The best walks and hikes around Thredbo

You may have carved up Thredbo’s slopes on a snowboard, but there’s plenty of reasons to visit the scenic alpine village and its surrounds in summer too. While mountain biking is hugely popular during the warmer months, Kosciuszko National Park’s many hiking trails are a delight unto their own, and reveal everything from granite rock formations to twisted snow gum trees and carpets of colourful native wildflowers.   

It doesn’t matter if you’re a super-fit hiker, avid bushwalker or just beginning to appreciate the many benefits that come with spending time in nature. If you’re keen to experience some snow-free alpine adventures, there’s a walking trail to suit you near Thredbo.

Pipeline Path

A little over 3km, this short walk starting at the Valley Terminal should take you just over an hour to complete. The perfect warm-up walk before you take on some of the longer day hikes, This path passes by the Alpine Bobsled before meandering along and across the Thredbo River.

Fancy yourself as a bit of a citizen scientist? Platypus live in these parts, so if you spot one in the river on any of your walks, feel free to record your sighting on UNSW’s PlatyCentral site. Logging this type of data helps scientists to support the future of this elusive species that you’ll have the best chance of spotting at dawn or dusk.

Merritts Nature Track

Image: Destination NSW

Beginning at the top of the Kosciuszko Chairlift, this walk distils the everchanging wild beauty and wonder of Thredbo’s nature in under three hours. Starting in the alpine zone, you’ll see flowering plants and multihued moss growing in a somewhat austere environment amid a backdrop of granite rock formations.

Making your way down, you’ll move through the sub-alpine zone, where snow gums, scented shrubs and mountain plum pines (that can live up to 800 years) begin to take over.

Descending into the valley, you’ll hit the montane zone, where you’ll walk through an alpine ash forest before emerging into clusters of pretty alpine myrtle heath. Keep a close eye on the burrows near the Thredbo River towards the end of the trail – if you’re lucky you might see a wombat!   

Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk

Image: Destination NSW

Pack your hat, sunscreen, water bottle, and plenty snacks for this epic walk to the summit of Australia’s tallest peak. Setting off from Charlotte’s Pass, this 18.6-kilometre return hike should take you between 6 to 8 hours to complete, but since there’s no prizes for getting it done quickly, feel free to take a little longer if you want to.

Sitting at 2228m above sea level, you’ll need to be fairly fit to reach the top of Mount Kosciuszko. But the reward for your efforts includes incredible panoramic views of the Snowy Mountains.

Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, as that old pair of canvas shoes with no grip or support just won’t cut it on this trek. Pro tip: pack a spare pair of good quality socks for the return journey if you’re prone to getting sweaty feet.

Want a take a shortcut? Try taking the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift (which is an easy 12-minute walk from YHA Thredbo) to get some air before coming back down to earth to access the walkway to complete the summit hike. The chairlift ride is a bit of a cheat code, but it’s worth it for the bird’s eye views alone.

Illawong Walk

Image: Christian Bass

Care for a dip in the cool waters of the iconic Snowy River? Pack a towel for this 5km return walk through Kosciuszko National Park.

Beginning in Guthega Village, you’ll walk along the scenic river towards Illawong Hut, one of the oldest mountain huts in the national park. During summer you’ll see plenty of wildflowers, from bright yellow pops of yam daisies to bushes of white-flowered alpine mint.

If it’s safe to do so, cool off with an exhilarating swim in the Snow River’s pure waters. Since there’s no lifeguards in this isolated spot, don’t take any chances. If you’re not confident, just dip your feet in and you’ll still feel rejuvenated.

Main Range Walk

Image: Christian Bass

If you’re fit and ready for a challenge, this 22km-long alpine track is for you. Leaving from Charlotte’s Pass, this route lets you tick off many of the area’s highlights including dipping your toes in the refreshing Snowy River, summiting Kosciuszko and visiting the historic Seamans Hut. Visit during early summer and you can add seeing an explosion of native wildflowers to the spectacle.

Since this hike takes 7 – 9 hours to complete, be sure to get an early start. Or, if the weather forecast is good and you’re an experienced camper, pack your tent, gear, food and supplies to spread the journey out over two or three days.  

Dead Horse Gap Walk

Love the steep stuff? You’ll feel the burn on some of the more vertical sections of this walk which features incredible views of Crackenback Mountain, Ramshead Range and Thredbo Valley. At 5km, you could do the return journey in about 5 or so hours if you’re a fit, fast walker, but you’ll want to take your time to admire the stunning snow gums, wildflowers and perhaps even wildlife you’ll encounter.  

Surrounded by some of Australia’s best walking tracks, YHA Thredbo is a handy base for all your alpine hiking adventures.    

Words: Jo Stewart

Read next: Why you should visit Thredbo in summer