Kosciuszko National Park

Horse riding

The northern section of Kosciuszko National Park has expansive snow plains and low wooded ridges that offer great recreational horse riding. The Long Plain, which extends for a distance of some 30km, and the neighbouring Cooleman, Currango, Kiandra, Nungar and Tantangara Plains are all popular riding locations. There are numerous other smaller plains and divides to explore.

The park is traversed by the Bicentennial National Trail, a multi-purpose trail available to horse riders that extends down the east coast of mainland Australia. The trail covers 5330km, from Cooktown in Far North Queensland to Healesville in Victoria.

Aside from a commercial horse riding operation in the Thredbo alpine resort, there are limited options for horse riding in the central  and southern sections of the park. However, you can camp with your horse at designated camp sites at Ghost Gully, Old Snowy Camp, Long Plain Hut, Cooinbil Hut, Bullocks Hill, Wares Yard and Rocky Plain. These areas have toilets. Some also have facilities such as loading ramps and permanent yards. For Currango Homestead you will need to book for yourself and your horse (accessible between the NSW October and June long weekends). 

Recreational horse riding is currently prohibited in: declared wilderness areas; the Main Range area; the summit of Mount Morgan; Yarrangobilly Caves; and some other alpine and sub-alpine areas within the park.

Please observe the Australian Alps Horseriding Code:

• Keep your horse under control.
• Keep horses 50m away from any hut, waterway or camping area.
• Take the water to the horse; hard hooves destroy stream banks.
• Use only weed-free feed; no hay.
• Keep the group small; 4-8 horses per group is best.
• Avoid shoeing a horse before your visit; new shoes cut the ground more.

Horse riding trails

Gavels Circuit

Start this difficult ride at Boundary Trail off the Snowy Mountains Highway near the park entrance.

Gavels Hut is 5.7km north of the Snowy Mountains Highway. Head along Boundary Trail then turn left onto Gavels Hut Trail.

Some sections of the ride are two wheeled tracks, with steep climbs and descents.

In the southern part of the ride you will head through snow gum woodland and mountain gum and alpine ash forests. The ride then skirts the grassy Nungar Plains before returning to the Boundary Trail.

The huts

• Gavels Hut—Built 1931, it may have been established close to an earlier hut built nearby in 1922.
• Brayshaws Hut—Estimated to have been built in 1950, it could have been a Snowy Mountains Authority transportable hut moved to the site around that time. It is tiny (only 2m x 3m) made of weatherboard with a timber floor, one small window and a corrugated iron roof.

Directions: Snowy Mountains Highway to Gavels Hut 6km.

Maps

• Tantangara 1:100 000
• Tantangara 1:25 000
• Denison 1:25 000

Gooandra Homestead

This moderate walk or ride begins at the Gooandra Trail where it meets the Snowy Mountains Highway, 6km north of Kiandra.

The trail takes you across the Eucumbene River, traverses sub-alpine frost hollows on the Kiandra Plain, past the historic Six Mile Diggings, the headwaters of Gooandra Creek to the historic Gooandra Homestead. Gooandra has its origins in the Kiandra goldrush. The remains of another miner's hut about 20m away is still visible.

The huts

• Gooandra Homestead—The homestead is constructed of timber and weatherboard with an iron roof.

Directions: Maps—Tantangara 1: 25 000

Millers Hut

Park 2.5km east of Long Plain Road on Port Phillip Fire Trail. Travel south along the Australian Alps Walking Track for about 2km. Return the same way.

Millers Hut—Built 1943-44, it is a single-roomed corrugated iron and timber frame building with the remains of yards nearby.

Directions: Maps—Tantangara 1:100 000 and Rules Point 1:25 000

Mosquito Run

Some moderate riding with river crossings. Start at Ghost Gully - park you car at the designated horse camping area 4.5km east of Long Plain Road on Port Philip Trail.

Head north along the Mosquito Creek Trail. Hainsworth Hut is on the right. Continue for about 6.5km then veer right for Old Currango. The hut is 1.8km along the access trail. Ride 1.8km back to Mosquito Creek Trail and continue along to Bill Jones Hut. The hut is on the treeline, west of the junction of Bill Jones and Mosquito Creek trails.

From Bill Jones Hut you can return the way you came or extend your ride to Blue Waterholes, which lengthens the ride by 10km return. There is a camping area as well as two walks to enjoy. At Blue Waterholes, all riders must remain on the Blue Waterholes Trail.

You can also continue your ride to Oldfield's Hut (see Pocket Ride) and onto Pockets Hut, organising a car shuttle from the locked gate at Gurrangorambla Creek, on Pockets Saddle Road.

The route from Ghost Gully to Pockets Hut is part of the Australian Alps Walking Track.

The huts

• Hainsworth Hut—Built around 1951, it is a simple structure with a timber frame and covered in corrugated iron.
• Old Currango Homestead—Constructed around 1873, it is one of the oldest houses in the park. It is timber with a corrugated iron roof. The homestead is just below the treeline overlooking Currango Plains.
• Bill Jones Hut—Built in the early 1950s, possibly one of the last huts built as part of the grazing era. The hut has a timber frame and is covered in corrugated iron.

Directions: This 34km return ride includes all huts, as follows.

Ghost Gully to individual huts:

• Hainsworth Hut 3.5km one-way
• Old Currango 12.1km one-way
• Bill Jones Hut 15km one-way
• Blue Waterholes 18.4km one-way

Blue Waterholes to individual huts:

• Bill Jones Hut 5.5km one-way
• Old Currango 11km one-way
• Hainsworth Hut 16.6km one-way
• Ghost Gully 18.4km one-way

Maps

• Tantangara 1:100 000
• Rules Point 1:25 000

Murrumbidgee Ride

Some moderate riding with river crossings becoming more challenging the further you go. Start on Tantangara Road at the Murrumbidgee bridge crossing, 20km from the Snowy Mountains Highway. Pocket Saddle Road is beyond the crossing.

Walk or ride your bike/horse up Circuits Trail (heart starter). Continue onto Circuits Hut (total of 3.2km) or turn left onto Peden's Trail and cross Gulf Plain for the other huts. Turn left onto Townsend Trail for Townsend Hut (signposted).

Ride back to Peden's Trail and continue until you reach the track leading to Peden's Hut. From the hut ride back to Peden's Trail and then after a while turn left onto Murrumbidgee Trail.

Love Nest (in the Sallees) Hut is located off Murrumbidgee Trail, 200m north of the Clear Ridge and Murrumbidgee Trail intersection.

Alternative routes
For a shorter ride or walk, Circuit's Hut is 3.2km one-way from the Murrumbidgee bridge along Circuit's Trail.

This ride could include Circuits and Schofield’s Hut at an additional 12km return (see Plain Ride below) or by organising a car shuttle from Pockets Saddle Road and Murrumbidgee Trail to Tantangara Road and Schofields Trail.

The huts

• Townsend Hut—Constructed around 1940, the hut has three rooms, wood and fibro walls and an iron roof. There's also a shed at the rear of the building.
• Peden's Hut—Built in 1929, it replaced an 1890s slab hut. The hut is a simple construction with a timber frame and covered with galvanised iron.
• Love Nest (in the Sallees) Hut—This vertical slab hut is nestled amongst mature black sallees above Payten's Creek.

Directions: Circuits Hut trail to individual huts:

• Townsend Hut 4km one-way
• Peden's Hut 6km one-way
• Love Nest (in the Sallees) Hut 8.5km one-way
  

Maps

• Tantangara 1:100 000
• Tantangara 1:25 000

Nungar Bullock Ride

Start at Nungar Creek Trail 8km along Tantangara Road from the Snowy Mountains Highway. Witze's Hut is 11.5km along Nungar Creek Trail.

Hain's Hut is 35.6km from Tantangara Road, following Nungar Creek, Bullocks and Hains trails. It is west of Tantangara Dam, on a gentle slope above the Murrumbidgee River. In spring and summer the slopes surrounding the hut are covered in wildflowers.

If you are feeling more energetic consider expanding the ride to include Nangar Creek Trail to Kiandra or Bullocks Trail.

The huts

• Witze's Hut—Built around 1952, it's a good example of a vertical slab hut.
• Hain's Hut—This corrugated iron hut was built in 1947.

Directions: Witze's Hut 11.5km one-way; Hain's Hut 35.6km

Maps

• Tantangara 1:100 000
• Rules Point 1:25 000
• Rendezvous Creek 1:25 000

Plain Ride

This easy to moderate ride starts at the Tantangara Road and Schofields Trail intersection. Schofield's Hut is 6km along Schofields Trail crossing Nungar Creek. Circuit's Hut is 10.5km from Tantangara Road following Schofield's then Circuits trails.

For a longer ride continue along Circuits Trail to the intersection of Pedens Trail. From here you can start the moderately difficult Murrumbidgee Ride or organise a car shuttle.

The huts

• Schofield's Hut—The hut is a simple construction with a timber frame and floor and galvanised iron walls and roof.
• Circuits Hut—Built in 1938, this weatherboard hut has four rooms and an iron roof. It sits among mature black sallees overlooking Gulf Plain.

Directions: Schofield’s Trail to individual huts:

• Schofield’s Hut 6km one-way
• Circuits Hut 10.5km one-way
  

Maps

• Tantangara 1:100 000 and
• Tantangara 1:25 000

Pocket ride

This easy ride starts at the locked gate at the northern end of Pockets Saddle Road at Gurrangorambla Creek. Oldfield's Hut is 3.1km from here. Ride along Pockets Saddle Road and turn right into Murray Gap Trail.

Pockets Hut is 4.4km from the locked gate at Gurrangorambla Creek. Travel along Pockets Saddle Road and turn left into Blue Waterholes Trail then right into Pockets Hut Trail.

From Pockets Hut, you can return the way you came or start the Mosquito Run. Alternatively keen riders can continue to Blue Waterholes which lengthens the route by approximately 14km return. At Blue Waterholes, all riders must remain on the Blue Waterholes Trail. Ride along Leura Gap Trail for access into Namadgi National Park in the ACT.

The huts

• Oldfield’s Hut—Built in 1925, this is a typical slab hut with vertical boards. It has a covered verandah with views across the secluded valley where the Goodradigbee River originates.
• Pockets Hut—Built in the early 1930s, this weatherboard hut has four rooms and is lined with fibro. The chimney and roof are made of iron.

Directions: Gurrangorambla Creek to individual huts:

• Oldfield’s Hut 3.1km one-way
• Pockets Hut 4.4km one-way
  

Maps

• Tantangara 1:100,000
• Rules Point 1:25 000
• Rendezvous Creek 1:25 000

Horse riding: events and activities