A Climb Through Australia’s Highest Peaks
Australia doesn’t have Himalayan giants or the scale of the Andes, but every state and territory has its own high point, and between them they cover an enormous range of country: alpine snowfields, tropical rainforest, red desert, and everything in between. Here’s the highest peak in every Australian state and territory, and what it takes to reach each summit.
New South Wales – Mt Kosciuszko (2,228m)
Mount Kosciuszko is the highest point on the Australian mainland, standing at 2,228 metres in the Snowy Mountains. It carries snow through winter, drawing skiers and snowboarders, and opens up to hikers and nature lovers once the snow clears in summer, with views across alpine valleys and pristine lakes.
Two popular trails lead to the 2,228-metre summit, starting at either Thredbo or Charlotte Pass. From Thredbo, follow the Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk, or take the Kosciuszko Chairlift for a head start before the 13-kilometre return hike, past sweeping views of alpine valleys and glacial lakes. The Charlotte Pass to Mount Kosciuszko Summit route is longer at 18.5 kilometres return, but it’s a more wilderness-focused ascent through snow gum forests and wildflower meadows. Both trails are challenging and need good fitness and thorough preparation. If you want a bigger challenge, there’s also the Australia’s 16 highest peaks circuit, a multi-day route across the rooftop of Australia. The best time to hike is late spring to early autumn, once the snow has melted and conditions are more settled.
Victoria – Mt Bogong (1,986m)
South in Victoria, Mount Bogong is the state’s highest point at 1,986 metres. Part of the Australian Alps, it has well-marked trails through fields of wildflowers and ancient snow gums, and the Staircase Track is the toughest way up, rewarding the climb with panoramic views across Victoria’s alpine country.
The Staircase Spur and Eskdale Spur trails are the two popular routes to the summit, and both can be reached via Mountain Creek Campground in the Alpine National Park, 12 kilometres from the town of Mount Beauty.
Tasmania – Mt Ossa (1,617m)
Tasmania‘s highest peak is a bit of an outlier: Mount Ossa, rising 1,617 metres out of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. It’s remote and wet, and home to rare flora and fauna. Access to Mount Ossa is via the Overland Track, the 65-kilometre trail between Cradle Mountain and Lake St Clair that takes about six days to walk, with a scramble to the summit itself near the end. You can read my eight-day trip report here.
Queensland – Mt Bartle Frere (1,611m)
Mount Bartle Frere (South Peak), at 1,611 metres, is Queensland‘s highest point, in the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics. The climb runs through dense rainforest, thick with vines and loud with bird calls, and the summit opens onto a view of the Coral Sea and rainforest stretching out in every direction.
Two paths lead to the peak. The most frequented starts at the Josephine Falls car park, 31 kilometres northwest of Innisfail, with a paved road making it the more accessible of the two.
Australian Capital Territory – Bimberi Peak (1,912m)
Bimberi Peak, at 1,912 metres in the Brindabella Ranges, is the highest point in the Australian Capital Territory, straddling the border with New South Wales. It holds particular significance for the Ngarigo and Ngunnawal people, whose name for it translates to “big mountain.”
For a full day out, the 50-kilometre Mount Bimberi Walk starts at the historic Orroral Valley Tracking Station, a former NASA outpost once home to a towering antenna that tracked satellites. For something shorter, the 22-kilometre Murray Gap Trail is accessible via Pockets Saddle Road in Kosciuszko National Park, though it involves 36 kilometres of unsealed roads that can close in winter. There’s also a shorter 22-kilometre route from the west.
Northern Territory – Mt Zeil (1,531m)
Mount Zeil is the Northern Territory’s highest point at 1,531 metres, a sandstone peak in the West MacDonnell Ranges sacred to the Arrernte people. The trek to the summit crosses ancient rock formations over desert plains and gorges.
The easiest way to reach Mt Zeil is through the privately-run Mt Zeil Wilderness Park, which has 13 secluded bush campsites.
South Australia – Mt Woodroffe (1,435m)
South Australia’s highest point is Ngarutjaranya (formerly Mount Woodroffe), a 1,435-metre peak in the Musgrave Ranges, just below the Northern Territory border on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) land. It’s home to an abundance of unique flora and fauna, and climbing it requires special permission and cultural sensitivity, given its status as a sacred site.
Permits for independent climbs are scarce. Diverse Travel Australia runs a yearly climbing tour in May, with access from Uluru and a permit included. At the time of writing, all tourism, business and commercial activities on the APY Lands are suspended until further notice, which also applies to South Australia’s second-highest peak, Mount Morris, at around 1,251 metres. From public information, it appears the eight highest peaks in South Australia are all in the Musgrave Ranges near the Northern Territory border, so I’d expect the same permit considerations to apply to those too. Your next available option is St Mary Peak (1,171m) in the Flinders Ranges. This peak is central to the Adnyamathanha creation story, and for that reason the Adnyamathanha people would prefer that visitors don’t climb to the summit. The shorter walk to Tanderra Saddle also has spectacular views, without the summit climb.
Western Australia – Mt Meharry (1,253m)
Mount Meharry (Wirlbiwirlbi), at 1,253 metres, is Western Australia’s highest point, in the Hamersley Range. It only holds that title because of the meticulous work of William Thomas Meharry, the state’s Chief Geodetic Surveyor from 1959 to 1967, whose calculations dethroned nearby Mount Bruce, the previous record holder, by 14 metres, and put Mount Meharry on the map.
The climb is a rugged one through the Hamersley Range’s red cliffs and gorges, country with a long mining history, and the view from the top takes in ochre desert rolling towards the distant coast.
Highest mountains on external territories
None of these peaks are actually Australia’s highest point overall. That title belongs to Mt McClintock in the eastern sector of the Australian Antarctic Territory, at 3,490 metres, with Mt Menzies in the western sector a close second at 3,355 metres, both well above Mount Kosciuszko’s 2,228 metres. There are also ice domes in the western sector of the Australian Antarctic Territory, around 82E 56S, that exceed 4,000 metres, though these are generally not considered mountains since they’re made of ice, a definition that’s frequently debated.
Mawson’s Peak on Heard Island also beats Kosciuszko. At 2,745 metres, it’s the summit of Big Ben, an active volcano.
Preparing for the climb
Each of these peaks is a genuinely different undertaking, from an alpine day walk to a multi-day wilderness trek to a climb that needs a permit and a guided tour. Research and prepare thoroughly before attempting any of them, respect local regulations and permit requirements, and make sure your safety gear and planning match the terrain. You’ll find more trip reports and hiking guides like this one on the blog.
Elevation Data Source: Geoscience Australia National Geodetic database, 1993.
