Charlotte Pass
Travel Alert
Following recent bushfire activity in NSW, many national parks remain closed or have restricted access. Visit the NSW National Parks & Wildlife website before undertaking any travel to check which areas are open. A total fire ban is also in place across most national parks.
Charlotte Pass in Summer
Explore idyllic spring and summer alpine scenery around Charlotte Pass in Kosciuszko National Park, from wildflowers and snow gums to glacial lakes. Enjoy bushwalking and mountain biking, including a track to Australia’s highest point in the beautiful NSW Snowy Mountains.
Hiking and mountain biking in Charlotte Pass
Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk starts in Charlotte Pass, Australia’s oldest and highest snow resort at an elevation of 1,765 metres. The track is 18.6km return or six to eight hours. For mountain bikers, leave your bicycles at Rawson Pass bike stands and walk the 1.4km to Australia’s rooftop.
The scenery along the length of the track is beautiful. You’ll weave past summer alpine wildflowers and snow gums, across the Snowy River and then past the 1929-built Seaman’s Hut to Rawson Pass, where it’s a gradual walk to the mountaintop. Australia’s highest mountain stands 2,228 metres.
The challenging Main Range walk begins in Charlotte Pass. A 22km loop for experienced hikers, Main Range includes the Mount Kosciuszko summit and glacial lakes Hedley Tam and Blue Lake. The striking landscapes along the walking track are part of a UNESCO-protected Biosphere Reserve.
Before you explore the fabulous walking tracks in the Snowy Mountains, read these bushwalking safety tips and follow the advice.
Charlotte Pass in Winter
Charlotte Pass Is Australia’s highest snow resort. You’ll find a wonderful range of skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing adventures, from downhill runs to terrain parks, including a children’s play park with mini jumps. Snowshoed adventurers can ascend Australia’s highest peak.
A snowbound wonderland from early June to early October, the ski resort is only accessible by over-snow transport from the Skitube railway terminal in Perisher Valley. There are plenty of ski-in ski-out accommodation options including the Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel.
Skiing and snowboarding in Charlotte Pass
Skiers and snowboarders will be thrilled with the wide range of downhill runs, from the gentle Easy Starter for beginners to the adrenaline-pumping Guthries Chutes for the experienced. There are lessons available from professional instructors and an all-day kids program for three to 12-year-olds.
For a starry experience, enjoy night skiing and boarding Wednesdays and Saturdays. Or get up early for the Mount Stilwell Snow Experience, and ride the over-snow Pisten Bully vehicle up the mountain for sunrise, before skiing or boarding on the pristine first run before the lifts open.
Activities in and around Charlotte Pass
There are cross-country trails, and experienced alpine adventurers can trek on snowshoes or cross-country skis to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, where the views of the NSW Snowy Mountains are stunning. K7 Adventures offer guided tours to Mount Kosciuszko’s peak.
Before a mountaintop trek or other backcountry and off-piste adventures, please read these alpine safety tips carefully.
