Snowies Iconic Walk

Walking across Australia's roof.

Walkers on Porcupine track with purple wildlflowers in the foreground, Perisher, Kosciuszko National ParkThe Snowies Iconic Walk project (working title) proposes a world-class, multi-day trek across the alpine roof of Australia, in Kosciuszko National Park. It reflects the growing visitor demand for nature-based walking experiences in New South Wales, Australia and throughout the world.

Featuring remote days and comfortable nights, the 55-kilometre 4-day walk will extend existing walks across the park's spectacular alpine area to link the resorts of Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, Guthega, Perisher and Lake Crackenback. The walk will also cross over the summit of Mount Kosciuszko.

The walk has great potential to become a landmark ‘must-do’ experience for both domestic and international tourist markets.

What the project involves

The Snowies Iconic Walk concept aims to showcase the unique alpine ecosystems and breathtaking views of the Kosciuszko summit precinct and provide better experiences for visitors. It arose from a need to better disperse visitors to reduce overcrowding issues around Rawson Pass and the summit of Mount Kosciuszko and to provide a diversity of walking experiences. The concept reflects the vision for Kosciuszko National Park to be recognised as the premier destination for walking in Australia, with world-class sustainable facilities that protect the alpine environment, as outlined in the draft Kosciuszko summit precinct walking tracks strategy.

This project involves linking existing resorts, accommodation and services at Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, Guthega, Perisher and Lake Crackenback with the existing Main Range and Summit walking trails to provide a 55-kilometre, 4-day hiking experience.

The work includes 27 kilometres of new walking track and realignment of existing tracks to protect threatened alpine grasses. Each new track section is approximately 6–12 kilometres long. Walkers can choose to do any section of the track as single day walks or longer overnight walks.

This iconic walk has been awarded $17 million funding by the Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund, funded through Restart NSW, that provides funding for infrastructure that supports regional economic growth, creates local employment opportunities, and drives growth in the visitor economy.

Three sections of new track are planned to complement the existing tracks around Mount Kosciuszko and Main Range – Guthega to Charlotte Pass, Charlotte Pass to Perisher via Porcupine Rocks and Perisher to Bullocks Flat. After detailed analysis of several route options, the final alignment was selected to maximise the visitor experience of each route and minimise cultural and environmental impacts.

Snowies Iconic Walk

The Snowies Iconic Walk will be delivered in stages over 4 years, completing in 2022. The first stage of construction has been completed, with works to redirect an existing section of track near Mount Lee to avoid ecologically sensitive feldmark plant communities.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is delivering the largest investment in visitor infrastructure in its history. In total, the NSW Government has committed $257 million to implement 170 visitor infrastructure projects across the State.

These projects will drive increased domestic and international tourism to NSW regions and bolster the $18 billion of economic contribution that national parks make to the NSW economy (particularly regional economies) through nature-based tourism.

The Snowies Iconic Walk concept identifies and addresses a need for high-calibre non-winter tourism experiences that will significantly boost summer visitation to the park and improve year-round employment stability. This project will provide crucial support to the NSW economy and help our regional towns recover from the devastating fires and COVID-19 pandemic.

The walk will broaden access to this beautiful part of the world, strengthen the appeal of New South Wales as a walking destination and provide opportunities for a more diverse range of visitors to enjoy our spectacular national parks.

Our national parks are managed to protect their unique values and provide for sustainable visitor use and enjoyment. This includes providing visitor experiences and, where appropriate, new visitor facilities including tracks and trails.

We conduct independent environmental assessments to ensure public visitation and enjoyment is compatible with the protection of conservation values.

The project has included detailed design and assessment to ensure compliance with the park's plan of management and conservation management plans. Stringent environmental, cultural heritage and cost-benefit assessments, involving our staff, key stakeholders and other experts, ensure the project meets environmental, cultural and economic aspirations.

The proposed Snowies Iconic Walk will deliver an exceptional walk through spectacular alpine wilderness across the highest peaks in Australia.

Interpretation through innovative storytelling is one of the most effective ways to enhance multi-day walking experiences. Developing rich and engaging interpretation will be a key focus of the project, with the aim of immersing walkers in the landscape to create a strong connection and sense of place. The walk will respect the park’s natural and cultural values and the area’s remote alpine settings.

Effective community and stakeholder engagement is critical to the success of this project. We will engage with stakeholders and interested community members in a meaningful and timely way. Those interested in the project are invited to register their interest and receive regular updates on the project.

Charlottes Pass lookout, Kosciuszko National Park

Updates January 2021

The Snowies Iconic Walk is the working title for a $17 million Regional Growth - Environment and Tourism Fund project to build an exceptional multi-day trek across the alpine roof of Australia in Kosciuszko National Park. We hope you enjoy this update.

  • 08 Jan 2021
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Mountain Pygmy-possum, Kosciuszko National Park

Updates June 2020

Spring 2019 saw many of the planning elements for the Snowies Iconic Walk completed and approved. We hope you enjoy this update.

  • 17 Jun 2020
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Snowies Iconic Walk project – Register of interest





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