Charlotte Pass

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. The bushwalking and mountain biking experiences are marvellous, including a track to Australia’s highest point in the splendid NSW Snowy Mountains.

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 was named after Charlotte Adams, the first woman to climb Mount Kosciuszko in 1881. The historic Kosciuszko Chalet Hotel was built in 1930.

You’ll find several other accommodation options in Charlotte Pass, which is only 42 minutes’ drive southwest of Jindabyne in warmer months. In winter Charlotte Pass is a snowbound wonderland for skiers and snowboarders and accessible with over-snow transport from nearby Perisher Valley.