Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk

Located in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Mount Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest peak. Unlike many countries’ highest mountains, this one can be reached by hiking. Many years ago, driving was an option, but this has been replaced by a more environmentally friendly hiking trail. The Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk can start at Thredbo (a different hike starts at Charlotte Pass), where a chairlift takes you to the start of the hike.

At 6.5km one way, this is a hard walk, particularly on the way in as it is all uphill. The return trip is far easier because it is primarily downhill. Total time is estimated at around four to five hours but can easily take longer.

Getting There

Because it’s located in a national park, there is a fee for entry. This fee varies depending on the time of year, with ski season being the most expensive. We purchased a day pass at the kiosk on the main road. You can also park on the main road. As it wasn’t busy (in March 2025) there were plenty of spots, but it can be hard to get a park in the busy snow season. Remember that if you are visiting in winter, you must have tyre chains. There are plenty of bays to fit them as you near the park and more on the way out once you leave.

Kosciuszko Chairlift

During our visit the chair lift opened at 9:00AM and we were able to get on just after that. The trip to the top takes around 15 minutes. Tickets are available at a kiosk near the chairlift.

Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk

The track is very well maintained as it is one of the most popular in the country. Initially paved, it soon becomes a mesh-metal track. It is important to remain on the track so as not to disturb the fragile alpine environment. Throughout the walk, the track gradually grades up until you reach the summit. Along the way, the views of the Snowy Mountains are usually amazing. Unfortunately for us it was foggy for the whole day. So, although it was very atmospheric, we didn’t get to see any views from the summit. We started the walk at 9:18 and reached the summit at 11:13, so just under 2 hours. We had quite a few breaks along the way to catch our breath and take photos, so there’s no need to rush. The return walk was much quicker, taking one hour 25 minutes although we didn’t stop as much.

If you need to use the toilet, one is provided not far from the final climb to the top, at the intersection of the Thredbo and Charlotte Pass tracks.

What Did We Think?

We really enjoyed this walk even with the fog hiding the scenery. The chairlift is a quick but fun ride and walk is amazing as is being able to walk to the top of Australia’s highest mountain.