Australian Alps Walking Track Guided Trips

Tackle Australia’s most iconic long distance hike – no experience necessary.

The Adventure Gene Difference

World Class Gear & Clothing

Our signature Ultralight Comfort System™ is designed to keep you warm, dry, safe and happy.

Beginner Friendly

No prior hiking experience is needed to join us on any of our AAWT trips. You just need a good level of fitness.

Expert Guides

Our guides are industry pioneers and winter experts. With over 40,000km of experience, you know you’re in safe hands.

Small Groups

We only provide small group experiences. With 2 guides and up to 10 guests, you’ll be well looked after and can walk at your own pace.

The Aussie Alps Experts

Our AAWT trips are designed for hikers who want to experience the remote Australian Alps in a safe and beginner-friendly environment.

Our AAWT Trips

Kiandra to Kosciuszko Hike

Explore the Snowy Mountains on this trek along the Australian Alps Walking Track. Visit historic alpine huts, spot native alpine wildflowers and summit Australia’s highest peak, Mt Kosciuszko.

Scheduled Departures

Australian Alps Walking Track: Canberra to Kosciuszko

Traverse the northern third of the Australian Alps Walking Track. Hike through native Eucalypt forest, traverse windswept mountain ridges and summit some of the tallest peaks in the ACT and NSW.

Scheduled Departures

Australian Alps Walking Track: Kosciuszko to Hotham

Tackle the rugged middle third of the Australian Alps Walking Track. Explore the Cobberas Wilderness, visit the source of the Murray River, and summit Victoria’s highest peaks (Mt Bogong and Mt Feathertop).

Scheduled Departures

Australian Alps Walking Track: Hotham to Walhalla

Tackle the challenging southern third of the Australian Alps Walking Track. Navigate the dramatic Razor-Viking Wilderness, traverse the Crosscut Saw, and walk amongst the granite tors of the Baw Baw Plateau.

Scheduled Departures

Need help choosing a trip?

You don’t need any hiking experience to come on one of our AAWT trips. We make planning simple by providing premium ultralight gear and clothing, nutritious food and private transport from Canberra. Just pack your shoes and the clothes on your back!

The trip you choose will depend on three key factors: scenery, personal goals and difficulty.

Scenery

Each section of the AAWT has its own distinct character. Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect:

Canberra to Thredbo

We begin our journey in Namadgi National Park at the northern terminus of the AAWT. Over the first few days, you’ll travel through remote sub-alpine terrain, camping in wide, open valleys. Take in towering eucalypts, massive granite tors, and vibrant wildflowers.

Crossing the border from the ACT into NSW, the environment shifts as we enter the expansive Snowy Mountains High Plains. Here, we explore the rare limestone karst landscapes of Blue Waterholes. Discover hidden caves, deep gorges, and refreshing swim holes whilst visiting rustic heritage cattlemen’s huts.

Leaving the historic gold-mining ruins of Kiandra behind, we step into the vast Jagungal Wilderness. Dominated by the imposing profile of Mt Jagungal, this remote region offers exhilarating off-track walking through rolling alpine tussock. The historic huts here take on a rugged character, having been built to withstand the deep winter snows of the high country.

Emerging from Jagungal Wilderness, we make our final ascent onto the Main Range via the spectacular Rolling Grounds. Now permanently above the treeline, we traverse the rooftop of Australia, taking in sweeping views of glacial lakes and the continent’s tallest peaks. Our high alpine camps in this section are legendary for their profound solitude and stunning, uninterrupted sunrises and sunsets.

The expedition culminates with a triumphant early-morning summit of Mt Kosciuszko (2228m) before the crowds arrive. You will finish the trek at Dead Horse Gap with an incredible sense of achievement, having conquered the rugged and spectacular northern third of the Australian Alps Walking Track.

Kiandra to Kosciuszko

This 8 day trip follows the second half of our Canberra to Thredbo route, making it ideal if you’d like to experience the alpine heart of the northern AAWT in less time. We begin in Kiandra, the historic gold-mining town recognised as the birthplace of Australian skiing. Following Tabletop Mountain Trail past weathered aqueducts and gold rush relics, we climb steadily into the high country. We spend our first two nights at Four Mile Hut and Happys Hut, both lovingly rebuilt after the 2019-20 bushfires.

Entering the remote Jagungal Wilderness, we wander through rolling alpine grasslands dotted with seasonal wildflowers like billy buttons and snow daisies. You’ll have the chance to summit Mt Jagungal (2061m), the northernmost 2000m peak in Australia, for sweeping views across the wilderness to the Main Range. The historic huts here are full of character, from the newspaper-lined walls of O’Keefes Hut to the bright red Valentine Hut. From there, a short side trip leads to the head of Valentine Falls, the highest waterfall in Kosciuszko National Park.

From Whites River Hut, we climb onto the Main Range via the Rolling Grounds. High above the treeline, you’ll have the option to summit Mt Twynam, Australia’s third-highest peak, and look down on the glacial Blue Lake. Passing Club Lake and Lake Albina, we descend to camp beside Wilkinsons Creek, a sheltered spot renowned for its sunsets.

On our final morning, we summit Mt Kosciuszko (2228m) before the day walkers arrive, then head off-track through the granite tors of the Rams Head Range. We finish at Dead Horse Gap, having walked 120km through some of Australia’s highest and most remote alpine country.

Thredbo to Hotham

We begin our journey at Dead Horse Gap, stepping immediately into the remote Pilot Wilderness. Following the Cascade Trail, we traverse sub-alpine woodlands and make our way to Cowombat Flat, where we cross the infant Murray River right at the border of New South Wales and Victoria.

Entering Victoria, the landscape shifts into the dramatic range-on-range scenery of Alpine National Park. Here, we tackle steep ascents from deeply dissected, forested river valleys, rewarded with panoramic views of endless blue ridges stretching to the horizon.

A major highlight of the trip is the challenging climb up Mt Bogong. Standing at 1986m, it is Victoria’s highest mountain and offers unparalleled sweeping views across the surrounding alpine plateaus.

As we head further south along the Bogong High Plains, we transition to expansive, rolling terrain. We navigate this vast alpine plateau by following the historic line of wooden snow poles, passing through open snow grass plains and visiting iconic 19th-century cattlemen’s shelters like Wallaces Hut and Cope Hut.

Our adventure culminates with an ascent of the majestic Mt Feathertop, Victoria’s second-highest peak, followed by a high-altitude traverse along the jagged spine of the Razorback Ridge. We finally arrive at the Mt Hotham alpine village, celebrating the completion of the spectacular middle third of the Australian Alps Walking Track.

Hotham to Walhalla

We begin our southern leg at Mt Hotham, stepping immediately into the dramatic and rugged scenery of the Victorian Alps. Tackling the Barry Mountains, the route takes us along the spine of the Great Dividing Range, navigating steep ascents and descents through twisted snow gums and rocky ridges.

As we enter the remote Razor-Viking Wilderness, we begin by tackling the stone fortress of The Viking. Another major highlight of this section is the traverse of the legendary Crosscut Saw, a spectacular ridge where the world drops away into the valleys below. Here we take in sweeping views from iconic peaks like Mount Speculation and Mount Howitt, resting at picturesque campsites like Macalister Springs.

Leaving the jagged high peaks behind, the landscape shifts dramatically as we descend into deep, verdant river valleys. The track winds through lush environments filled with tree ferns and tall timber, crossing the Black and Thomson rivers, while immersing us in the rich 19th-century gold rush history of forgotten settlements like Red Jacket.

Ascending from the river valleys, we enter Baw Baw National Park, a unique sub-alpine wonderland. Here, we wander through an enchanting landscape of rolling heathland dotted with massive granite tors, vibrant wildflowers, and the towering majesty of Mountain Ash, the tallest flowering plant in the world.

Our epic journey concludes by following the precipitous alignment of an old timber tramway carved high above the Thomson River. Crossing historic trestle bridges, we walk triumphantly right into the heart of the picturesque heritage village of Walhalla, celebrating the completion of the rugged southern third of the Australian Alps Walking Track.

Personal goals

Your choice of trip also depends on your ultimate goal. If you are aiming to eventually complete the entire AAWT, we recommend starting with the Canberra to Thredbo section. It serves as an excellent training ground and offers the most forgiving terrain to ease you into the trail.

If you are short on time, or would like a taste of the AAWT before committing to a 16 day trip, we recommend our Kiandra to Kosciuszko trip. In just 8 days, it takes in the alpine highlights of the northern section, from the Jagungal Wilderness to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko.

If you want the greatest diversity in terrain, then we recommend the Thredbo to Hotham section.

If your main objective is to hone your backcountry skills, such as off-track navigation, you will find plenty of opportunities to practice and learn across all of our AAWT trips.

Finally, if you would like the quietest and most remote wilderness experience, we would recommend looking at the Hotham to Walhalla section.

Difficulty

Kiandra to Kosciuszko spans 8 days, while our other three trips span 16 days. All four trips require you to comfortably carry a ~10kg pack over uneven and off-track terrain. The average distance and elevation stats are below:

Canberra to Thredbo: 14.8km (512m)

Kiandra to Kosciuszko: 15.0km (524m)

Thredbo to Hotham: 16.2km (680m)

Hotham to Walhalla: 14.7km (840m)

Walking times are generally similar, with the primary difference being how steep and technical the trail is.

Kiandra to Kosciuszko is our most accessible AAWT trip and is rated Moderate. It covers similar terrain to the second half of Canberra to Thredbo, but at 8 days it is half the length of our other trips.

Of our 16 day trips, Canberra to Thredbo section is the easiest and least technical and is rated Moderate – Challenging. Both Thredbo to Hotham and Hotham to Walhalla are rated Challenging as the terrain is steeper and more rugged. Hotham to Walhalla is the most challenging trip as it has the highest average daily elevation gain (840m).

Map

Get a quick visual overview of the three AAWT trips we have on offer.

Brochure

Everything you need to know about our AAWT trips.

AAWT Trip Calendar

Check out our trip calendar for a visual overview of all upcoming Australian Alps Walking Track trips!

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FAQs

Curious about our AAWT trips? We’ve answered our most common questions to make planning your adventure stress-free.

I'm new to hiking, are your trips suitable for beginners?

Yes! You don’t need any prior hiking or camping experience to join us. We provide a detailed pre-trip preparation package, and our guides will teach everything you need to know. The only prerequisite is your physical fitness. It is essential that you are capable of carrying a 10kg pack for extended periods over uneven terrain.

Where do your trips go?

We run three 16 day trips along the Australian Alps Walking Track, breaking the trail into 3 sections. For those short on time, we also run an 8 day trip covering the second half of the northern section.

Canberra to Thredbo

Starting in Namadgi National Park, the northern third of the AAWT winds its way south toward the highest peaks in the country. It is a highly diverse section of the trail, with Eucalypt forests, limestone caves, historic alpine huts, and Snowy High Plains. The journey culminates with a traverse of Australia’s highest mountain range.

Kiandra to Kosciuszko

Starting in the historic gold-mining town of Kiandra, this trip heads south through the remote Jagungal Wilderness, visiting historic alpine huts along the way. You’ll then climb onto the Main Range via the Rolling Grounds, passing glacial lakes before summiting Mt Kosciuszko and finishing at Dead Horse Gap.

Thredbo to Hotham

Starting in the Pilot Wilderness, this trip crosses the source of the Murray River as you leave Kosciuszko and enter Victoria’s Alpine National Park. You’ll pass the official halfway point of the AAWT amidst lush sub-alpine forests, before climbing onto the expansive Bogong High Plains and finishing by summiting some of Victoria’s highest peaks.

Hotham to Walhalla

Heading south from Mount Hotham, this final third of the AAWT is the steepest, most technical, and most isolated section of the trail. You will start by summiting The Twins before heading into the rugged Razor-Viking Wilderness and traversing the Crosscut Saw. Continuing south, the journey finishes by crossing the Baw Baw Plateau before concluding in the historic gold-mining town of Walhalla.

Am I fit enough?

All of our trips require you to carry a 10kg pack for extended periods over uneven and off-track terrain. To ensure you are ready, you will need to do some training before the trip. We highly recommend engaging in at least 3 hours of physical activity each week, such as running, cycling, swimming, team sports, or hiking up and down hills. Walking on flat pavement is not adequate preparation.

In addition, you should aim to complete at least 3 practice walks carrying a 10-15kg pack for 4-6 hours (including breaks) before we depart.

What do I need to bring?

We provide all the gear and outer-layer clothing as part of our Ultralight Comfort System™. This includes (but is not limited to) tents, sleeping bags, hiking packs, hiking poles, down jackets, down pants and fleece layers.

The only things you need to bring are your base layers and personal items:

Long-sleeve shirt and hiking pants
Shoes (either trail runners or hiking boots)
Socks and underwear
A hat and sunglasses

What’s included in the trip price?

Included in the trip price is the following:

Use of world-class ultralight gear and clothing
Cooked meals, snacks, and hot drinks (excluding breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day)
Return transport from Canberra
2 expert guides (a 1:5 guide-to-guest ratio)
Resupply logistics
Pre-trip support and a detailed preparation package (including packing video)

What group sizes can I expect on a trip?

All trips are intentionally small, with up to 10 guests, accompanied by 2 guides. This ratio ensures a personal, comfortable, and well-paced experience.

Who will be guiding me?

All of our guides are highly experienced in navigating the Australian backcountry. While each guide brings their own unique style and interests to the trail, they all share a commitment to being supportive, knowledgeable, and ensuring your trip is one to remember. We will let you know who your guides are about a month before departure, though please note this can occasionally change on short notice.

Will I be cold?

All trips include access to our Ultralight Comfort System™. Designed by experts and curated from manufacturers around the world, this premium gear and clothing package is designed to keep you safe, warm, dry and happy in the mountains!

Our setup features double-walled tents, -8°C sleeping bags, and -20°C sleeping mats. We also supply fleece layers, down jackets and down pants. This keeps the vast majority of hikers warm, but we have extra layers ready if you tend to get cold easily.

I still have questions?

We know preparing for a trip brings up plenty of questions! Email or call us, and one of our senior guides will be more than happy to answer them.

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Reviews

Browse our verified Google reviews to see what others are saying about our trips.

      
 Excellent4.9177 reviews
 4.9
 Excellent177 reviews
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      Posted on Google  
   
   Jackie McKay 
 1 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My Budawangs Traverse experience with The Adventure Gene (TAG) met all my expectations and more!

Exploring this part of Australia’s incredible landscape and discovering its hidden treasures was truly eye-opening and unforgettable.

I love hiking and exploring, but I’d never experienced an overnight trek before. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I knew I could rough it, but I like to be warm and I definitely don’t like being hungry! These were two of my biggest concerns, and TAG absolutely nailed it. I’m hooked!

I’ve come away with so much more than just an amazing experience. I’ve gained the knowledge, skills and confidence to tackle future walks, treks and adventures. I now have practical tips, delicious meal recipes, snack ideas, and firsthand experience with lightweight gear and recommended products—all while learning how to manage pack weight.

Throughout the trek, I was warm, well-fed and felt confident and in control, all while being completely in awe of Australia’s breathtaking landscapes.

I couldn’t recommend this adventure more highly! If you love hiking, want to take your adventures to the next level, or are curious about overnight trekking, TAG is the way to go.

Thank you, TAG, for an incredible experience and for equipping me with the confidence and knowledge to keep exploring!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Shari Lofthouse 
 1 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A wonderful experience across beautiful country, with a wonderful experienced guide.  Very well organised  and managed, great gear to test out. Can thoroughly recommend!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Rachel Wright 
 2 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +2
Paint and Hike from Blue Waterholes was an incredible trip! The company, the views, the food and the gear was amazing. Great for a beginner hiker and an amateur artist, and special thanks to Tearloch, head guide (and head of laughs) and Sophie for her artist tips and tricks.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Virginia McLaren 
 9 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +2
Budawangs 5 day hike. 2nd-6th October. Tom and Maddie had thought of everything for our comfort, and prepared us extremely well. Their attention to detail is exceptional. They're kind and caring with excellent leadership skills.
Ultra light gear was of the highest quality. Yummy,  nutritious food was plentiful and prepared for us. The wilderness experience of the Budawangs is quite spectacular. Such diversity with scrubby bushland,  majestic rocky outcrops, lush rainforest  with mossy valleys, soaring escarpments and beautiful sunsets.
Thank you for a wonderful experience.
Will definately be doing another hike with them.
Virginia.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Gaye Ponting 
 12 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What a fabulous  5 days of walking in a wonderful environment. Our guides Maddie and Tom were energetic, knowledgeable,friendly,thoughtful and fun! They shared their experiences with the group. I have learnt many tips and tricks for my future hikes. The landscape was spectacular.  The food was superb nourishing and tasty. Then there is the lightweight equipment,clothes,gear.Worked wonderfully well in the rain and sun!!Tick, tick, tick!! Also the people in our group were all lovely, friendly, and helpful.❣️❣️❣️🤸‍♀️
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Ellen Egan 
 13 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +2
I cannot recommend a trip with The Adventure Gene more highly. I’d never overnight hiked and it had been 25 years since I’d camped. The TAG team taught me so much over the course of 5 days - I’ve gained confidence and skills that go far beyond setting up a tent in the rain! TAG have a brilliant philosophy and are doing something really special - if you want to get out into Australia’s stunning national parks but need some guidance and encouragement to get there, this is the way to go.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   James Biggam 
 17 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Just completed the five day Budawangs traverse and loved it. Maddie and Tom made this premier hike accessible to a noob.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   anonymous 
 17 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The guide was , positive, kind and supportive. Willing to go above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable whilst keeping us on schedule, hydrated , nourished and smiling. The artist was an inspiration and also very kind   Sharing skill and bringing  time to a standstill while we could embrace and capture the beauty of the scene we were painting
The company , TAG, were also organised supportive and quick to reply. The equipment and clothing is of high quality and suited the environment. I was always warm at night .  That’s a miracle for me!  I would easily go again on another’ paint and hike’
with TAG.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Julie Curran 
 17 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +2
Wonderful experience doing 5 day Budawangs hike with Adventure Genie.The hike itself is remote and beautiful.Our campsite on our last night had the most spectacular views.Maddie and Tearloch looked after us well, cooking delicious meals,we had so much food,no chance of going hungry.This trip is excellent value as so much gear ( and it’s very high quality) is supplied.This included backpacks,hiking poles,tents sleeping bags,rain jackets and pants,warm clothing,sunglasses headlamps,sunscreen,even chargers.As someone who has done a lot of multi day hiking,I’ve never had to take so little of my own gear,it was great.Thank you,would love to do another hike with Adventure Genie.They  are fantastic
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   BELINDA PORCHERA 
 18 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +2
Great Aussie hiking company ,they are very experienced , friendly , encouraging , helpful from the very beginning  ,their knowledge is endless .Whether you’re a first time multi-iday hiker with no equipment to very experienced with your own ,Adventure Gene can help fill the gaps supplying quality equipment and great food for your hike
Make the first move and call adventure gene You’ll have the best time