A Guide to Walking Tracks in Southern Kosciuszko National

A Guide to Walking Tracks in Southern Kosciuszko National
Park
This guide provides basic information on the formed
walking tracks in the Southern portion of the park.
Many longer walks along management trails are
popular and books on these are available at shops
and information centres throughout the region.
The guidebook produced by the National Parks and
Wildlife Service Kosciuszko National Park provides
more information on the flora, fauna, history and
geology of the park. It can be purchased from NPWS
information centres.
NOTE: A photomap of the various walks (as
referenced by their identification number is shown at
the end of this document with the walk descriptions
below.
Can I ride my bicycle?
Bikes are permitted on management trails but not on
walking tracks. The Summit Walk from Charlotte’s
Pass to Rawson’s Pass and the Bob’s Ridge Walk
are management trails. Bicycles should not be taken off the trails and care should be taken to
avoid damaging wet trails.
Kosciuszko Road Tracks
(1) Sawpit Track
1.6km round trip
You can start this walk from the southern end of the Kosciuszko Education Centre or from the
northern end of the Sawpit Creek picnic area.
The track follows Sawpit Creek downstream through woodland (candlebark, white sallee,
manna gum and mountain gum). The thick shrub growing beside the creek is predominantly
woolly tea tree. After about one kilometre, a track junction is reached.
The Sawpit Track takes a sharp turn to the right while the Pallaibo Track continues following the
creek. The Sawpit Track climbs back up to the Kosciuszko Mountain Retreat (cabins/camping
area). Walk through this complex to return to the picnic area.
(2) Pallaibo Track
5.6km one-way
This track starts at the Sawpit Creek picnic area and finishes at Thredbo River picnic area near
the Kosciuszko Road entrance station. Most visitors arrange to be picked up from the Thredbo
River picnic area.
The first part of the walk follows the Sawpit Track. When this track branches off to the right,
continue following the creek downstream past Sawpit Falls and Charlie’s Cascades.
As the track drops down towards Thredbo River it crosses former grazing land. After crossing
Sawpit Creek the track follows the river downstream to the picnic area.
(3) Waterfall Track
6km round trip
This track starts at the Sawpit Creek picnic area and passes through the culvert under the road.
It runs roughly parallel to Sawpit Creek until it crosses the creek at a cascade or small waterfall.
The tall trees with fibrous bark growing near the falls are alpine ash. Alpine ash was logged in
this area late last century.
On the return, the track passes between huge granite boulders before returning to the picnic
area.
(4) Rennix Walk
12km return
This relatively flat walk through sub-alpine woodland provides views over the Snowy River to the
west and Lake Jindabyne to the east.
Turn back at the SMHEA radio repeater tower and return the way you have come.
(5) Rainbow Lake Walk
3km return
The track begins at a gate on the left side of the road towards Perisher from Sawpit Creek,
1.5km past Sponar’s Chalet. Parking is available opposite the gate or 400m further on at
Dainer’s Gap.
The track winds through snowgrass and snow gums to Rainbow Lake. The lake is a dam which
was constructed to supply water to the Hotel Kosciusko. Sponar’s Chalet was the staff quarters
for the hotel and became the main accommodation building when the Hotel Kosciusko burnt
down in 1951.
The old fences near a large boulder just before you descend to the lake are a legacy of the
grazing era.
(6) Porcupine Track
5km return
This track starts at the Perisher Valley reservoir. To reach the start of the track turn left beside
the Man from Snowy River Hotel and take the right branches of the road.
The snowpoles mark cross-country ski trails. Except where they follow the walking track, these
poles should not be followed by walkers because loss 4 vegetation and the development of
worn pathways will cause erosion.
Because the ground in this area is often wet, some sections of the track are constructed from
raised metal mesh.
The track wanders through snow grass, snow gums and small shrubs until a large group of
granite boulders is reached. These boulders provide an extensive view of the Main Range and
Thredbo Valley.
(7) Perisher - Blue Cow Link Road
4km one-way
After alighting from the Skitube at the Blue Cow Terminal follow the road outside back to the
Perisher Valley Terminal.
As the road descends it takes you from alpine to sub-alpine country. This is a maintenance road
so be wary of traffic.
(8) Snow gums Boardwalk
500 metres return
The boardwalk starts at the Charlotte’s Pass turning circle. You will see many of Australia’s
highest peaks and superb views. The walk traverses sub-alpine woodland on the Guthrie
Range. Signs indicate which peaks you can see.
(9) Main Range Track
12.5km one-way
After crossing the Snowy River below Charlotte’s Pass, the track climbs through alpine
herbfields past Hedley Tarn Lookout to Blue Lake Lookout.
It then climbs Carruther’s Peak that provides spectacular views to the west. It continues along
the exposed ridge of the Main Range above Club Lake and Lake Albina until it meets the
Summit Walk between Rawson’s Pass and Mt Kosciuszko’s summit. Turn right to climb the
mountain before returning via the old road to Charlotte’s Pass.
(10) Summit Walk
4.5km one-way
• Seaman’s Hut 6km one-way
• Rawson’s Pass 8km one-way
• Mt Kosciuszko 9km one-way
This walk follows the old road to Mt Kosciuszko. In 1976 the NPWS closed the road to public
vehicles at Charlotte’s Pass because of safety concerns, environmental problems and lack of
parking.
The walk passes through snow gums, heath and herbfields and provides extensive views of the
Main Range and Snowy River.
After crossing the Snowy River the track climbs gradually to Seaman’s Hut, Rawson’s Pass and
Mt Kosciuszko’s summit.
(11) Kosciuszko Walk
Thredbo to:
• Kosciuszko Lookout
2km one-way
• Mt Kosciuszko
6.5km one-way
The walk begins at the top of the Crackenback chairlift at Thredbo. After crossing Merritt’s
Creek it runs beside the rocky outcrops of Rams Head Range and passes through herbfields
and heath to Kosciuszko Lookout.
It then crosses the headwaters of the Snowy River, climbs to saddle above Lake Cootapatamha
and continue past Etheridge Range to Rawson’s Pass. From here it is gradual climb up the old
road up to Mt Kosciuszko’s summit.
Return to Thredho along the same route.
(12) Dead Horse Gap Track
5km one-way
From the top of the Crackenback chairlift the track passes through alpine herbfield and heath
below the craggy peaks of the Rams Head Range It then winds down a ridge through snow
gums until the Thredbo River is reached near Dead Horse Gap on the Alpine Way.
(13) Thredbo River Track
4km one-way
This track begins opposite the Cascade Trailhead. It crosses the Thredbo River several times
as it follows the river downstream to the Thredbo golf course.
Along the way it passes cascade and still pools which provides habitat for both the introduced
trout and the native platypus.
(14) Bob’s Ridge Walk
10km return
From the Alpine Way the Cascade Trail follows the Thredbo River upstream for about 2km
before crossing it and climbing to the top of Bob Ridge from where there are views over the
Murray River into Victoria.
Return the same way.
(15) Bullock’s Track
Thredbo Diggings return via:
•
Bullock’s Hut
4.5km
•
Muzzlewood Flat
3.3km
This track begins from either the Thredbo Diggings camping area or from the western side. the
Bullock’s Flat car park opposite the Skitube terminal. Both routes are signposted.
One branch goes to Bullock’s Hut which was built in 1934, a holiday cottage for Dr H. Bullock.