Hike at a Glance
Max elevation: 2215m
Min elevation: 1722m
Total Ascent: 1966m
Suggested Itinerary
I recommend commencing this hike at Charlotte Pass, where you can leave your vehicle, and hike in an anti-clockwise direction.
If you are planning on undertaking this as a three day hike I would recommend camping in the following locations. Please also refer to the map below.
- Day 1 (19.2km): Camp on the saddle between Mount Northcote and Muellers Peak. There is a reliable water source in the valley to the north of this saddle. This location can get windy so be sure to pitch your tent where you will be most sheltered from the wind. (marked with red dot on map below)
- Day 2 (14.3km). On the plateau to the northern side of North Rams Head. This is a large flat area with a shallow creek and provides rewarding sunset viewing as the light falls onto North Rams Head. (marked with red dot on map below)
- Day 3 (13.3km). Return to Charlotte Pass
Peak Profiles (in summit order)
- Mount Twynam: 2,195 meters
- Watsons Crags/Tennison Woods Knoll: 2,136 meters
- Mount Northcote: 2,131 meters
- Muellers Peak: 2,129 meters
- Alice Rawson Peak: 2,160 meters
- Mount Townsend: 2,209 meters
- Abbott Peak: 2,145 metres
- Mount Kosciuszko: 2,228 meters
- Etheridge Ridge: 2,180 meters
- Rams Head North: 2,177 meters
- Rams Head: 2,190 meters
Note: In producing a list of highest mountains, there is always subjective debate over what should and should not be included. Some peaks may have local names that are unknown to state authorities or map producers. Often questions arise as to whether a peak is a separate mountain or part of a ridge. Source: Geoscience Australia National Geodetic database, 1993, combined with the National Gazetteer of Australia.
Maps and Weather
The hike is all above the tree line and does not offer much protection from the elements. Check current conditions with the Bureau of Meteorology
Track grade
Grade 4 (Hard) - Challenging Walks for Experienced Walkers: Grade 4 on the AWTGS signifies challenging walking tracks. Bushwalking experience is recommended for these tracks, which may be long, rough, and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, requiring a good sense of navigation. These walks are suited for experienced walkers who are comfortable with steeper inclines, rougher terrain, and potentially longer distances.
Explore safely
Planning this hike? Most incidents develop before you even start. Safe outcomes depend on how navigation, hydration, environment, load and judgement work together. Small oversights can compound quickly in Australian conditions. See how it happens in the Hiking Safety Systems Foundations. Then use the Hiking Safety Systems, planning calculators, and make sure a trusted contact has your trip plan before heading out.
Leave a trip plan
Before you go, complete a trip intentions form and share it with a trusted contact. Agree on a Late-Back Time and ask them to call 000 (Police) if you have not checked in. A clear trip plan is one of the simplest and most effective safety steps you can take.
Planning checklists
Download the hiking preparation and safety checklists before leaving home to help you think through your plans. They help ensure important considerations are not overlooked and support safer decision-making on the trail.
Getting there
Getting to the trailhead: Kosciuszko National Park.
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here.
Accommodation nearby
Find accommodation close to the trailhead including hotels, cabins, and campgrounds. Use the interactive map to explore available options in nearby towns.
Nearby towns: Adaminaby, Cabramurra, Cooma, Crackenback, Dalgety, Jindabyne, Khancoban, Perisher Valley, Thredbo, Tumbarumba, Tumut
Similar walks nearby
Looking for more walks in or near Kosciuszko National Park? Try these trails with a similar difficulty grade.
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Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.
7 Reviews on “Australia's Eleven Highest Peaks Hike (47km)”
Nathan McLean
Absolutely loved this multi-day hike. The summit was particularly crowded but for most of the rest of the circuit we felt like we had the place to ourselves.
Hi Darren
A question regarding terrain on the southern section. We are heading off in two weeks and will pretty much follow your route ( but clockwise). We may however vary the southern section and follow the main path (Summit Walk) from Charlottes to Mt Kosciuszko rather than cross the Rams Head Range.
My question is….you headed east from Rams Head across the Rams Head range. What was the terrain like? clear country and easy to navigate? Lots of negotiating around objects? Hard going? Very Hard? not so bad? Yes…this is subjective but we are not inexperienced and have navigation skills however I don’t necessarily seek the hardest route. We will be hiking from Foremans Hut at Charlottes Pass to Rams Head and then up to Muellers Pass. The reason we may follow the Summit Walk is that it will be faster going but once you get to Rams Head we would have to double back and head back up towards Muellers Pass ( so considering avoiding going back over track that we have already covered). My assumption is that the Rams Head range won’t necessarily save time but would be more interesting. ….or Rams Head range is interesting and will take even longer !!! than the main track ‘cos it is much harder going.
Interested in your thoughts..
HI Catherine. To be quite honest, the section you are referring to wasn’t as interesting as the other sections of the circuit. When we did it, the terrain was easy to navigate as you simply follow the range. We did however note that some sections were quite swampy and wet so we had to deviate often to avoid creating too much damage. Would have been a lot easier to follow the main path. There were a lot of people on the main path at the time so for the sake of isolation, we chose to avoid that.
Loved this hike in winter!!!
So easy to snow shoe wherever you want, you just need good navigation skills. The sunsets & views were amazing, no matter the weather or conditions. I’m excited to eventually do this hike in summer.
As an update: we did a variation of this track 2.5yrs ago. We had already planned a similar route, and I was looking to see if anyone had done something similar and written about it, when I came across this. We stuck to our original route for the winter hike – starting & parking at Dead Horse Gap & doing a slightly different route w very different campsites, a total of 56-59km was hiked (I can’t remember right now), but it was one of the best walks I’ve ever done, and Kosciuszko started my love for snowshoe hiking. It looks lovely what you guys did & I can’t wait to do something similar in summer. Thanks for sharing your journey 🙂
Thank you Misha. Your variation certainly sounds interesting. It is an amazing destination to hike and agree its one of the best walks we have ever done too.
This! Tina, Melissa, Rebecca.
We did this hike and wrote a blog about it which you can find at this address:
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!
When are we doing this Troy Reddick?
Now that’s something to put on the list Sharon McGee
Nataly, this is our Easter hike 🙂
Terry, are you keen?? ??
Many thanks for the blog – you have inspired us to give this a go between Christmas and New Year.
Thanks a lot for this idea and all the information. I am very excited about it but my family doesn’t want spend 3 days doing it so I am planning to do it (trail running style) in one day between 3-7 January 2018, depending on the weather. Would anybody (with right training) be interested in joining me as it would be safer than alone?
Thanks for all this great info. Planning to go walk something similar in early March. I’m curious – How hard is it walking off the main trail on that third day? If the weather set in would you recommend backtracking to Rawson Pass and using the Summit Walk to get back to Charlottes Pass?
Possible to do solo on this as I have no one to come with me?
Jake Davey-Hackett
Sharon Tiemens for you
John Lindsey John Henry
Hi Is it safe enough to do a trip like this on your own?
I have checked every map of the area and can not find Edwards Peak or Baldwin Peak.
Watson’s Craig Dome at 2136 m also does not appear on the maps. Byatts Camp south west of the Abbott Peaks(is a camp 1940+m on Hannels Track and not on the top of a peak ) is part of three summits of the Abbott Peaks with Abbott Peak 2159 m.
Your heights for Mt. Twynam , Alice Rawson Peak and Carruthers Peak are different to the heights shown on the Kosciuszko Alpine Area 1st Edition !;50000.
Did use an old map or some other method. I was up there at Easter 2016 climbing the top 7 named peaks. I first visited area in 1967 and have returned many times but i am confused about your naming of high points and actual heights. My comment come from talking to people trying to do the eleven highest peaks or high points on the list, They were also confused. i look forward to your reply.
Regards,
Bruce
Hi mate is this trek possible in the winter and would you need skis or not?
Hi there, just a question about the peaks. Are these marked/signed at the very top? so i know which mountain I am at 😉
I read that the trek route itself is marked although to reach the peak a map is needed, is there any suggestion what kind of map of “dummies” 🙂 would be best to not to miss the peaks as I might be hiking on my own.
Thank you and Warmest Regard
Hi,
I’m looking at doing 10 Peaks over Easter 2016. Was wondering if you have an email address I can reach you at directly as I had some questions regarding the hike.
Thanks
Altaaf