Kiandra to Kosciuszko (K2K) Winter Guide: Updated 2025
Kiandra to Kosciuszko (K2K) is Australia’s most renowned long-distance ski tour. This historic route spans approximately 120km, connecting the old gold-mining town of Kiandra with Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak. First completed by Herbert Schlink in 1927, it offers one of the longest continuous snow journeys in the country. The trail’s primary challenge lies in navigating the exposed alpine environment, and the highly variable snow and weather conditions. Unlike the broader Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT), K2K is almost entirely a snow-based journey, though variable conditions may still require some sections to be walked.
Contents
When To Go
The best time to complete a winter K2K is between late June to early September, although this varies each year depending on the amount of snowfall. Choosing when to start requires weighing up the seasonal snowpack against the short-term forecast and your own availability. An early start in June might mean a shallower, less consolidated snowpack. The downside of doing the traverse in late winter is that the melting snow will likely be “wet”, which typically makes for slower progress. If you are flexible with starting dates, we would recommend waiting for a good weather window to start your trip.
Track Difficulty (Pros And Cons)
Things that could make the track easier or more enjoyable
- The trail passes through mainland Australia’s most consistently snow-covered alpine country.
- We think K2K is the best ski touring trip in Australia.
- There is no set route to follow, allowing you to decide which way best aligns with your personal goals.
- There are many options for side trips to bag peaks along the way.
- There is a high concentration of alpine huts. This adds history, character, and emergency shelter in blizzard conditions.
Things that could make the track more difficult or less enjoyable
- Large sections of the route are above the treeline, offering little protection from severe weather events like blizzards and high winds.
- Trail marking is limited (depending on the route chosen), making navigation more challenging, especially in poor visibility.
- The Main Range and around Whites River Hut can get very busy on sunny weekends.
- Logistics require a car shuffle or pre-arranged transport between the start and end points.
- Variable snow conditions may mean that you may have to carry your skis for extended periods of time.
- River crossings might be required.
- The required gear can be expensive.Â
Cost
Compared to other winter trips, such as spending a week at a resort, a K2K traverse can be relatively inexpensive as there are no opportunities to spend money on the trail itself.Â
Your main expenses, aside from initial gear purchases, will be food for the trip and the transport costs associated with the car shuffle between Dead Horse Gap/Thredbo and Kiandra.Â
Here is an estimated breakdown of the primary costs:Â
Food: $20 – $40 per person per day. This is an estimate and will vary based on your diet and how much you eat. It should also cover extras like emergency meals, cooking fuel, and sunscreen.
Transport & Car Shuffle: $0 – $500+. This is a significant variable cost, depending on whether you try to hitch hike, do a car shuffle, or pay for transport.
Optional Accommodation: $0 – $200+ per night. This cost applies only if you choose to stay in towns like Cooma, Adaminaby or Jindabyne before or after your trip. Booking in advance is highly recommended.
Kosciuszko National Park Pass: A park entry fee is required for all vehicles. As of 2025, a day pass in winter is approximately $29 per vehicle, but an annual pass is more economical for longer trips or frequent visits.
Gear
A winter gear list rated down to approximately -15°C would be appropriate for most people. You can view our 7.2kg gear list for our winter AAWT here. For K2K, we would take our ski touring setup that we used from Mt Hotham to Kiandra on the AAWT. One significant change that we might make for K2k would be to take a heavier tent. On our winter AAWT we covered large distances each day and completed K2K in around 5 days. For a longer trip with less certainty about the weather and more exposed campsites, a tent such as a Durston X-Dome 1+ or a SlingFin WindSaber could be more appropriate.Â
It is also important to have a plan for potential river crossings and extended walking sections without snow.Â
Section distance and elevation stats
In winter, the difficulty of any section of trail highly depends on your competency, the weather, and snow conditions. A fresh dump of powder can make for easy progress, while breakable crust or whiteout conditions can turn a simple section into a slog. Â
K2K is between 115 – 130km long, depending on the route taken, with ~3700m of elevation gain and ~3550m of elevation loss (going southbound). This gives the track an average elevation gain of ~64m/km. Â
Comparing K2K to other popular hikes:Â
In terms of section difficulty, the trail can broadly be split into 3 sections; Tabletop Mountain, Jagungal Wilderness, and the Rolling Grounds & Main Range. Â
| Section | Distance (km) | Elevation Change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Kiandra – Happy Jacks Road (Tabletop Mountain) | 28 | 5.1 |
| Happy Jacks Road – Whites River Hut (Jagungal Wilderness) | 51 | 6.0 |
| Whites River Hut – Dead Horse Gap (Rolling Grounds & Main Range) | 34 | 8.1 |
Resupply​
Planning a resupply on the K2K is an optional strategy. Most people choose to carry all their food for the entire trip, which typically takes between 4 to 12 days. This simplifies the logistics considerably.Â
A a mid-trip food drop is possible at Guthega Power Station. This is approximately 90km into the trip (southbound) and requires detouring 8km to the road from Whites River Hut. You would need to place a drop in advance, or have a friend meet you to drive into town. Â
Hitchhiking is not a viable resupply strategy as the route does not cross any regularly trafficked roads until the very end.
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We would recommend placing a food drop if you can. Ski touring is hard at the best of times, and carrying less food can make a significant difference!Â
Accommodation options
There is no accommodation on the K2K. You may want to book accommodation before or after your trip in Jindabyne, Thredbo, Cooma or Adaminaby. Be aware that lodging in Thredbo during the ski season is expensive and must be booked far in advance. Â
Shelters and facilities
The network of historic huts along the K2K is a major highlight of the journey, acting as crucial landmarks and welcome social hubs. Reaching a hut is the perfect goal after a long day, offering a chance to dry gear by a warm fire. While they provide a welcome place to shelter from the elements, it’s crucial to remember that these huts are intended for emergency use only and should not be relied upon for sleeping in. Always carry a tent.Â
Be aware that in good snow conditions and on weekends, some huts can often be busy with other ski touring and snowshoe groups. Whites River Hut, Schlink Hut, Seamans Hut and Horse Camp Hut get the busiest.Â
| Hut | Distance from Kiandra (km) | Distance off main trail (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Four Mile Hut | 6.6 | 0.7 |
| Broken Dam Hut | 12.4 | 2.2 |
| Happys Hut | 23.2 | 2.1 |
| Brooks Hut | 30.1 | 2.2 |
| Boobee Hut | 40.8 | 3.2 |
| Mackays Hut | 40.8 | 0.15 |
| Cesjacks Hut | 40.8 | 5.4 |
| O’Keefes Hut | 50.0 | 0 |
| Derschkos Hut | 55.7 | 1.6 |
| Grey Mare Hut | 63.6 | 0.45 |
| Valentine Hut | 71.1 | 0 |
| Mawson Hut | 71.1 | 2.9 |
| Tin Hut | 77.7 | 3.9 |
| Schlink Hut | 77.7 | 0 |
| Whiters River Hut | 80.7 | 0 |
| Horse Camp Hut | 80.7 | 4.3 |
| Disappointment Spur Hut | 80.7 | 4.0 |
| Seamans Hut | 106 | 1.8 |
| Cootabatamba Hut | 108 | 2.0 |
Water availability​
Water is generally readily available on the K2K, however, there are still long, exposed ridge sections where accessing running water can be problematic.Â
Deep snow can make reaching streams difficult or even dangerous due to collapsing snow banks (snow cornices overhanging creeks). Relying on melting snow is a viable strategy, but be prepared to carry a significant amount of extra fuel. Â
The longest stretches without running water on the K2K are;Â
- Tabletop Mountain (Nine Mile Creek to Barneys Creek)Â
- Rolling Grounds & Main RangeÂ
In both sections, you will find running creeks if you detour off the main route and dig down far enough. Â
Navigation
Winter navigation is a critical safety component requiring skill and preparation. With the trail completely obscured by snow, numerous off track options, and the risk of disorienting whiteouts, you must be able to navigate confidently while avoiding alpine hazards like cornices.Â
For your primary navigation, we recommend a combination of a smartphone and a GPS watch. The watch is especially useful in blizzard conditions, allowing for quick checks without removing gloves or exposing your phone to moisture. However, a GPX file should never be followed blindly, as the safest winter route may change day to day depending on the conditions. Â
Given the remote nature of the terrain, it is essential to have a level of redundancy built into your system. For us travelling as a couple, this means carrying two waterproofed smartphones, an emergency GPS device like an inReach Mini, and at least two independent power banks. If we were travelling solo, the system would change to a phone, a dedicated backup GPS (or second phone), and an inReach.Â
There is also the option to use a paper map and compass, however this is not very useful in winter in white out environments. Â
Click here to download our GPX file for the trail (non-commercial use only). There are many ways to complete K2K, and this GPX route represents only one of them (following the AAWT). We have listed some popular alternate routes as well. Â
Please note that during winter, you should never blindly follow a GPX route. Seasonal conditions, like cornices, can change the landscape and may require you to adjust your path on the spot for safety.
Leave no trace
To follow Leave No Trace principles, you must pack out all solid human waste in areas where you cannot bury it properly. This is crucial in places like snow-covered alpine regions as the waste will not decompose. Learn our recommended technique for carrying out your waste here. The benefit of this system is that you can deposit your waste at the next available drop toilet – which is typically a daily occurrence on K2K. Â
Wildlife
In winter, animal sightings are less common above the treeline. The most common animals you might see are birds. It is also common to see native mammals in the historic huts, such as the Broad-toothed rat or a Dusky Antechinus. In the more sheltered areas you may also see pests such as brumbies, rabbits, pigs or deer. It is possible to see wombats but it is rare.Â
Mobile phone reception
For mobile reception along the K2K, Telstra offers the most extensive and reliable coverage. While service is never guaranteed, it can often be found intermittently on a near-daily basis on high points and ridgelines. Â
Useful resources
Other useful resources include:Â
- K2K Ski Tour Planning Notes by Phil Hart (https://philhart.com/kiandra-kosciuszko-k2k-ski-tour-planning-notes/)
- Mountain Safety Collective (MSC): Essential for checking backcountry snow conditions and reports. (https://mountainsafetycollective.org/backcountry-conditions-reports)
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS): Check for any specific alerts, closures, or conditions for Kosciuszko National Park.
- Australian Backcountry Website: A community forum and resource hub for local ski tourers. (https://www.australianbackcountry.com)