The Snowies Alpine Walk project will deliver a world-class, multi-day walk across the alpine roof of Australia in Kosciuszko National Park in Monero Ngarigo Country.
Featuring active days and comfortable nights, the 55-kilometre, 4-day walk will extend existing walks across the park's spectacular alpine area to link the resorts of Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher and Lake Crackenback.
The walk has great potential to become a landmark 'must-do' experience for both domestic and international visitors.
View towards the Main Range and headwaters of the Snowy River, Guthega to Charlotte Pass Track 
Spencers Creek Bridge, with a backdrop of snow-capped Mount Twynam and the Main Range 
Looking down the picturesque Snowy River valley from Charlotte Pass towards Guthega 
An impressive granite outcrop at Betts Saddle on the Charlotte Pass to Perisher track 
Steps beside the Snowy River on the Guthega to Charlotte Pass track 
Spencers Creek bridge in fresh snow 
Steel mesh walkway on the Guthega to Charlotte Pass track 
Snowies Alpine Walk, Kosciuszko National Park 
Porcupine track at Perisher, Kosciuszko National Park
What the project involves
The Snowies Alpine Walk will showcase the unique alpine ecosystems and breathtaking views of the Kosciuszko summit precinct. It arose from a need to disperse visitors better to reduce overcrowding issues around Rawson Pass and the summit of Mount Kosciuszko and to provide a diversity of walking experiences.
The concept reflects the vision for Kosciuszko National Park to be recognised as the premier destination for walking in Australia, with world-class sustainable facilities that protect the alpine environment.
This project will deliver a class 4, self-guided or guided walk through majestic alpine and subalpine landscapes along the Snowy River, and includes reaching the summit of Australia's highest mountain, the 2,228-metre Mount Kosciuszko.
Along the way, there are opportunities to enjoy beautiful high-country plains, snow-capped mountain ranges and uninterrupted horizons, as well as unique plants and animals such as gnarled snow gums, hidden valleys of mountain ash, summer wildflowers, wombats, echidnas and native birdlife.
The project includes 27 kilometres of new walking track and realignment of existing tracks to protect threatened alpine grasses. Each new track section is approximately 6 to 12 kilometres long. Walkers can choose to do any section of the track as single day walks or combine sections for 2-, 3- or 4-day walks.
The Snowies Alpine Walk is a joint state and Commonwealth-funded project, with $17 million from Restart NSW’s Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund and $10 million from the Australian Government's Regional Recovery Partnerships program.
The Snowies Alpine Walk is due for completion in 2024.
The NSW Government is delivering its largest investment in national parks history with more than $450 million for over 200 visitor infrastructure projects across the state by 2024.
It builds on the $17.9 billion and 74,000 jobs national parks already contribute annually to the state's economy and is supporting NSW communities to recover in the wake of droughts, bushfires, floods and the pandemic.
The Snowies Alpine Walk concept identifies and addresses a need for high-calibre non-winter tourism experiences that will significantly boost summer visitation to the park and improve year-round employment stability.
The walk will broaden access to this beautiful part of the world, strengthen the appeal of New South Wales as a walking destination and provide opportunities for a more diverse range of visitors to enjoy our spectacular national parks.
Three sections of new track are being constructed to complement the existing tracks around Mount Kosciuszko and the Main Range walk. The 55-kilometre, 4-day Snowies Alpine Walk links the villages of Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher and Lake Crackenback. However, walkers can choose to do any section of the track as single-day walks or combine sections for 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-day walks. Below is a suggested itinerary for the 4-day walk:
| Day | Section | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Guthega to Charlotte Pass (now open) | 9 km |
| Day 2 | Charlotte Pass to Charlotte Pass via Main Range (now open) | 22 km |
| Day 3 | Charlotte Pass to Perisher (now open) | 12.9 km |
| Day 4 | Perisher to Bullocks Flat (under construction) | 11 km |
Download the Snowies Alpine Walk map (PDF 1.2 MB)
Our national parks are managed to protect their unique values and provide for sustainable visitor use and enjoyment. This includes providing visitor experiences and, where appropriate, new visitor facilities, including tracks and trails.
We conduct independent environmental assessments to ensure public visitation and enjoyment is compatible with the protection of conservation values.
The project has included detailed design and assessment to ensure compliance with the park's plan of management and conservation management plans. Stringent environmental, cultural heritage and cost-benefit assessments, involving our staff, key stakeholders and other experts, ensure the project meets environmental, cultural and economic aspirations.
The proposed Snowies Alpine Walk will deliver an exceptional walk through spectacular alpine wilderness across the highest peaks in Australia.
Interpretation through innovative storytelling is one of the most effective ways to enhance multi-day walking experiences. Developing rich and engaging interpretation will be a key focus of the project, with the aim of immersing walkers in the landscape to create a strong connection and sense of place. The walk will respect the park’s natural and cultural values and the area’s remote alpine settings.
Effective community and stakeholder engagement is critical to the success of this project. We will engage with stakeholders and interested community members in a meaningful and timely way. Those interested in the project are invited to register their interest and receive regular updates on the project.
Project updates
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