AUSTRALIA’S ALPINE REGION - A YEAR-ROUND MOUNTAIN WONDERLAND
Home to Kosciuszko National Park and our nation’s highest peak, Australia’s alpine region – which includes New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains and Victoria’s Alpine National Park – is a wonderland of rivers, mountains, ski fields, caves, and glacial lakes – offering spectacular scenery and warm hospitality all year round.
Photo: Kosciuszko Thredbo Backcountry Adventures
If you’re a skier or snowboarder you’re probably familiar with hitting Perisher, Thredbo, Mt Hotham or Falls Creek’s slopes during those winter months, but why not elevate your next visit and let one of our passionate and professional certified operators take you on an unforgettable cross-country alpine adventure? No queues, no ski passes, no crowds, no waiting, just 100% action! Activities range from alpine photography and snow shoeing, to back country tours and avalanche courses.
Photos: K7 Adventures and Kosciuszko Thredbo Backcountry Adventures
For those of you that aren’t a fan of the cold, during the warmer months you can also explore the region by bushwalking and hiking. In fact, many say it’s one of the best ways to see the unique landscape - with its awe-inspiring glacial lakes and rugged wilderness fully exposed.
With tours to accommodate all ages, skill levels and group sizes, our operators know exactly where all the best spots and hidden gems are, and their helpful guides are there to point them out to you. This way, you get to take in the amazing views and soak up the fresh alpine air, without the stress of getting lost or missing out on anything!
Photos: Kosciuszko Thredbo Backcountry Adventures
And if two wheels are more your style, our operators also offer mountain biking tours for beginners right through to advanced riders. There are even caving, climbing and abseiling tours available for all you super adventurous people out there! And if you’re wanting to do something truly special, why not ride through the alpine wilderness on horseback, we’ve got operators for that, too!
Photos: Kosciuszko Thredbo Backcountry Adventures and Reynella Rides
So, let our Snowy Mountains and Victorian High Country certified operators show you the ropes and give you the best, most unique alpine experience possible. To make things easier, we’ve put together a list for you:
If you want to not only explore but learn more about this beautiful part of the country, you can’t go past Gippsland High Country Tours – they’ve been offering guided nature tours and walking ecotours for 32 years, so you can bet your bottom dollar they know this area inside out! They’re also happy to share their favourite secret spots that other visitors would never find.
Photo: Gippsland High Country Tours
K7 Adventures is a boutique eco-adventure tourism company specialising in tailored trips into the Snowy Mountains in any season of the year. Join them on a sunset snowshoe or ski tour, or enjoy an interpretative wildflower and ecology walk, or even a climb and abseil.
Open 365 days a year, Kosciuszko Thredbo Backcountry Adventures offer a number of awesome activities including skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, backcountry tours and lots more!
With Reynella Rides you’ll experience the unsurpassed beauty of Kosciuszko National Park on horseback. You will visit majestic mountains, rolling plains, cool mountain streams, carpets of wildflowers and historic huts that are all part of the Snowy Mountains experience.
Photo: Bogong Horseback Adventures
On the Victorian side, Bogong Horseback Adventures has been offering award-winning horse-riding tours for over 25 years, from two-hour trail rides to multi day packhorse tours. With a strong family history and connection to the land, Bogong Horseback Adventures is proud to maintain the good old Aussie tradition of sleeping in swags under the stars and sharing meals and stories around the campfire.
If that doesn’t sound like quite your style, save yourself hours of wasted travel time by spending a few nights right in the centre of all the action with the unique and environmentally sensitive Ecocrackenback. Located within the Crackenback region of the Snowy Mountains, comprising of 18 luxury “habitats,” Ecocrackenback offers great access to walking trails, trout fishing in the nearby Thredbo River, horse riding, skiing, snowboarding and mountain biking.
Photo: Ecocrackenback
Speaking of trout fishing, while you’re in the area, make sure you stop by at Eucumbene Trout Farm in Rocky Plain. It’s a great place for a fun full-family outing, with trout fishing, farm tours and even a few highland cattle and alpacas to visit.
Oh, and if you happen to be flying in or out of Canberra, don’t miss the Australian National Botanic Gardens, either! It’s got the world’s most comprehensive display of living Australian native plants and there are lots of opportunities to grow your knowledge of our country’s fauna or simply just relax with a picnic on the beautiful green lawns.
Photo: Australian National Botanic Gardens
With so much to discover, don’t forget to pack your camera, folks! You’re going to want to remember it all and capture the spectacular 3600 views afforded by the country’s highest peaks.
For some more inspiration, check out our Green Travel Guide for further details on our ECO-certified operators, their experiences, tours, attractions and accommodation on offer.