Walhalla to Canberra
The Australian Alps Walking Track winds through the high country of Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT. It traverses rugged remote alpine country and bushwalkers must always be experienced, self reliant and have good navigation skills.
On the Australian Alps Walking Track you will visit some of Australia’s finest alpine national parks. The track climbs our highest mountains and crosses exposed high plains. It passes through magnificent tall forests and stunted snow gum woodlands, and discovers sites rich in history.
See the current track conditions and any closures
Origins
The Australian Alps Walking Track is an extension of the Victorian Alpine Walking Track, through New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. For many years bushwalking enthusiasts from the Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs and various government agencies promoted the concept of a long distance walking track from Walhalla to Canberra.
The Victorian Alpine Walking Track, developed in the 1970s, was the first stage in the dream of linking the Australian Alps with a three-state trail. Continuing the Australian Alps Walking Track through Kosciuszko National Park (NSW) and Namadgi National Park (ACT) turned that dream into reality.
On the right track
The 650 kilometre track generally follows ridges and high plains through some of the highest country in Australia. It is mostly far from any towns or other settlement. You can join the track at many places between Walhalla and Canberra, as it joins popular walking tracks in the Baw Baw, Alpine, Kosciuszko and Namadgi national parks.
You can walk the track in ten weeks, but many people choose to walk shorter sections such as those on the Baw Baw Plateau, the Bogong High Plains, and in the Jagungal Wilderness Area.
Navigation
The track is distinctively identified at track and road intersections for its entire length. It follows well maintained walking tracks, barely visible foot pads, grassy fire access trails, and fourwheel drive vehicle tracks.
To tackle the track you should be an experienced bushwalker, used to travelling in remote areas, and skilled in the use of map and compass. In some heavily forested sections of track in Victoria where it is difficult to navigate, the yellow track markers will be placed on trees.
Please note there are no markers in Wilderness areas. A GPS and EPIRB may be useful.
You must not depend on track markers for navigation.
Totems with directional markers are located at road and track intersections. New yellow track markers have replaced the older blue markers to improve visibility and to meet new Australian standards.
Permits and restrictions apply along sections of the track
Fuel stove only areas exist in Baw Baw National Park, Alpine National Park, at Mount Bogong, in Kosciuszko National Park above the tree line (about 1,700 metres altitude) and in the Cotter Catchment of Namadgi National Park.
Camping and fire permits are required for sections of Namadgi National Park.
Camping restrictions apply in the Thomson and Jordan water supply catchments of Victoria.
For full details of restrictions and permit requirements see the Australian Alps Walking Track Strategic and Operational Plan 2021 – 2025
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