Kosciuszko - Part 1: Prepare - Background

Welcome back!

In this post, I will provide you with links and documents to kick off your preparation to get to the top of the two tallest mountains in Australia!

 

Mt Kosciuszko (2,228 m) and Mt Townsend (2,209 m) are both situated in the Kosciuszko National Park and are the two tallest mountains in mainland Australia.

Mt Kosciuszko was named by Polish explorer Count Paul Edmund Strzelecki in 1840, in honour of a Polish national hero.

For the mountaineers, Mt Kosciuszko is part of the Seven Summits, the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. Summiting all of them is regarded as a mountaineering challenge!

If you are not a mountaineer, that's ok, something to brag about at your next cocktail/BBQ party. 

The National Park has put together an extensive document: the Kosciuszko Visitor Guide that can be downloaded for FREE.

The best season to walk to the top of these two mountains is between April and November.

While there are several tracks to go to the top of Mt Kosciuszko, the one I will describe (the one I did) is the Main Range Track. 

Sign in the National Park showing the tracks

The Main Range Track is a great overnight walk starting from Charlotte Pass. 

  

It does provide breath-taking views of the Kosciuszko National Park, goes to the top of the two tallest peaks in Australia, offers views of the glacial lakes and finally crosses the famous Snowy River!

Start of the Track!  

  

Wilkinsons Valley

A great and succinct document detailing this walk is accessible on the wild walks website. 

If you are interested by other/additional tracks, check the section specific to walks in the Kosciuszko Visitor Guide.

In the next post, we will talk about the level of fitness required!