hover between cool to mild, making this a fantastic time for hiking.

Plus, the alpine wildflowers are in full bloom, providing a splash of color against the stunning backdrop of the mountain range.

This also means it’s the most popular time for hiking. While the Main Range part of the walk is unlikely to be crowded, you will find a reasonable amount of traffic on the last section to the top, once the three paths have joined.

This guide is really for hiking Mt Kosciuszko during the warmer months.

In winter, the Main Range can be snowbound and NSW National Parks does not recommend walking this route in those conditions.

Experienced visitors may travel through the area on cross-country skis or snowshoes, but this becomes a very different adventure from the summer hike I’m describing here.

Kosciuszko Road also closes between Perisher and Charlotte Pass during winter, so you can’t simply drive to the same starting point that we used.

Gearing Up for the Hike

A successful hike starts with suitable gear, especially if you’re taking on a trek like the one from Charlotte Pass to Mount Kosciuszko.

Don’t underestimate the importance of packing a comprehensive kit; it’s your safety net and comfort while exploring the great outdoors.

Essentials

Alpine weather can change quickly, so dressing in layers is important even when the forecast looks good.

We hiked on a beautiful January day and I wore a thin T-shirt, light zip-up jacket and windproof outer jacket. It was cold enough on the windy side of the mountain that I needed all three, while on the sheltered side I was undoing zips.

Wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and don’t underestimate the alpine sun. Take sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat, and don’t forget your lips and ears.

I was fully covered and sunscreened but missed one small patch behind my ear – and I certainly felt it for the next day or two!

Gear

To take hiking poles or not to take hiking poles?

We saw many people in both camps. We did not take poles, but there were times I would have liked to have them – and other times were they would have just been a burden.

I think overall, we made the correct decision for us not to take the poles. I absolutely do not think you need them for either the Thredbo or Summit trails.

But if you like to use hiking poles and you are happy to carry them for big chunks of the hike – like for the 1.7km stretch where a metal grate creates the path – then I think they will be useful.

Food and Water

Since you are going to spend 6-8 hours and walk up to 25km you will need to make sure you have enough food and water for the day.

My preference for carrying water is to use a hiking daypack with a water bladder. It means I have constant access to the water without needing to stop and pull it out from my backpack.

I don’t tend to drink a lot while I’m walking, but I carried around two litres of water.

How much you’ll need will depend on the weather, how long you expect to be walking and how much you normally drink, so make sure you carry enough for a full day on the trail.

Take some trail snacks and lunch with you on the walk. I like simple food when I walk, so my food consisted of a sandwich for lunch, some grapes and some lollies for a sugar boost.

Navigation

In summer it is almost impossible to miss the path. There may not be a lot of signage, but it is very clear where you need to go.

Even though the trail was easy to follow when we walked it in summer, don’t rely solely on your phone for navigation in the alpine environment.

You can also hire a Personal Locator Beacon free of charge from the National Parks people at the Snowy Region Visitor Centre in Jindabyne or the Perisher Valley Office.

Phone Coverage

Phone coverage should not be relied on at any time during this hike, but there were many times when both my husband (on Telstra) and I (Optus) did have coverage, including right on the summit of Mount Kosciuszko.

So assume you won’t have coverage and think of it as a bonus when you do.

Leave No Trace

You’re walking through a fragile alpine environment, so stick to the marked tracks and boardwalks, don’t pick plants or move rocks, and observe any wildlife from a distance.

There are no rubbish bins along the trail, so everything you take in needs to come back out with you.

Getting to Charlotte Pass

The small village of Charlotte Pass is the highest permanent settlement in Australia. The nearby starting point of the Mt Kosciuszko trails sits at 1835m above sea level.

It’s about half an hour’s drive from Jindabyne to Charlotte Pass, and probably ten minutes from Perisher village. The starting point of the hike is literally the end of Kosciuszko Road.

You will need to pick up a pass to enter the national park. You can either get it in advance on the app, at the visitor information centres or there are manned offices on the road you can stop into – like toll booths.

You will need a pass to enter Kosciuszko National Park. When we visited in January 2024, we paid $17 per vehicle for the day, but fees can change, so check the current Kosciuszko National Park entry fees before your visit.

You can buy your pass in advance or at one of the visitor centres and park entry stations.

There is really not much here at the starting point, not even a car park, so you will need to park along the road to do your hike.

It’s a really good idea, therefore, to get here early, especially if, like us, you are planning this hike in peak season. I think we picked the busiest time of the year – the Australia Day long weekend.

We parked two hundred metres or so from the starting point, but the cars were stretched kilometres down the road when we returned. It’s a long enough hike without adding those extras on at the end.

There isn’t much at the trailhead, but there is a lookout with views towards Mount Kosciuszko and toilets. It’s worth using them before you set off.

There are some toilet facilities along the route, but availability can change, so check the latest NSW National Parks information before your hike.

Hiking the Main Range Walk to Mt Kosciuszko

I mentioned it above, but I want to reiterate that starting this hike early is a good idea, especially if you know it’s going to be busy.

Our plan was to arrive just as the sun was coming up, so that meant we were starting on the trail a little before 6:30am.

Even in January, on what was going to be a superb day, it was around 3 degrees (Celsius) as we parked the car.

The first kilometre or so of the hike is all downhill, towards the Snowy River and the first crossing. You will need to step your way across a trail of rocks to get to the other side.

We walked the loop anti-clockwise, tackling the Main Range first and returning via the Summit Trail.

This also meant we crossed the Snowy River near the beginning of the walk. That’s useful because water levels can make the crossing difficult or even impassable.

I’d much rather discover that near the start than after walking most of the loop!

While walking down to the river is a nice easy part of the hike, you do spend the time looking directly towards the path back up the other side, knowing that you will soon be tackling that.

Take it slow and steady, and soon you will be at the 4.3km mark, which is a viewpoint over the Blue Lake. You can continue directly on, or do a short detour to see the lake.

During our hike, the detour was only 350m to a closer viewing platform over the lake, the rest of the path down to the lake was closed. If that path is open, it’s 1.4km each way to see the lake up close.

The trail continues upward until you reach the summit of Carruthers Peak, Australia’s seventh-highest mountain. Here you will have incredible views out over the Snowy Mountains beyond.

While you might be almost blown off the mountain by the wind, make sure you do stop and take in the view before moving on towards the next landmark, Albina Lake.

After climbing consistently for a while, now you can rest a little as you walk along the metal boardwalk that has been installed to protect the native vegetation.

Here is where I really started to notice the variety of wildflowers that were blooming all over the mountains.

I loved the views over Albina Lake and along the valley behind. It’s that classic mountainous landscape that stretches for miles with a sparkling blue lake.

After this, the climb ramps up a little. We had also come around to the protected side of the range, so it started to feel warmer.

You will now be able to see the Kosciuszko Summit, so you will know you’re not too far away.

About 1km from the top the Main Range track joins with the other tracks, and you wind back around the windy side of Mount Kosciuszko before reaching the summit.

It’s with a mixture of joy and relief that you will spot the marker that sits at the very highest spot – and then you will join the line of eager hikers wanting that photo of them at the top.

Or perhaps there won’t be a line…

But if you come on a busy day like we did, you will likely find 100 people at the top, sitting enjoying a snack before the descent, taking plenty of photos and celebrating the achievement of hiking Australia’s highest mountain.

We reached the summit a little before 11 am, so in total it was around 4.5 hours at a steady pace. Many people passed us going faster (even some runners) and we passed some others going slower, so I would say this is an average timeframe.

The Descent

After spending half an hour admiring the view and eating our sandwiches, it was time to take the Summit trail back to Charlotte Pass.

The walk down is shorter and easier, and not just because it is downhill. Now the walk is on a roadway that is used for vehicle access when required.

About 2km from the summit you will come to Rawson Pass and the highest toilets in Australia.

I had heard some horror stories about the toilets, so I was a little hesitant about using them, but really, for how isolated they are and the constant stream of “customers”, they weren’t too bad at all.

It’s around another kilometre before you will reach Seamans Hut, an emergency shelter for people who might need it.

It’s interesting to take a look inside and imagine spending a snowy night huddled in there – not something I actually want to experience.

It’s still easy walking as the Snowy River is crossed again, with nowhere near the descent and climb required at the earlier crossing. There is even a proper bridge this time too.

We arrived back at the car park at around 1:15 pm – and boy was I glad I did not have to hike another kilometre or two down the road to my car as some people would have to do.

My Fitbit told me I walked over 36,000 steps and 25km in total, so now it was time to put my feet up and rest for a while.

Is the Mt Kosciuszko Main Range Walk Hard?

As I look back on my hike to climb Mount Kosciuszko, I can honestly say the hardest part was the length of the hike.

I’m not especially fit, and I detest hiking uphill at the best of times (yet I always seem to want to do it!) but the climbs were bearable. Hard in places, but bearable.

A few years ago I climbed Mt Kinabalu on Borneo, and this walk from Charlotte Pass to Kosciuszko summit was half the height, half the pain and half the time! So much easier!

We saw plenty of families on the trail at the top (mostly from Thredbo), and bike riders can go as far as Rawsons Pass, so we saw many of them of the last section back too.

Would I choose the Main Range route again? Absolutely.

If your only goal is to stand on top of Australia’s highest mountain, there are easier and shorter ways to get there. But for me, reaching the summit was only part of the day.

The views over Blue Lake and Albina Lake, the wildflowers, Carruthers Peak and simply walking through the Snowy Mountains were what made this route so worthwhile.

My legs were certainly ready for a rest after 25km and more than 36,000 steps, but I’m glad I chose the longer way to the top.

If you’re coming specifically to hike Mt Kosciuszko from Charlotte Pass, there are three main areas I’d consider staying.

The closest place is the tiny village of Charlotte Pass. Mostly a ski resort, there are options available here all year.

A little further down the road is Perisher, also a ski resort, but again there are limited accommodation options all year.

If you want more services and other things to do, stay in Jindabyne. This was the option we chose.

We stayed in a cabin at Discovery Parks Jindabyne which was a great location.

Looking for more Australian adventures? Read these next
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Great Barrier Reef Experience, Cairns

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