The famous High Country in southern New South Wales is home of some of Australia’s most famous hiking, skiing, mountain biking and sight seeing areas.

This trip is rather unique for a YHA Bushwalking accommodated trip, in that you can join when you like and leave when you like. As such, you arrange your own accommodation at the YHA Hostel in Thredbo.

Trip leader and hike leader is Craig. Trip organiser and second in command is Doug.

For a copy of our trip flyer with full details of the trip, please contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button (see below).

 

Accommodation

If it is considered safe at that time to share a room with someone else, you can book a bed in a twin room or a dorm room (up to 4 people) and we will request for you to share your twin or dorm room with other walkers from our bushwalking group only. We will request that dorm rooms be the same gender, but this cannot always be guaranteed.

Any cancellations will be between you and the accommodation provider. YHA venues have very reasonable cancellation policies.  You can check their website at the time of booking, but at the time of writing, their policy is:

• Free Cancellations up to 7 days prior to your arrival date
• a 5% fee will be applied to cancellations between 1 – 7 days before the arrival date
• One nights stay per person will be charged if you cancel with less than 24 hrs notice or do not arrive.

You are also welcome to arrange your own accommodation at another venue if you prefer. However, you will need to ensure you arrive on time for the hikes themselves.

Given this trip is at a busy time of year, it is wise to arrange accommodation well in advance.

 

Itinerary and Walk Descriptions

This is, ultimately, a hiking trip, and we intend to move at a reasonable clip. It’s not a stroll, a guided tour or a photography sojourn. Therefore, please be honest with yourself about your ability – you not only need to be able to complete the distances, but you need to be able to keep up. Having said that, the hikes are not a march or a race, and most people with good hiking fitness and experience will be OK.

You can have a rest day any day you like, except for the poor leader who will trudge on every day!

Friday, 21 January 2022: Arrive in Thredbo

Travel to Thredbo by your chosen means and check in to your chosen accommodation.

Saturday, 22 January 2022: Cascade Hut

18 kilometres // 5 hours // Medium.

Start: Dead Horse Gap

Dating from 1935, Cascade Hut is a traditional timber slab hut and was built as a base for local graziers while tending their cattle.

Sunday, 23 January 2022: Wheelers Hut

16 kilometres // 5 hours // Medium

Start: Tooma Road/Snakey Plain Train Junction

A classic mountain structure made from timber slabs and dating from the early 1900s, this hut has barely changed over more than a century.

Monday, 24 January 2022: Main Range Track

23 kilometres // 7 hours // Medium-Hard

Start: Charlotte Pass

This walk takes you to the highlights of the Main Range and offers amazing views of the mountains.  Including a side trip to Blue Lake and a climb to nearby Carruthers Peak on clearly marked tracks.

Tuesday, 25 January 2022: Mount Kosciuszko and North Rams Head

17 kilometres // 6 hours //Medium-Hard

Mount Kozzie, as it is known for short, is actually not Australasia’s highest mountain – that honour actually goes to Mount Cook in New Zealand. It is not even Australia’s highest mountain – that honour, in turn, goes to Mawson Peak on Heard Island, an Australian territory deep in the Indian Ocean. But Mount Kozzie is the highest mountain on mainland Australia and Tasmania!

Wednesday, 26 January 2022: Jindabyne, Palaibo and Waterfall Tracks

16 kilometres // 5 hours // Medium

Start: Sawpit Picnic Area

An optional side trip to Jindabyne will be fun for lunch and a couple of short walks in the area. This is actually supposed to be a rest day of sorts, so we won’t do all of the short walks, but they equate to some 16 kilometres.

Thursday, 27 January 2022: Return Home

Our trip ends and it’s time to depart Thredbo for the trip home.

 

Transport

Transport to and from the walk location is by car. Please indicate your transport requirements and preferences on the booking request form when you book in.

If you don’t have a car, we can’t guarantee to provide you with a lift – this will depend on available drivers and their locations.

Drivers can choose whether they wish to take passengers or not.

For drivers who agree to accept a passenger, refer to this link for Victorian State Government guidelines for travelling with others:

CovidSafe Travel in Victoria – Travelling with others

Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the Car-pooling page. Please discuss the preferred method of payment with your driver.

There may be public transport options to get there; please make your own enquiries if this appeals.

Note that at Thredbo YHA, there are some car parking restrictions – these are explained in our trip flyer. You will need a vehicle pass to enter Kosciusko National Park (this is also explained in the trip flyer).

 

Covid-19 Restrictions

At the time of writing (July 2021), it is uncertain what the Covid-19 situation will be in January 2022, however we are planning this trip with the expectations that:

• Some level of Covid-19 restrictions still will be in place.
• We will be able to travel to and from Thredbo by car.
• We will be able to stay in the accommodation planned.
• We will follow all health guidelines as advised at the time by state and federal governments, including social distancing, good hygiene practices. Refer to:
  • NSW state government Coronavirus website
  • Victoria state government Coronavirus website
• Anyone who is concerned about the Covid-19 risk and/or is not prepared to observe all health guidelines as advised at that time should not be joining us on this trip.

 

Booking

Booking is  required for this walk.

This event is aimed at adults in terms of the hikes, the hostels and the dinner and drinks venues selected. Over 18s only please.

For harder-graded walks, the leader has the right not to accept bookings from anyone they consider is not sufficiently fit or experienced to undertake it, so please provide as much relevant information as you can when booking. Unless the leader knows you well, please indicate what similar walks you have done recently (i.e. in the past few months) to give the leader confidence that you are capable of doing this walk.

The Leader will confirm your acceptance on the trip, or not, via email.  The leader will provide further details closer to the trip.

Trip Fees:
Members:  Free       Non-members: $10

You will pay your own costs for accommodation, transport, food, etc.

Payment:
All trip fees must be prepaid. Payment by Paypal or card is the quickest method, but if you choose to pay by EFT please follow the instruction to email the Treasurer with your payment details.

Cancellation:
If you need to cancel, please advise the leader as soon as possible, so that someone else has the opportunity.
If you have made your payment but need to cancel, we will only provide you with a refund if we can find a replacement for you. However, if you need to cancel because you are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, then we will provide you with a full refund (even if a replacement can’t be found).

 

What to Bring

• Hand Sanitiser
• Face Mask

• All the equipment, clothing, food and water you will need for the walks and overnight stays (refer Trip details above).

Refer to our Gear Checklist page for more details, or discuss with the leader.  If you are not properly equipped, the walk leader can decide not to let you participate on this walk.

 

Still have questions?

Check out Joining a walk and your safety

Check out What happens on a walk.

Check out Weekend and extended walks.

Check out our Covid-19 status.

Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button.

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