If you always want to accumulate a county’s highest peak but not much of a mountaineer, you are in luck. On the Kosciuszko walk, one can enjoy a trip right and back to the top of Mount Kosciuszko, the highest peak in Australia, in less than five hours with the slight help of the Thredbo’s Kosciuszko Express chairlift.
This well-maintained and the clearly marked track is usually covered with snow from June to October, so the 14-kilometre loop is best attempted in summer. Get the chairlift up as far as you can go, and from here, the track rises beyond the resistant granite outcrops of the Rams Head Range, through wildflower-flecked heathlands, through the Lake Cootapatamba, which has been gouged from the glaciers.
Pause on the lookout to admire spectacular views of Australia’s alpine country. You will also pass through the humble headquarters of the Snowy River from the famous Bush Ballad.
This is a long moderate walk for budding mountaineers (and even the older children) who want a summit hike but are not ready for an expedition to Everest. You can easily tackle the walk independently. Make sure you dress in layers and take a lot of water.