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

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: 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.

      
 Excellent4.9170 reviews
 4.9
 Excellent170 reviews
  Write a review 
 
 
 
    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   James Biggam 
 0 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 
 0 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 
 1 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 
 1 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
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Deb Fisher 
 1 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
Just finished a 4-day hike & paint with The Adventure Gene/TAG and they were AMAZING! They truly did supply EVERYTHING - except the clothes we wore and extra socks and undies - and the gear was light and top quality. The guides were fantastic and I've never been so well-fed camping.  Thanks,  TAG team!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Merran Dunn 
 2 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have just returned from a 5 day hike in the Buddawangs with The Adventure Gene. This is the second hike l have done with them ! Both have been fantastic! Challenging, fun, social and educational. I took only what  was  recommended , nothing more and it was perfect. Despite some miserable weather for the first couple of days and therefore getting soaking wet whilst walking, l was warm and comfortable in my tent and had adequate clothing.
Our guides, Maddie and Tearloch were guiding us  not just along the route , but also allowing our group to develop its own dynamics. They were  fun, but you never doubted  how seriously they took safety, nutrition, equipment and their role in making it a great experience.
Everything  was well organised but really relaxed. These people really know their stuff and do all the preparation  except your personal fitness . This  is a serious hike, so take the training seriously and you'll love it. I did.

Merran
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Amanda “Mazza” Lovegrove 
 6 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently did a four-day snow hiking trip in the Snowy Mountains with Adventure Gene, and I honestly couldn't recommend it highly enough.

We had some pretty wild weather, including torrential rain on the second day, which turned to snow overnight. Maddie and Tearloch were fantastic throughout the whole trip and adapted everything around the weather while keeping us safe and still making sure we had a great experience.

One of the things that attracted me to book the trip was being able to try out thousands of dollars' worth of specialised snow camping and hiking gear supplied by Adventure Gene. Being able to actually use everything in real conditions was fantastic — and it definitely helped me work out what gear I wanted for myself! I've since bought quite a few of the things I used, including the same Wippa backpack and Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag.

The guides also showed us how to use the Garmin inReach, which gave me the confidence to buy my own and, more importantly, know how to use it properly when I'm out hiking.

The other people on the trip were lovely and it was great meeting and sharing the experience with such a nice group.
The biggest thing I took away from the trip was confidence. I now feel much more comfortable heading out on my own, including into snow and more remote areas. I learnt so much about the gear, planning, navigation and just dealing with whatever the weather throws at you.

I'd definitely recommend Adventure Gene to anyone wanting to get into snow hiking or build their confidence in the outdoors. It was an awesome four days and an experience I'll remember forever, thank you so much!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Cindy 
 7 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I completed the Budawangs Traverse with Maddy and Mr T in September 2026, guided by Adventure Gene from Canberra. It was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The hike was beautifully organised, the meals were hot, tasty, and generous—there were even leftovers most days, so don’t be shy about asking for more. Dietary needs were thoughtfully catered for, and the snack selection was excellent (just try not to eat all the goodies in the first few days, it’s very tempting!).

I hesitated at first about using the lightweight gear provided, but I’m so glad I did—it was absolutely worth it. The whole walk was a joy, and Adventure Gene proved to be a well‑run, professional, and caring outfit. I’ve already booked my next hike with them.

Highly recommended.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Cath Chase 
 7 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +6
The 4 day Hike and Paint trip was fantastic. Our guides, Tearloch and Annika, were exceptionally organised, kind and knowledgable. The ultra-light equipment provided made the multi-day walk quite doable.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Anne 
 8 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I just completed AdventureGene’s 4-day Paint and Hike trip on the Light to Light walk. Brilliant experience from the half- day set up session in Canberra  to the two guides, one of whom doubled as the painting tutor and the other who managed all the meals and clean- up! Food was great and the  ultralight loan gear a revelation. Can’t recommend this hike enough. Beginners at hiking and painting were helped along with kindness and patience! Bonus: whales for 35kms!!