Australian Alps Walking Track

A 655 km mountain traverse across the alpine areas of south-eastern Australia, typically tackled as a multi-week, mostly-camping expedition.

Time to Hike: Most solo walkers take around 30-40 days, and many groups take 50-60 days; overall, allow 3-8 weeks depending on pace, weather, and resupply strategy.

Best Time to Go: Most people aim for the warmer, lower-snow months (roughly Nov-Apr). Outside that window you should expect snow, short days, and much tougher conditions on exposed high ground.

Getting there: The track officially starts at Walhalla (Victoria) and finishes at Tharwa near Canberra. Most walkers go south to north, ending closer to major transport in the ACT.

Costs: Costs are mainly transport logistics, food for extended carries, and any accommodation at nearby ski resorts such as Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Perisher. Check national park fee rules before you go, as charges can change and may differ by park and season.

Difficulty: Hard. Large sections are remote and only partly signposted, with long food carries, frequent exposure on high plains, and a strong need for reliable navigation skills in wilderness areas.

The Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) is a 655 km long-distance route through the alpine areas of Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, running from Walhalla to Tharwa near Canberra. It threads mainly through protected landscapes including Baw Baw National Park, Alpine National Park (including the Cobberas Wilderness Area), Kosciuszko National Park (including the Jagungal Wilderness Area), Namadgi National Park and Brindabella National Park.

What makes the AAWT stand out is its sustained high-country travel: exposed plateaus such as the Bogong High Plains and the Main Range combine with ridges, spurs and long forested connectors. The official line passes close to major summits including Mount Bogong, Mount Kosciuszko and Bimberi Peak, the highest points in Victoria, NSW and the ACT respectively.

The track is an extension of the older Victorian Alpine Walking Track established during the 1970s, later expanded after years of promotion. It is signposted for part of its length under a tri-state agreement, but many stretches still demand confident, map-and-compass navigation, especially across more trackless wilderness sections.

• Walhalla to Baw Baw high country (km 0-80) - A lower-elevation lead-in that builds into alpine terrain as you approach Baw Baw National Park, with early logistics and pacing setting you up for the remoter middle of the walk.
• Baw Baw to the Victorian ski-resort corridor (km 80-170) - A mix of forest and open tops, passing near Mt Baw Baw and toward access points where some walkers arrange food drops or brief town-style comforts.
• Alpine National Park ridges and spurs (km 170-300) - The route leans into classic Victorian high-country travel in Alpine National Park, often favouring spurs and ridgelines with big views and committed stretches between reliable resupply.
• Bogong High Plains and the Mount Bogong vicinity (km 300-360) - High, exposed ground on the Bogong High Plains with side-trip potential toward Mount Bogong; weather can be the decisive factor here.
• Cobberas and the run to the NSW border (km 360-430) - Remote and navigationally serious sections near the Cobberas Wilderness Area, where careful route-finding matters as much as fitness.
• Kosciuszko National Park and the Main Range (km 430-540) - Classic Australian alpine walking through Kosciuszko National Park, including high plains and the Main Range, with the route passing close to Mount Kosciuszko and near ski-resort access such as Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Perisher.
• Namadgi and the ACT high country (km 540-610) - A quieter finish through Namadgi National Park, with long, open stretches where conditions can change quickly and navigation remains central.
• Brindabellas to Tharwa (km 610-655) - The final push through Brindabella National Park toward Tharwa, easing out of the high peaks but still demanding steady footwork and planning to reach transport links near Canberra.

For most parties, the workable season is the warmer half of the year (roughly Nov-Apr). Even then, expect fast-changing alpine weather, cold nights, and high exposure on sections like the Bogong High Plains and the Main Range.

Winter and shoulder-season attempts are possible but significantly more serious due to snow cover, whiteout risk on open tops, and harder navigation. Whatever your dates, plan for wind, storms, and the reality that some parts are only lightly marked.

The official southern trailhead is Walhalla (Victoria), and the northern trail end is Tharwa near Canberra in the ACT. Most walkers go south to north to finish closer to a major city and onward transport.

Access is usually by a combination of public transport to regional centres and then pre-arranged lifts, taxis, or friend shuttles to the trailheads. Because the route does not pass through towns, many hikers also coordinate transport for food drops, sometimes with help from the volunteer network of AAWT Track Angels.

Check current park entry rules, camping regulations, and any seasonal conditions notices for each national park the route passes through before departing, and confirm whether any permits or fees are required for the areas you plan to visit. If you plan to use accommodation or facilities at ski resorts such as Mt Hotham, Falls Creek or Thredbo, book ahead and comply with their local access rules, especially in busier periods.

Most AAWT walkers camp for the majority of the route and should be prepared for long gaps without services. Along the way you may also find basic huts or shelters in alpine areas, but you should not rely on them as guaranteed, bookable accommodation.

The route passes close to several ski resorts including Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Perisher, where paid lodging can sometimes be used for a rest day or a resupply handover. In peak times, booking ahead is sensible; otherwise, a self-sufficient camping setup and a clear food-drop plan are the norm.