Fast facts
- At 2,228 metres above sea level, Australia’s highest mountain
- Amazing vistas to the horizon
- Located above Thredbo Village, approximately 530 km from Sydney
Why go there
There’s a certain sense of achievement in climbing the peak of Australia’s tallest mountain and it’s far easier than attaining similar feats in other parts of the world. The best way of getting to the peak is via the year-round chairlift from Thredbo followed by an easy six km walk.
History
The first European known to have reached the top was Polish explorer Paul Edmund de Strzelecki, who spent four years wandering the Australian Alps between 1839 and 1843, although it is likely that others were there before him. He named the mountain after a Polish patriot, Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kosciuszko.
Things to do
- Discover much more about the 675,000 hectare Kosciuszko National Park.
- Take in the nearby lakes of Cootapatamba to the south-west and Albina and Club to the north-east.
- Explore the mountain, winter and summer – the extreme seasons have their own joys.
Don’t miss
- The crisp mountain air.
- The abundant wildlife.
- The rugged and majestic scenery.
- A bushwalk through the rocky outcrops of Rams Head Range.
- Bringing along wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water.
