Kosciuszko at a glance
- Elevation
- 2,228 m / 7,310 ft
- Summit of
- Australia
- Location
- Australia
- First ascent
- 1840
- Main routes
- —
- Season
- Nov–Mar
- Trip length
- 1 day
- Typical cost
- from ~$500
The one of the 7 summits most people can reach in a single day — but the alpine weather still bites.
Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m7,310 ft) is mainland Australia’s highest point and the 7th summit on the Bass list, a straightforward day hike.
What Kosciuszko costs
- Organising it yourself
A walk: a park pass for the car and, from Thredbo, a chairlift ticket.
Our estimate. International flights, gear and insurance are extra.
- Permits and fees
Climbing guide
Table of ContentsThe full contents of the Mount Kosciuszko guide, linked page by page.Kosciuszko: OverviewAustralia's high point is a walk, partly on a raised metal walkway after a chairlift ride. Its plateau is the only true alpine country on the Australian mainland, and even a morning that starts clear can end in a whiteout.Kosciuszko: Permits & costsYou do not need a climbing permit for Kosciuszko, but you do need to pay to bring a vehicle into Kosciuszko National Park.Introduction: the 7 summitsWhere Kosciuszko fits among the 7 summits, the old argument about whether it or Carstensz is the "real" one, and the honest picture: easy in summer, a proper alpine outing in winter.Planning and preparationEverything to decide before you go: when to walk, which route suits you, what the summer and winter seasons really mean, the chairlift, and the gear.Background informationThe mountain and the Main Range, the naming story and its curious mix-up, the Aboriginal heritage of the high country, and the wildlife of Australia's only mainland alpine area.Walking routesThe three summer day-walks to the summit (Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and the Main Range loop) and the one big historic route, Hannels Spur, described stage by stage.Australia and the Snowy MountainsThe practical side of the trip: getting to the Snowy Mountains and around, the national park you'll be walking in, and a light-hearted glossary of the Aussie words you'll hear along the way.ReferenceHow this guide was put together, the sources behind it, and a linked A–Z index of everything it covers.Books & filmsThe guidebooks, expedition accounts and films worth your time before Kosciuszko.Kosciuszko expedition operatorsEvery company that sells a guided climb of Kosciuszko: who guides it, what it costs, and how long each has been in business.
Read before you go
Staff Pick![Australian Alps [OP]: Kosciuszko, Alpine and Namadgi National Parks](https://vwodunlowqyeykqhkrvu.storage.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/media/variants/1222/720.webp?v=8d4bd9fd)
Australian Alps [OP]: Kosciuszko, Alpine and Namadgi National ParksDeirdre Slattery · 1997
Australian Alps [OP]: Kosciuszko, Alpine and Namadgi National ParksDeirdre Slattery · 1997