Kosciuszko National Park

Walking tracks

Yarrangobilly Caves - Thermal Pool

A steep track leads down to the Thermal Pool beside the Yarrangobilly River. The water is always warm (27°C) because rain water seeps through porous rock to almost 800m below the ground surace where it is heated and then forced up through cracks to emerge as a warm spring. It flows into the pool at about 100,000L an hour. The water is mildly mineralised and contains dissolved magnesium, sodium and calcium salts. The pool is 20m long and up to 2.5m deep. There is a children's wading pool, change rooms, toilets and picnic facilities. Return track is steep back up to the carpark.

For more information on this and other walks, contact the Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre.

Contact: Snowy Mountains (Yarrangobilly Caves), Phone: (02) 6454 9597

Kiandra Heritage Track

Kiandra was the scene of one of the shortest gold rushes in Australian history - from November 1859 to March 1861. It has been claimed that by March 1860 there were up to 10,000 people on the diggings. Within a few years the population had stabilised at about 300. This self-guiding track begins at the RTA depot (former courthouse) and a number of signs along the way provide information about many of the major buildings and life in historic Kiandra.

Plant communities: alpine plant communities, dry eucalypt forests, grassy woodlands, grasslands, heathlands, forested wetlands

Yarrangobilly Caves - Glory Farm walk

From the Thermal Pool follow the Yarrangobilly River downstream to the site of Henry Harris' Glory Hole Farm. There is not much left of the farm but you may find the old colonial oven, some foundations and a small cemetery.

For more information on this and other walks, contact the Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre.

Contact: Snowy Mountains (Yarrangobilly Caves), Phone: (02) 6454 9597

Yarrangobilly Caves - Lookout walk

From the Glory Hole carpark the road winds up the side of the Yarrangobilly Valley to the Bluff Lookout. Return the same way.

For more information on this and other walks, contact the Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre.

Yarrangobilly Caves - River Walk

From the Thermal Pool the track follows the Yarrangobilly River upstream where it joins the Castle Walk. The dense shrubs along the way make this an ideal track for bird watching and in spring and summer it provides an impressive display of flowers.

For more information on this and other walks, contact the Yarrangobilly Caves Visitor Centre.

Sawpit track

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, you'll reach a track junction. 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.

Plant communities: dry eucalypt forests, heathlands

Rainbow Lake walk

The track begins at a gate on the left side of the road towards Perisher from Sawpit Creek, 1.7 kilometres past Sponar's Chalet. The track winds through snowgrass and snow gums to Rainbow Lake, a dam built to supply water to the Hotel Kosciusko. Sponar's Chalet had been the staff quarters for the hotel which burnt down in 1951. The old fences near a large boulder just before you descend to the lake are a legacy of the period when this area was leased for grazing.
 

Plant communities: grassy woodlands, alpine plant communities, heathlands

Buddong Falls track

Buddong Falls, in the north-western corner of the park, have been formed where harder granitic rock meets softer shales and slates. The shales have been worn away by the fast-running Buddong Creek. There are two sets of falls. The upper falls are 20 metres high while the lower falls form cascades about 60 metres high.

From Talbingo go to the Tumut 3 Power Station, follow the sealed road up the hill for one kilometre then turn off to the right over a cattle grid and onto a gravel road. This road follows the powerline easement through to the Elliott Way. The Buddong Falls turnoff is 10.7 kilometres along this road and is well signposted. From Batlow, follow the signs to Lake Blowering along Forest Road and into Bago State Forest. Turn right into Snubba Road nine kilometres from Batlow, then left into Browns Road five kilometres further on. It is 10 kilometres from this intersection to Buddong Falls and the road is well sign-posted but is suitable for 4WD vehicles only. It may be impassable during winter. 

The walk to the lower falls is about three kilometres. The lower section is quite steep and is slippery during wet weather.

Plant communities: dry eucalypt forests, grassy woodlands, grasslands, alpine plant communities, freshwater wetlands, heathlands

Old Mountain Road walk

This walk follows the first road up Talbingo Mountain, built in 1860 during the Kiandra gold rush. It starts at the RTA stockpile, which, if you were travelling toward Cooma, is 5.5 km past the Talbingo turn-off on the left side of the highway. It involves a steep descent, so organise a car shuttle at the bottom. The first part of the walk provides excellent views of the Bogong Peaks and Jounama Creek valley. After two kilometres the track turns sharp right and descends 350 metres in altitude to Jounama Creek. Turn left at the creek to reach the picnic area.

Blowering Cliffs walk

The track starts from the parking area at the bridge over the Snowy Mountains Highway at the Log Bridge Creek picnic area. The track, which goes to Blowering Falls, is quite steep in sections and passes through dense vegetation which grows on the damp, sheltered hillsides. The last section of the walk involves negotiating rock slabs which have fallen from the cliff above. Return the same way.

Plant communities: dry eucalypt forests

Pallaibo track

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 the Sawpit track branches off to the right, continue along the creek down past Sawpit Falls and Charlie's Cascades. As the track drops down towards Thredbo River (steep in sections) it crosses former grazing land. After crossing Sawpit Creek the track follows the river downstream to the picnic area.

Plant communities: dry eucalypt forests, heathlands

Waterfall track

This track starts at the Sawpit Creek picnic area and passes 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.

Plant communities: dry eucalypt forests, alpine plant communities, heathlands

Jounama Creek walk

This walk starts at the Jounama Creek camping area, 500 metres off the Snowy Mountains Highway, three kilometres from Talbingo. It runs parallel to Jounama Creek. From the camping area walk to the end of the gravel road where the walk begins. It runs parallel to Jounama Creek and ends at a large pool. Return the same way.

Summit walk - Charlotte's Pass to Mount Kosciuszko

This walk follows the old road to Mount 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 Mount Kosciuszko's summit. Always take a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and water and be prepared for all weather conditions in the alpine area.

Plant communities: grassy woodlands, grasslands, alpine plant communities, freshwater wetlands, heathlands

Main Range Track - Charlotte's Pass to Mount Kosciuszko

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 which 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 Mount Kosciuszko. Turn right to climb Kosciuszko before returning via the old road to Charlotte's Pass. Always take a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and water and be prepared for all weather conditions in the alpine area.

Rennix walk

This walk through sub-alpine woodland provides views over the Snowy River to the west and Lake Jindabyne to the east. Turn back at SnowyHydro's radio repeater tower and return the way you have come.

Plant communities: grassy woodlands, alpine plant communities, heathlands

Kosciuszko walk - Thredbo to Mount Kosciuszko

The walk begins at the top of the Crackenback chairlift at Thredbo. After crossing Merritt's Cree, it runs beside the rocky outcrops of Rams Head Range and passes through herbfields and heath to Kosciuszko lookout (2km). It then crosses the headwaters of the Snowy River, climbs to a saddle above Lake Cootapatamba and continues past Etheridge Range to Rawson's Pass. From here it is a gradual climb up the old road to Mount Kosciuszko's summit. Return to Thredbo along the same route.

Always take a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and water and be prepared for all weather conditions in the alpine area.

Plant communities: alpine plant communities, freshwater wetlands, heathlands

Landers' Creek walk

From Talbingo proceed along the Snowy Mountains Highway towards Cooma. You will come to a gate on the right signposted 'Cumberland fire trail', approximately 10 kilometres south-east of Talbingo. Park your car on the left-hand side of the highway. Walk five kilometres along the management trail until you come to the Mount Talbingo trail. Turn left at the trail and cross Landers Creek via the traffic bridge. About 20 metres across this bridge, on the right, is the turn-off for the track that leads to the falls. Walk for another two kilometres to the cliffs which overlook the falls, Talbingo Reservoir and the ranges to the west. Return by the same route.

The Landers' Creek Falls lookout has views of the falls, Talbingo Reservoir and the ranges to the west. You will need to walk about 7km along the Cumberland Trail, however, vehicle access will be available along this management trail in the future.

Four Mile walking track

The walk begins at the Tabletop Trail where it meets the Snowy Mountains Highway, 500m south of the old Kiandra Courthouse. Leave your car just off the highway at the trackhead or at the old courthouse. The trail first climbs Dunns Hill but levels out after about 1km. From here it follows the broad ridge to the south. After walking 6km a signpost directs you east onto a walking track. The hut is a further 600m down this track. Robert Hughes, who was the last active miner in the area, built Four Mile Hut about 1937. He used it in the warmer months until 1953. The track continues onto Tabletop Mountain. Distance given is for the round trip.