GETTING THERE

Mt Kosciuszko sits atop Thredbo village located in south-eastern New South Wales. This means a flight into either Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, Sydney being the preferred choice of those coming from overseas. From either spot you can either hire a car or catch a bus to the town of Thredbo. There are plenty of accommodation options if you are planning to stay in Thredbo, just be sure to book well in advance during peak ski season (June-October).

Buses running from Sydney and Canberra include Greyhound, Snoexpress & Transborder Coaches.

National Park Fee- $16 per vehicle or $6 per individual (if coming via bus)

VISA

eVisitor: Free. This visa lets you visit for upto 3 months at a time in a 12 month period. Eligible to passport holders from the following countries:

– Andorra – Ireland – Romania – Austria – Iceland – Republic of San Marino – Belgium – Hungary – Slovak Republic – Bulgaria – Italy – Slovenia – Croatia – Latvia – Spain – Cyprus – Liechtenstein – Sweden – Czech Republic – Lithuania – Denmark – Luxembourg – Estonia – Malta – Finland – Monaco – France – The Netherlands – Germany – Norway – Greece – Poland



Electronic Travel Authority (ETA): Costs $20. This visa lets you visit Australia lets you visit as many times as you want (valid 1 year) and stay upto 3 months each visit. Eligible to passport holders from the following countries:

– Brunei – Malaysia – Canada – Singapore – Hong Kong (SAR of China) – South Korea – Japan – USA



Visitor Visa: Cost from $135-$330. This Visa lets you visit for upto 3, 6 or 12 months. It’s available to passport holders of those countries not listed in one of the above options.

WHEN TO CLIMB

It can be climbed year round, however conditions can vary wildly depending on the season. November to April is the most common time to ‘climb’, the weather usually being pretty warm and clear. Late May to October is a different story, the whole summit and surrounds being covered in snow. High winds and potential whiteouts can and do cause problems for trekkers at this time of year, so preparation and keen eye on the impending weather forecasts are advised.

Average Temperatures & Rainfall at Thredbo

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ave High 19° 18.5° 16° 12° 8° 4° 2.5° 3.5° 6° 10° 14° 16 Ave Low 6° 5° 3° 0° -1.5° -3.5° -5° -4° -2° 0° 2° 4° Ave Rain (mm) 97 73 114 98 131 168 186 235 229 173 136 91

CHOOSING A ROUTE

Kosciuszko Walk (13km return, 3-4 hours)

Enjoy this one because as far as the 7 summits go, this is as easy as it’s going to get. A chairlift takes you from the edge of Thredbo village, passed the ski fields and up onto the ridge where there is a restaurant waiting for you if you’re feeling a little peckish. From there, the route follows a steel walkway, right up to within a couple of hundred metres of the summit. If you’re feeling a up for a little more exercise, you can add the Merrits nature track which adds a 4km route through forest just off to the side of the steep section of the ski slopes.

Chairlift runs from 9am-4pm and costs $28 one-way.

Note/Tip: It is recommended to get up to the summit either very early or very late to avoid the hordes of tourists that frequent the region, particularly outside of winter. (30,000 each year..)

Summit Walk (18.5km return, 5-6 hours)

Rather than from the Thredbo village, this route starts at Charlottes Pass, about an hours drive from the village. The Summit walk follows an old service road and is predominantly flat or passing over gentle rolling hills. Passes the renowned Snowy River up to Rawsons pass before another track leads on to the summit.

Main Range Track (22km loop, 8-9 hours)

Again kicking off from Charlottes Pass, the Main Range track is regarded as one of New South Wales premiere hiking trails. Passing over alpine terrain and skirting glacial lakes, some spectacular scenery is on offer. Although it can be accomplished in a long day, it is recommended to camp overnight at Wilkinsons Creek. Parts of this trek can get a little steeper, with a few rocky areas to cross, the majority however consisting of fairly gentle slopes.

CHOOSING A GUIDE

Taking a guide to reach the summit of Mount Kosciuszko is entirely unnecessary. The only reason to use a guide service is if you wish to learn more about the landscape and history of the region. If so, you can use one of the service providers below:

Thredbo Alpine Village: $44 for Summit walk (offer unique options such as sunset and full moon treks to the summits)

K7 Adventures: $50+ for Summit Walk (also offer a range of walking tours, mountain biking and rock climbing/abseiling)

TRAINING & PREPERATION

Only a very basic level of fitness is required to reach the top, practically, the ability to walk 13km over gradually climbing terrain in a few hours. If this sounds like something you need to prepare for, you should probably reconsider your goal of climbing the 7 Summits. Having said that, some folks climbing Kosciuszko have been caught out in pretty harsh changes of weather, particularly during winter months. Proper research on weather conditions is certainly advised, as is appropriate clothing to deal with them.