Trout streams, snow gums and nights that can dip below zero even in summer. These four Kosciuszko campgrounds, our alpine kit picks and a few hard-won tips will help you camp up high in comfort.
Alpine weather changes fast. Pack for it.
A down jacket, waterproof boots and a proper pillow.
Down and padded jackets for crisp alpine air.
Boots, shoes and socks, with waterproof picks for dewy meadows.
Camp and travel pillows for a comfier night at altitude.
Our full ranges for warm layers, sleeping bags and flasks.
Fleece jackets and tops for frosty mornings and evenings.
Sleeping bags with options rated below freezing, plus liners.
Insulated flasks and water bottles for cold alpine walks.
Two Snowy River and Thredbo River camps, a western valley and the high plains.
Forty-one marked sites beside the Thredbo River, an easy drive along the Alpine Way from Jindabyne.
Good to knowNo water and no bins, so bring water and firewood and take your rubbish home. You'll need a NSW fishing licence to fish the river.
View Campground DetailsA big campground on the Snowy River, good for paddling and fishing, just off the road to Guthega and Perisher.
Good to knowRiver water is available but must be treated before drinking. Long vehicles can't get in, and the lower camp may need a 4WD in very wet weather.
View Campground DetailsFlat, grassy sites by the Swampy Plain River on the western side of the range, close to the historic Geehi Huts.
Good to knowIt sits about 36 km south of Khancoban on the Alpine Way. Bring drinking water and firewood, as neither is supplied.
View Campground DetailsSnow gums around an old gold-rush dam in the Selwyn area near Kiandra, with wildflowers through spring.
Good to knowGates close over winter, when it becomes walk-in from the Goldseekers track car park. Dam water must be boiled or treated before drinking.
View Campground DetailsRespect the altitude and you'll love it.
Alpine conditions change fast, and it gets cold at night in every season. Choose a sleeping bag rated near or below 0°C and add a liner if you feel the cold.
Find a Sleeping BagExposed sites can catch strong gusts off the range. Peg every guy line and turn the narrow end of the tent into the wind.
Get Pegs and a MalletIsland Bend and Three Mile Dam have water nearby, but it must be boiled or treated first. Thredbo Diggings and Geehi Flats have none, so bring your own.
Find a Water BottleTwo-wheel-drive vehicles must carry snow chains on the main park roads through the winter season. Even outside winter, check road conditions before you drive up.
These campgrounds have barbecues, but you need to bring your own firewood. A gas stove keeps hot drinks coming on cold mornings and on fire ban days.
Find a Camp StoveMobile reception is patchy across the park. Hire a free personal locator beacon from a park visitor centre before heading out on a big walk.
Check Safety GearLayers first, then everything else.
Gear grouped by how you live and move.
Thredbo Diggings on the Thredbo River and Island Bend on the Snowy River are the easiest from Jindabyne. On the western side, Geehi Flats sits by the Swampy Plain River near the Geehi Huts. For high-country quiet, Three Mile Dam near Kiandra camps among snow gums by an old gold-rush dam.
Not ready to drink. Thredbo Diggings and Geehi Flats have no water at all, so bring enough for your whole stay. Island Bend has the Snowy River and Three Mile Dam has the dam, but both need boiling or treating before you drink them.
Some campgrounds stay open, but expect low temperatures and snow, and carry snow chains, which 2WD vehicles must have on the main park roads in winter. Three Mile Dam's gates close over winter, so it becomes walk-in only from the Goldseekers track car park. Check alerts and road conditions before every trip.
Yes, the rivers beside Thredbo Diggings and Island Bend are popular for fishing and paddling. You need a current NSW recreational fishing licence to fish in park waters, and it's worth checking the fishing rules for the stretch you plan to fish.
No. Dogs and other pets aren't permitted in most NSW national parks, and that includes the Kosciuszko campgrounds. If your dog is part of the trip, look at pet-friendly accommodation in the towns around the park and check their rules first.
We build our alpine sleeping bags, tents and layers alongside people who camp in the cold, and we test them in the mountains before they reach our stores.
Free delivery on orders over $150. Members get our lifetime warranty.
