Where:
Visiting Mt Kosciuszko
New South Wales, Australia
Last Visited:
Rob visited in 1995 and both Rob and Clare in 2003.
Why Go:
- Mt Kosciuszko is the highest mountain in Australia. It is covered in snow during winter, but is still easily climbed. It is a relatively easy hike up to the base of it, with a short steeper climb at the end.
Highlights:
- Getting there: Rob first climbed it in 1995 as part of a group celebrating a friend's 21st birthday. We took the route from Threadbo Village, carrying all our party food with us (and back down again of course). Once you take the chairlift up out of the valley, it is a mostly flat hike until the last bit up the mountain. At this time of year (August), there was still a good covering of snow, and we had to step through knee deep snow at some points. Still, it was not too hard, and anyone with a moderate level of fitness would make it easily. The second climb, by Rob and Clare, was done in Summer and many years later. We hiked from Charlotte's Pass, which is an alternative to the more common route from Threadbo. I think overall they are similar in duration and degree of difficulty, and at some time you should do both.
- The peak: On top of Australia is a really nice place to be at either summer or winter time. At the peak there is nothing more than a collection of boulders and a plaque telling you where you are and what you can see. The views are great as you would expect.
Lowlights:
- If you are not fit, it is pretty hard work. It can get pretty cold during winter at this altitude.
Eating & Drinking & Sleeping:
- Accommodation: Mt Kosciuszko is in a National Park, and camping is allowed off the beaten tracks. You must carry you own gear in with you. There are some huts around, but I am not sure if you can use these for staying overnight. They are more for emergencies.
- Food and Drinks: you must carry all you food and drink with you, and remember to carry out all your rubbish too.
Other things you should know about:
- Mt Kosciuszko was originally named Mt Kosciusko, in recognition of Tadeusz Kosciuszko (1746-1817), the Polish military hero who fought in both the American and Polish wars of independence. The first person to explore the area, Paul Strzelecki, named the peak in 1840 because it resembled the tomb of Kosciuszko in Krakow, Poland. In 1997 the NSW government decided to change the spelling from Kosciusko to what is now believed to be the correct spelling of Kosciuszko. To the locals, it is also known as "Kozzy".
- Mt Kosciuszko is the highest point in Australia. The height of the mountain is 2228 meters, 7310 feet, latitude and longitude are 36° 27' S and 148° 16' E.
More about Mt Kosciuszko
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