The best camping near Kosciuszko National Park

Kosciuszko National Park (Kosi to the locals) is the largest national park in NSW. Stretching along the spine of the Great Dividing Range between ACT and the Victorian border, it includes Australia’s highest peak, the 2,228-metre Mount Kosciuszko. You can walk to the summit and back in five hours or so, an easier hike than you might imagine, particularly if you take the chairlift from Thredbo village part of the way. The park has four ski resorts, a multitude of hiking and biking trails, rivers and streams full of trout, and more kangaroos than you could possibly count, in addition to historic huts, 4WD tracks, richly decorated limestone caves, and thermal pools.

• Best for long stays: Tom Groggin Campground has lots of open space and nice shady sites beside the Murray River, a great summer swimming spot. Its location just off Alpine Way makes this an ideal base camp for exploring.
• Best for walkers: Island Bend, near the ski area of Perisher, is the perfect spot to pitch a tent if you’re keen on accessing some of the park’s best walking trails.
• Best for anglers and 4WDs: Set beside the Swampy Plains River, Geehi Flats is popular among fisher folk and off-roaders, as it’s the starting point for 4WD tracks that lead to several historic alpine huts. 

1. All campsites in NSW national parks, even the free ones, must be pre-booked online before arrival. You must also fill in a trip intention form if backpack camping in remote areas.
2. Although the park can be popular on summer school holidays, you can usually find a good spot to stay among the 40-some campsites

Kosciuszko National Park is a year-round adventure playground, with snow sports in winter, and fishing, bushwalking, backcountry hiking, and mountain biking in summer. The warmer months are undoubtedly the best for camping, but even so, you should always be prepared for cold weather, as snow is not uncommon, even in summer. Alpine wildflowers are spectacular between November and March, while fly fishing season runs between the October and June long weekends. Ski season is the opposite, running from the start of June to the end of October.

• All major roads in the park are sealed, although some sections of Alpine Way are narrow. Snow chains must be carried between June 1 and October 10 on Alpine Way. They can be hired at many service stations and ski hire shops in the region, including Thredbo. The road from Khancoban to Cabramurra is closed in winter.
• Many of the 4WD tracks in the park involve river crossings. Even if it looks shallow, always wade across first to check depth and for hidden hazards.
• Camping is free, but bookings are mandatory and you’ll need to pay a park entry fee. A range of multi-day park passes are available.
• Campfires are allowed in most campgrounds, but only on low fire danger days. Bring your own firewood, as you can’t collect it in the park. In remote alpine areas, no open or wood fires are permitted outside hut fireplaces.

Located at the end of the Snowy Mountains Highway and surrounded by breathtaking views, Tantangara Dam is a great place to visit for hiking and water sports.