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

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.

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 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 three of our trips.

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

Difficulty

All three trips span 16 days and 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)

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.

The 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.

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.

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.

Our trusted gear suppliers

Reviews

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

      
 Excellent4.9153 reviews
 4.9
 Excellent153 reviews
  Write a review 
 
 
 
    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   KR 
 0 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly recommend booking trips with TAG-- everything from packs to meals has been considered, and guides were friendly and highly experienced! Would book again
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Janice Leung 
 1 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +1
My partner and I joined the 4D3N snow camping trip, and we had such an amazing time! 🏕️❄️ Shoutout to Tom and Maddie, they are so professional, experienced, and made the whole trip feel safe and enjoyable. We had so much fun and would absolutely recommend the experience!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jodie H 
 7 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
From the first email to the final hugs at the end, this was a professional and well-organised trip. The communication before the trip was superb — quick, clear and informative, which made the preparation really easy, especially for a beginner. Our guides, Maddie and Tearloch were a standout. Attentive, communicated extremely well, had a great sense of humour and were genuinely fun to be around. Most importantly, they brought extensive hiking experience, they were professionally prepared, flexible and astute at judging each individual’s abilities and needs. A great balance of encouragement, adaption and challenge. The gear provided was excellent and took a lot of the stress out of ‘OMG what do I pack’. The pre-trip information and briefing prior was top notch. Great for anyone having their first crack at a snowy Alpine adventure. Knowledge is a confidence boost, and Maddie and T were willing providers. Coming from a rescue background I understand Alpine conditions change fast. Par for the course we experienced 1 day of difficult weather. I felt both safe and confident in their decision making processes. And the gear stood up well. The snow shoe hike was the highlight. It was challenging at times but so worth the spectacular scenery up on the range. To top that off, the food was fantastic, great variety and tasty. Overall, an exceptional experience. The combination of professional organisation, experienced guides, great communication, challenging adventure, spectacular scenery and fantastic food made this a trip I would recommend to anyone whether you’re an experienced hiker or a beginner looking for an unforgettable snow adventure. Thanks Adventures Gene, ‘I’ll be back’.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Merle H 
 8 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Just completed the four-day Snowies Main Range Traverse with 5 intrepid, inspirational women guided by our two amazing, knowledgeable, patient and kind guides. Gus and Dan. Definitely a memory to treasure - exquisite views, beautiful alpine lakes and vegetation, stories and histories ancient and new, loads of laughter, delicious meals, tons of tips and tricks for hiking and camping...and so, soon much more! HAS to be experienced! ! Highly recommended!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Maxine Lock 
 8 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I did the 4 days snowies camping trip, and absolutely loved it! Maddie and Tom were great! They were very knowledgeable, and always loved to chat about hiking, the snow and just about anything! They were flexible with the plans, as the weather did change for the worst on our second day there, and they improvised and we did have an amazing hike up the mountain despite the weather. We were then blessed with beautiful weather the next day, and we were able to cover a really full-on day of hiking as our group were all up to it! The food were surprisingly good, and we had way more than enough to eat on the trip (especially snacks). They also took a lot of photos of all of us, and shared these with us (so quickly by the way, thank you!). All of the tent and equipment provided did the job prefectly, I was not cold at all while I slept in the tent, and we got to a chilly -4 on our last night on the trip.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Rather. B. Fishin 
 8 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +4
Exceptional trip. Our first real remote hike and what an adventure. Maddie and T were extremely professional. All the kit, meals and advice was just awesome. I would highly recommend The Adventure Gene for your first or 40th hike in the snowies.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Tom Heneker 
 9 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really enjoyed the trip, very well organised, great equipment and tour guides that had plenty of knowledge and skills in making the tour really smooth. What a great way to experience the Snowy Mountain with no fuss, camping comfort and feeling refreshed when I got home. I looking forward to doing another tour the company.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Amy Harburg 
 9 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional company to hike with and all the gear was top quality.  I 100% recommend them and would definitely hike with the Adventure Gene again. I did the Intro to snow camping 4 day hike and absolutely loved it.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   onroute66 
 13 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +3
Snow Camping and Snow Hiking. A huge thankyou to Tom and Maddie for a complete package of professionalism and quality of equipment . I am grateful for this 4 day experience that I’ve always wanted to do but not confident to do as a solo traveler. Melina x
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Morris Prendergast 
 16 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absoulutely amazing experience! Tom and Maddie were amazing guides and made sure we were safe and having fun the entire trip!

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Browse all Trail Guides

Australian Alps Walking Track Guided Trips

The Adventure Gene Difference

The Aussie Alps Experts

Our AAWT Trips

Need help choosing a trip?

Scenery

Personal goals

Difficulty

Map

Brochure

AAWT Trip Calendar

FAQs

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

Where do your trips go?

Am I fit enough?

What do I need to bring?

What’s included in the trip price?

What group sizes can I expect on a trip?

Who will be guiding me?

Will I be cold?

I still have questions?

Our trusted gear suppliers

Reviews

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Find your next adventure

Trips by Location

Featured Trips

Education Hub

Hiking Trails

Gear

Skills

Recipes

Browse all Trail Guides

Australian Alps Walking Track Guided Trips

The Adventure Gene Difference

The Aussie Alps Experts

Our AAWT Trips

Need help choosing a trip?

Scenery

Personal goals

Difficulty

Map

Brochure

AAWT Trip Calendar

FAQs

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

Where do your trips go?

Am I fit enough?

What do I need to bring?

What’s included in the trip price?

What group sizes can I expect on a trip?

Who will be guiding me?

Will I be cold?

I still have questions?

Our trusted gear suppliers

Reviews

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