Due to the nature of some tracks in the high-use precincts of Kosciuszko National Park, events such as competitive running and mountain bike events present safety issues for general visitors, as well as event participants, if the tracks are open. Such events can't be held unless these tracks and trails are closed to the public.
Exclusive use of high-use tracks and trails for an event will only be allowed if the event meets the criteria introduced by National Parks and Wildlife Service. Closures are not permitted between Christmas and late January due to the high visitation level over this period.
The tracks requiring closure are:
- Main Range Track between Kosciuszko summit and Blue Lake Lookout
- Snowies Alpine Walk from the Main Range Track to Guthega
- Snowies Alpine Walk between Charlotte Pass and Perisher
- Upper Thredbo Valley Track between Friday Flat and Bullocks Flat
- Lower Thredbo Valley Track between Bullocks Flat and Thredbo River picnic area.
Maps of the tracks requiring closure for events are included below.
Other walking tracks within Kosciuszko National Park may be used non-exclusively without these criteria applying.
Due to the different uses of walking and mountain biking, visitation levels and physical attributes of the Mount Kosciuszko tracks and Thredbo Valley Track, a different set of criteria is applied for each. The main difference is the number of event participants per day. A higher number is required for Mount Kosciuszko due to the higher number of general visitors walking to the summit.
Criteria for exclusive-use events
The following criteria must be met for tracks to be closed to general visitors for an event. This will be assessed by National Parks and Wildlife Service when an event application is received. If an event does not meet the criteria, another location will need to be found for it to take place.
Mount Kosciuszko
| Weekends and public holidays | Exclusive use – Monday to Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | The event will have more than 1000 participants per day. | The event will have more than 500 participants per day. |
| Timing | The event runs on a maximum of one weekend day. | The event can run over 2 weekdays. |
| Communications | The event organiser develops and executes a communications plan to inform the public and stakeholders of closures. To include wide public messaging and on-ground signage. | The event organiser develops and executes a communications plan to inform the public and stakeholders of closures. To include wide public messaging and on-ground signage. |
| Reporting | The organiser provides an economic impact report pre- and post-event. A comprehensive post-event report is provided. | A comprehensive post event report is provided. |
| Status | The event is supported by Destination NSW, Department of Regional NSW or the Australian Government. | The event has approvals from cross tenure landholders and relevant agencies. |
Thredbo Valley Track
| Weekends and public holidays | Exclusive use – Monday to Friday | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | The event will have more than 500 participants per day.1,2 | The event will have more than 100 participants per day.1,2 |
| Timing | The event runs on a maximum of one weekend day. | The event can run over 2 weekdays. |
| Communications | The event organiser develops and executes a communications plan to inform the public and stakeholders of closures. To include wide public messaging and on-ground signage. | The event organiser develops and executes a communications plan to inform the public and stakeholders of closures. To include wide public messaging and on-ground signage. |
| Reporting | The organiser provides an economic impact report pre- and post-event. A comprehensive post-event report is provided. | A comprehensive post event report is provided. |
| Status | The event is supported by Destination NSW, Department of Regional NSW or the Australian Government. | The event has approvals from cross tenure landholders and relevant agencies. |
- Upper Thredbo Valley Track must be closed for any competitive event, no matter the number of participants.
- Lower Thredbo Valley Track must be closed for mountain biking, with trail running and walking events assessed on application.
Maps of exclusive-use tracks
