Resting on the top of Mount Kosciuszko

Mount Kosciuszko National Park
Australia's highest mountain
Australia must be one of the few countries in the world where the highest peak is only 2228 m above sea level and where the climb up the country's highest mountain is nothing more than a rather pleasant 6-km walk from the top of a nearby chairlift at Thredbo village. It operates all year round but in summer does tend to stop fairly early in the afternoon (the National Parks and Wildlife Service have built metal walkways along much of the route to protect the vegetation). An equally attractive way to reach the top of the continent is via a pleasant, easy 9-km walk from Charlotte Pass (weather permitting).

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service have published a 37 page booklet titled Beyond the Snow Gums: The Alpine Area - Kosciuszko National Park which provides detailed information on both these walks.

The main path from Crackenback to the top of Kosciuszko

Mount Kosciuszko was first climbed in March 1840 by the remarkable explorer and scientist Sir Paul Edmund de Strzelecki who had arrived in Sydney only a few months earlier. Upon his arrival Strzelecki announced his intention to carry out a geological survey of the whole of New South Wales. He started in December, 1839 and by March 1840 he had reached the Alps where he ascended the country's highest peak, naming it after the Polish patriot and democratic leader Tadeusz Kosciuszko (although most Australians pronounce the park's name as 'koz-ee-oss-ko,' it really should be pronounced 'koz-chooz-ko' and, more recently, there have been attempts to promote the proper pronunciation). It has been suggested that Strzelecki named the peak Kosciuszko because its rounded shape reminded him of Kosciuszko's tomb. He then pushed on to Gippsland and finally reached the coast at Westernport.

There is some dispute as to whether Strzelecki really was the first European to climb the mountain. There are suggestions that the naturalist John Lhotsky, who travelled through the Monaro and Snowy River regions in 1834, may have climbed the mountain. Certainly Stewart Ryrie Jr (one of the sons of area's earliest settlers) climbed nearby Mount Townsend in February, thus narrowly missing fame.

Things to see:  

Accommodation and Climbing the Mountain
No accommodation or eating is available. It is advisable to start the walk to the summit before 10.00 a.m., thus allowing most of the day to complete the trek. You will find, on a clear day, that the walk takes much less time but it is better to be on the safe side.

View over Lake Cootapatamba

National Park
The Park covers 675,000 hectares, including the Snowy River and all of NSW's snow fields. Visitors can enjoy the landscape of limestone gorges, glacial lakes, large granite boulders, alpine herbfields, heaths, bogs, areas of stony ground and interesting caves. Internationally known as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it incorporates six wilderness areas covering about 300,000 hectares with unique plant species and also the rare corroboree frog and mountain pygmy possum. For further information ring the park office on (02) 6450 5600.

Buddong Falls
From the back of the Tumut 3 Power Station (5 km from Talbingo) there is a dry-weather-only road that leads to Buddong Falls where picnic tables, toilets and water are available. A steep walk provides access to the lower falls. It is about a one-hour return track but is slippery when wet.

Blue Water Holes
There is a walk around this limestone gorge and an interpretative display. It is only accessible via 4WD and lies about 30 km along Long Plain Rd.

Currango Homestead
One of the few surviving relics of European settlement in the Park, it includes a homestead, outbuildings and workers' cottages. No camping is allowed but accommodation at the homestead can be organized, tel: (02) 6947 7025. It is located along Port Phillip Fire Trail or Tantangara Dam Rd. Day visitors are welcome.

Huts
Located along Long Plains Rd, there is Coolamine homestead, the Cooinbil Hut, Long Plain Hut and an interpretative display. They are 2WD accessible.

Walks
A booklet entitled North End Walks is available for $2.20. It outlines walking trails in the Park, tel: (02) 6947 7025.