Kosciusko

Check out the National Parks website

http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/firenews.html

Generally, No you don't need a 4wd to get to Kosi. Its all sealed bitumen road to thredbo, and you walk from there.

The fires haven't effected Mt Kosi itself and the walks are still open.

I haven't been up there recently, but I've been told that on Kosi you hardly notice the fires at all, simply because it wont burn that high up.

I made a phone call to NPWS for you.

The walk to Kosi from Thredbo is fine.

There is camping available near Thredbo. Thredbo River, Island Bend, and Thredbo Diggings.

There is absolutely no problems with getting from Sydney to Thredbo. No fires in that area.

There are some fires on the Victorian side, whilst no concerning the safety of Thredbo etc etc, with the right winds, the smoke is blowing over Kosi. More a pain then a safety concern.

I would suggest when you get into Sydney phone the NPWS office at Jindabyn (near Thredbo) on (02) 6450 5600 for a current update.

Anne, unless there are fires still raging enroute, the drive from Sydney will be fine. You can get around most of the patk with a 2WD and really only need a 4WD for some of the serios 4WD tracks. We spent 3 weeks there in January and never engaged 4WD, even on many tracks designated 4WD (mind you we had perfect weather).

The walk to the top of the mountain was closed in January due to a bushfire (one of many) at Dead Horse Gap (DHG), just south of the maountain. I don't believe that fire is still an issue. The fires did not directly effect the walk to the top, but did a lot of damage around DHG which, before the fire was a fabulous walk.

Even if some areas are off-limits there will plenty of others you'll be able to access. Just contact the NPWS in Jindabyne before you arrive to get details on where you can't go, or which areas are fire damaged and to which you may not want to go.

A great spot to camp while in the Thredbo area is at a site about 1 km inside the park gates at Thredbo Diggins. This site has both tent based and caravan/trailer based areas (separated). There's also another good site 1 km further on (towards Thredbo) which is tent based camping only. They are both adjacent the Thredbo River and have some good short (2 hour) walks. Other than that, the rule in the park is that you can camp pretty much anywhere as long as you are out of sight of any roadway and not within 100 m of a water course.

It was stunning there in January and far "greener" than I had expected. Hot in the lower areas during the day but very cold at night (near zero degrees), particulary in the higher regions, so be prepared. There were still patches of permanent snow on the way up Kosciuszko.

Enjoy!

Anne,
I agree with the above replies. When you go to the National Park Headquarters ask the rangers about the wildlife in the area and just for a joke tell them you have been warned about the (non-existent) "drop bears" and ask to see an information sheet on them. Should give them a laugh.
Mal T.

Anne,
I agree with the above replies. When you go to the National Park Headquarters ask the rangers about the wildlife in the area and just for a joke tell them you have been warned about the (non-existent) "drop bears" and ask to see an information sheet on them. Should give them a laugh.
Mal T.

First thing, when you get to the park report to the rangers what you are doing... when you will be where, when you will be back...

So if your not back, people can go thru your things.... err I mean come lookin for you.. :P

Sydney to Kosi is a day run easy.

Check out www.accommodationspecialists.com.au and email Jenni for any local assistance. Jenni and her husband work at Kosi and have more local knowledge and are very helpful.

Make sure you go see the Blue Mountains aswell to the west of Sydney, particularly areas arounf Blackheath and further to the west around Oberon at Kanangra Walls.

If you are down at Kozi NP - be careful of the Snow Snakes or sometimes called Hoop Snakes. When skiing you cannot see these snakes as they are white and hide in the mogules - when you disturb them they can actually spring up and they bite the end of their tails to form a hoop - they then roll down hill after you - so be careful !!

On the beach we also have white pointers so be careful of these aswell - but that's another story - if you have seen any of Paul Hogans original Aussie comedy shows you would know what I mean. Enjoy your trip downunder.

this is the latest info off the NPWS web site
- Kosciuszko National Park Fires started by lightning strikes have had a major impact on the park. Progressively, various walks and facilities will reopen as areas are assessed.
The following areas are open:
Tourist facilities at Perisher, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass and Cabramurra

Talbingo Reservoir
Yarrangobilly Caves
Campgrounds, picnic areas and other attractions along the Snowy Mountains Highway, in the Long Plain and Currango areas, including:
Blowering foreshore
Long Plain and Cooinbil huts
Ghost Gully campground
Bullocks Hill
Tantangara Dam
Three Mile Dam
Yarrangobilly Dam
Rock Flat
O’Hare’s campground
Areas around the Park including Khancoban, Adaminaby, Talbingo, Providence Portal, Anglers Reach, Old Adaminaby, Kalkite, Tumbarumba, Batlow and Jindabyne
The following walks are open:

Snow gums boardwalk at Charlotte Pass

Pallaibo Track
Porcupine track at Perisher
Rainbow Lake walk at Dainers Gap
Mt Kosciuszko from Charlotte Pass or from the top of the Thredbo chairlift
Main Range track – camping permitted
Dead Horse Gap track
Thredbo River track
The following areas remain closed:

All facilities along the Alpine Way
All other areas of the park not listed as open above

gotta love fair dinkum aussie bush humour.
any way being a well heeled walker through that region make sure if you camp out ie -Thredbo river rug up because it easily gets to -5 there that time of year if conditions are right and sunscreen and plenty of water during the day.
say hi to the galaxias for me.
small mountain fish (bugger to scale and fillet LOL)
great views and fresh air .
do the hard walk uphill from thredbo or the crackenback chairlift.
go on the steel tobogan run.
cheers

hi anne
No its not fahrenheit here its degrees celsius here Idont think you will have to worry about snakes too much but depending on where you are walking i would suggest gaiters and clean your boots to stop the spread of gorse and weeds which are becoming a real pain in some areas.
you need to download or get a converter for temperatures.
have fun