Hike at a glance
Length
Duration
Difficulty
Trail type
Route details
Max elevation: 1620m
Min elevation: 1183m
Total Ascent: 1530m
Check current conditions
Track conditions, access and closures can change quickly due to weather, fire, maintenance or safety concerns. Always check the relevant land manager’s website before you visit. Trail Hiking Australia does not provide real-time track and closure monitoring, and land managers remain the authoritative source for current alerts, closures and access restrictions.
About this trail
Hike summary
The Long Plain Circuit is a challenging 40km, grade 4-5 bushwalk located in the stunning Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales. This hike typically takes 4 days to complete and offers adventurers a chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Australian Alps. The route takes you through remote bushland, with plenty of opportunities to explore historical sites, enjoy breathtaking views, and spot wild brumbies along the way. Whether you're navigating fire trails, brumby paths, or rugged terrain, the Long Plain Circuit is sure to test your endurance and reward you with unforgettable landscapes.
Day 1: Drive to Cooinbal Hut
Approximately 6 hours from Sydney.
It's best to go via Tumut where you can stock up on some last minute fresh groceries. The best maps are Rules Point 8626-4S and Peppercorn 8626-4N. Camp the first night in the hut.
Day 2: Cooinbal Hut to Blue Waterholes
Approximately 14km | Grade 4 (Hard)
Follow the brumby trails from behind the hut around the wooded hill. Go up over the saddle (463 567) then drop down to Harris Hut. It's only old ruins but a good spot the stop for lunch. From here, you can either follow the fire trail to Blue Waterholes via Bill Jones Hut, or cross the fire trail to the creek. Follow the creek to (509 563), there are a few horse trails, to Murray's Cave. After exploring the caves, it's a short distance to the campground where you can have a wash in the creek, but be warned the water very cold.
Day 3: Blue Waterholes to Pockets Hut
Approximately 6km | Grade 4 (Hard)
From Blue Waterholes to Pockets Hut it's an easy walk along the fire trail, or you could spend the day exploring Coolamine Homestead or downstream to the waterfall (take your crocs and gaiters). Blue Waterholes to Pockets Hut is about 6km. Alternatively to save a day, you could walk directly to Old Currango via Bill Jones Hut, about 13km. Stop at Bill Jones for morning tea and lunch at (513 514)
Day 4: Pockets Hut to Old Currango
Approximately 6km | Grade 4 (Hard)
Best to stay up high around the tree line and avoid the marsh. If you are feeling fit, climb over Howells Peak for some spectacular views. Join the fire trail on the other side and you can almost see Old Currango. There are spectacular views across the plain with wild brumbies.
Day 5: Old Currango to Cooinbal Hut via Skaines Mountain
Approximately 12km | Grade 5 (Difficult) | Requires more advanced navigations skills.
Follow the fire trail back to the junction of the fire trail from Bill Jones/Blue Waterholes. Turn left and walk up hill. When you get to the top (Harrys Gap) you will need to head off trail (475 527) heading NW. Cross the creek at (465 534) and bush bash up Skaines Mountain. Just head uphill. The going is easier on the west side as there are a few brumby trails. This is a good spot for lunch and you may get some mobile reception. Continue NNW back to Cooibal Hut, you will need to take a bearing and follow your compass. The going can be a bit tough at times.
Contributed by Ian Thomas
Trail difficulty
Remote, unmarked, and high consequence
These are the most challenging walks and are only suited to highly experienced and well-prepared hikers.
Expect very rough, steep, and often unmarked terrain, with limited or no signage. Navigation skills are essential, and you must be self-reliant, including emergency preparedness. Distances may exceed 20km, and conditions can quickly become serious if things go wrong.
Safety note: There is little margin for error. Mistakes in navigation, weather judgement, or preparation can have serious consequences.
Planning information
Preparation matters: Plan your multi-day hike well and bring the right gear, weather-appropriate layers, food and plenty of water. Before you head out, read up on bushwalking safety and use this multi-day hike planning guide to make sure you're ready. Need help getting started? Check out the full hike preparation guide.
Map and GPX file
Safety and preparation
Think safety first
Australian conditions can turn a small oversight into a serious situation faster than most walkers expect. The Hiking Safety Systems and planning calculators are designed to help you identify and close those gaps before you leave home. Work through the Interactive Safety Scenarios to see how incidents unfold, then use the tools to build your plan and make sure a trusted contact has your trip details before you head out.
Let someone know
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, and it only takes two minutes.
Heading somewhere remote, off-track or overnight? Use the comprehensive trip intentions form instead — your emergency contact will need more detail. Register your trip plan here →
Free 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 and where to stay
Need a rental car to get you to the hike? Find one here →
Accommodation nearby
Find hotels, cabins, and campgrounds near the trailhead. Click the button below to open an interactive map automatically centred on this hike's location — no searching required.
Or browse accommodation in nearby towns: Adaminaby, Cabramurra, Cooma, Crackenback, Dalgety, Jindabyne, Khancoban, Perisher Valley, Thredbo, Tumbarumba, Tumut
Explore the region
About the region
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Photo gallery
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Weather on the trail
The map below shows the rain forecast for the trail area. Tap the toggle in the top right corner to explore other layers including wind, temperature, UV index, thunderstorms, fire danger, and weather warnings — all useful for planning a safe hike.
Trail Reviews
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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.
1 Review on “Long Plain Circuit Hike (40km)”
This is a beautiful few days in the high plains. Done in early autumn, it’s warm but not scorching, with great landmarks along the way – the caves on Nichols Gorge walk are a welcome respite from the sun. Plenty of natural water around even at the end of summer (obviously treat your water before drinking). Recommend picking up water about 900 metres before Old Currango homestead if it’s dry, as the last couple of creeks were low.
I seriously endorse the recommendation to wear proper gaiters, there is a *lot* of bush bashing and walking through high grass. The gpx file does a pretty good job of leading you along brumby and wombat trails, but those trails are only going to deteriorate in coming years, with fewer brumbies walking the tracks. Consider taking relatively strong trousers: my knees got cut up pretty well on Skaine’s.
Thanks for contributing this circuit, Ian!
Thanks so much for your feedback Frank. Glad you had a couple of great days in the high plains. Great comments and recommendations too. Very much appreciated. Quick question, with all the off-trail sections, do you feel that a Grade 4 rating is accurate?
Hi Darren, everything up to Old Currango is grade 4: it’s either on marked trails or open plains where you can pretty comfortably follow brumby trails. The last 7 or so km on the final day is grade 5. Once you turn off the fire trail there are no human-made trails, no markers. In that last 7 km it’s probably 50% animal trails, 50% pure bush.
Thanks so much Frank. I will update the overall grade to 5 and then mention on the other days that they are grade 4. The AWTGS requires a track to be graded to the most challenging aspect. Really appreciated.