Mount Kosciuszko Summit

The 18.6km return walk from Charlotte Pass to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko (2,228m), Australia's highest mainland peak. Six to eight hours along the old summit road, crossing the headwaters of the Snowy River about 4.5km in. Past Seamans Hut — built in 1929 after the deaths of Laurie Seaman and Evan Hayes — to Rawson Pass, where bikes have to stop and the final 1.4km to the summit is foot-only. Snowbound June to October.

There is no short way up. The quickest is the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift from Thredbo, then roughly two hours on foot to the 2,228m summit; from Charlotte Pass it is 12.7km one way. The route is snowbound between June and October, and there are no snow poles marking it — in winter this becomes a backcountry ski or snowshoe trip, not a walk. Kosciuszko Road closes between Perisher and Charlotte Pass over the same months. Alpine weather turns fast here in any season, so carry warm and waterproof layers.