Climbing Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak

Climbing Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak

Climbing Australia's Mount Kosciuszko may not be on every visitor's itinerary, but it's the easiest way to conquer one of the seven peaks (so to speak).

“So does this really count as one of your seven peaks?” Kia asked as we began to break trail.

"Not really. But when I'm on my deathbed and one thing comes up short, it has to count," I replied.

I may have mentioned that I have climbed the Seven Summits (the highest mountains on each of the seven continents) once, twice, or ten times. I dream of climbing them all, no matter how unlikely they are.

Mount Kosciuszko – seven peaks or not?

Finding the time, money and fitness to climb these mountains isn't the only challenge. There are two main lists in circulation, named after the climbers who completed them first, with slight variations on which seven mountains actually qualify.

The seven peaks depend on the definition used for a continent - specifically the definition of the continent of Australia/Australasia/Oceania - and therefore its highest mountain.

The highest mountain on mainland Australia is without a doubt Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228 m (7,310 ft). However, the highest mountain on the Australian continent – ​​which includes Australia, New Zealand and thousands of islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans – is Puncak Jaya (Carstensz Pyramid) in Indonesia at 4,884 m (16,024 ft).

There is also a proposal that the seven peaks should be defined by tectonic plates, which would make Hawaii's Mauna Kea the highest mountain on the Pacific Plate. But I digress.

alt=“Climbing Mount Kosciuszko Australia Seven Peaks Diagram”>Anurag Paul: CC BY-SA 2.0I climbed four of the nine mountains mentioned above – but only two of the seven actual peaks

Personally, I agree with the Messner list, meaning Kosciuszko is not a seven peak, but as we found ourselves within striking distance of the mountain on the drive from Melbourne to Sydney, it only seemed right to climb it.

Climbing the Kosciuszko

Altitude: 2,228 m (7,310 ft) Distance: 21 km Duration: 6-8 hours

We stayed in the mountain village of Thredbo, conveniently located in Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. There are several routes from Thredbo to the summit, ranging from easy to strenuous.

The easiest option is to take a chairlift to Eagle’s Nest, Australia’s highest restaurant, then take the Mount Kosciuszko Track to the summit (13km return). Of course, it's much more fun to take one of the trails that lead up the steep valley side.

alt=“Ascent of Mount Kosciuszko hiking map”>Thredbo.com.auThe Merritts Nature Track (4km each way) joins the Mount Kosciuszko Track (13km return) – 21km in total

There are several options, most of which include at least part of the steep Merritts Nature Track. We went all out and decided to hike the entire Merritts Nature Track (4km one way) up to Eagle’s Nest and join the Mount Kosciuszko Track (13km return) – a total 21km round trip hike.

We set off at around 9.30am after picking up some sandwiches for lunch in the village - and immediately regretting not getting up earlier. It was already hot and the first two kilometers of the hike were pretty damn steep.

Fortunately, much of the path runs through forest on the valley side and is protected from the strong sun. There are several shaded picnic areas to stop and catch your breath along the way, complete with viewing platforms and a cool and welcome breeze.

After sweating our way up the side of the gully, crossing small streams and shooting through the alpine forest, we were happy to make it to the Kehlsteinhaus - the final stop of the chairlift. It was quite disheartening to see the chairlifts glide effortlessly above us as we struggled on the steep path below, but we were happy to do it under our own steam.

The Mount Kosciuszko Track begins at Eagle’s Nest, mostly a gentle walk across “the roof of Australia”.

The route traverses rocky granite outcrops and rolling alpine meadows with tall grass, wildflowers and marshland. There are a few fenced viewing platforms and many natural rocky alternatives that offer views of the surrounding landscape.

alt=“Climbing Mount Kosciuszko Australia 6″>Atlas & BootsThe start of the Mount Kosciuszko Track at Eagle’s Nest

The trail continues over the headwaters of the Snowy River before climbing over Lake Cootapatamba and on to Rawson Pass. From here it is a final steep climb to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko.

The peak is not a jagged peak, but rather resembles a British fell - albeit several times higher. Regardless, the panoramic views over the Snowy Mountains are magnificent and a just reward.

alt=“Ascent of Mount Kosciuszko Australia 14″>Atlas & BootsThe summit of Mount Kosciuszko

It may not be the highest or hardest mountain I've ever climbed, but the fresh alpine air was a real treat after several weeks at sea level. The landscape was in stark contrast to the Australia we had seen so far. The red desert of the Australian outback or the coastal landscape of the Great Ocean Road felt like another country.

After lunch at the summit and our usual summit snapshot, we head back down the slopes. The return hike was easier, but we certainly got tired by the end, especially on the final descent along the steep Merritts Nature Track.

We arrived at our hotel tired and tired but very happy. Climbing Mount Kosciuszko was a welcome change from our Australian odyssey. It was good to get into the higher, cooler air of Australia and climb another peak in the process.

We'll just have to see whether it counts as one of my seven or not.

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Climbing Mount Kosciuszko: the essentials

What:Climbing Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak.

Where:We stayed at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel in the heart of Thredbo village. The hotel is within walking distance of everything you might need during your stay, including all major hiking trails as well as the chairlift station. The village itself has a number of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, shops and pubs in the immediate vicinity.

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Atlas & Boots

The paneled rooms are extremely cozy, clean and exactly what you need whether you are here in winter or summer. The rooms have a balcony with views of the surrounding mountain slopes and forest.

You can also choose to stay in a lodge, chalet, luxury apartment or self-contained units. The accommodation section of their website has more information on all the options available.

When:The best time to climb Mount Kosciuszko is from November to May. The hottest summer months are from the beginning of December to the end of February.

The route is generally snow-covered in winter (June-October). Kosciuszko National Park is open all year round, but some roads and trails may be closed due to weather conditions. It's worth double checking before you go.

How:Thredbo is about six hours by car from Sydney or Melbourne or 2.5 hours from Canberra. Access to Kosciuszko National Park is via either the Alpine Trail or Kosciuszko Street, where park offices are clearly signposted.

All visitors must stop at the park office to pay entrance fees. Summer parking fees per day (24 hours) are as follows. See NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for winter fees and further information.

• 17 AUD pro Fahrzeug (13 USD)
• $7 AUD pro Motorrad ($5,5 USD)
• $6,60 AUD pro Erwachsener ($5 USD)
• 2,20 AUD pro Kind (1,7 USD)

We recommend renting a 4×4 from Hertz Australia. Our Toyota Rav4 provided a super convenient way to see the best sights along the way. We appreciated the freedom to set our own itinerary – and change it whenever we wanted! In addition to the latest offerings, Hertz Together offers a range of travel guides, articles and destination ideas.

From Sydney you can fly directly to Snowy Mountains Airport in Cooma. From outside New South Wales you must first fly to Canberra. Book domestic flights to Snowy Mountains Airport or international flights to Australia with Skyscanner at the best prices.

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Australia is a huge country. If you'd rather hand off the planning, we recommend G Adventures and their small group Australia tours.

Lonely Planet Australia is a comprehensive travel guide to the country, ideal for those who want to both explore the top attractions and take the road less traveled.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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