Bushwalk Australia

Hello
Heading to check out Kosi in April. First time there as an adult and a bushwalker.

All I know is Jindabyne is the place to start for snow season. Nearby is a camp and the start of many first treks. I don't particularly want to freeze my derriere but look forward to some awesome high weather.

I have good bushwalk gear, can navigate off track, recently added some 4 season to my kit.

Looking at a two-nighter then a few-nighter then if im still keen, a week long trek.

Waddaya suggest? How is it for resupply in town, a cheap spot with a shower/dip between walks.

Neo wrote:All I know is Jindabyne is the place to start for snow season.
How is it for resupply in town,

The locals shop in Cooma - a fair bit cheaper. Probably best to stock the car there before going to Jindi.

There is a big Woolworths in Jindy so you should be right depending on the how the panic buying pans out.
I'm worried they will lockdown the parks. There are heaps of amazing walks, take your pick. The weather can get extreme and April will be cold and can get real nasty, but if the weather is fine, this would be a good overnight intro:
http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/kosciuszko-np-south/main-range-track-loop-from-charlotte-pass-camping-near-mt-townsend.html

There are some nice day walks around Thredbo if the weather is not great. But for sure, a lot of the walks are weather dependent.

Accom comes down to cost. But if you are short of a buck, Thredbo Diggings and Island Bend are nice places to camp.

North end of the park is closed ATM due to bush fires but there is also some great walking out that way as well.

Entry in the park is not cheap unless you have an All Parks pass which is around $200.

Great, cheers.

You could also tackle the “Aussie Top 10” - the 10 highest peaks in Australia.

On my bucket list but it looks to be pretty straightforward if you’re an experienced hiker.

There are two caravan parks in Jindy and another on the Perisher Road at / called Sawpit Creek.

The Parks camp grounds are out of town, The Diggings, Nagario on the Alpine Way between Thredbo and Jindy and Island Bend on the Guthega Road. These are not too hard to find on maps. The road signs are pretty small and one only so you need a sharp eye when you are first looking for them.

For last minute or replacement camp gear and dehy meals Wilderness Sports in Nuggets Crossing (the biggest shopping centre thingy) is pretty good.

Jindy supermarket is pretty good, but if you driving in from the West stock up in Albury / Wodonga prior, if coming from the North Cooma as noted above.

But in these strange times check and check again the Park will be open.

If I was looking to use a caravan park I'd use Sawpit and access Kozi from Charlotte Pass.

If I was on the free (except for Parks Pass) camping then I'd use Nagario and access Kozi from Dead Horse Gap. This is a more remote and longer but well tracked route.

April - could be cold. If you are running a diesel, get to Cooma with low fuel and refill there. By then they may have switched to winter fuel. Otherwise, if it is sub-zero overnight, you may find the fuel filter all jellied up. The local NRMA knows ALL about that. Don't know how that affects petrol cars.

A good way to go up is to drive to Bullocks Flat and take the ski tube up. It normally runs 12 months of the year, but you had better phone-check first this year. Parks pass not needed for that.

Of course, Jindi may still be locked down - that is very possible. If so, the police will be patrolling.

Cheers
Roger

rcaffin wrote:A good way to go up is to drive to Bullocks Flat and take the ski tube up. It normally runs 12 months of the year, but you had better phone-check first this year. Parks pass not needed for that.

Since 2006 the skitube only operates for the public during the ski season. June long weekend to October long weekend.

Really? Good Lord. Time flies.
Well then, park at Jindi, take the bus to Thredbo, and the quad chair to the top. This avoids having to buy a Park Entry ticket. The bus should be running year-around as it serves as the school bus as well.
Cheers
Roger

Needing a paper map to start a plan in my head. Later to hold a piece in my hand.

Has anyone got favourable words about one of the Rooftops maps? Which one.
I have only used a 1:50k map in WA once, didn't find it very useful especially as the terrin was fairly flat at any scale!

Or should I stick with a few of my more familiar NSW topos? 8525-3n&2n&3s&2s looks like a start.

All NSW topos can be downloaded and printed free from here - https://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/etopo.html

Im not a fan of the rooftop maps. Not enough detail.

These are what I've been using for the past year. They are absolutely fantastic. Bruce at Wilderness Sports in Jindabyne sells them. They are waterproof, tear proof, sized well and detailed enough. There are 3 covering the Main Range and Jagungal - https://www.wildernesssports.com.au/pro ... szko-map-1

Neo wrote:Needing a paper map to start a plan in my head. Later to hold a piece in my hand.

Has anyone got favourable words about one of the Rooftops maps? Which one.
I have only used a 1:50k map in WA once, didn't find it very useful especially as the terrin was fairly flat at any scale!

Or should I stick with a few of my more familiar NSW topos? 8525-3n&2n&3s&2s looks like a start.

If you go the topos you will only need Perisher Valley and Chimneys Ridge.

Thanks I will order those two maps to start with to get my head in the zone.

Have got into the etopo for a look and dabbled with Avenza, not tried printing.

Here is a similar topic from 2013:
viewtopic.php?uid=12485&f=36&t=15483&start=0

Have corrected this topics title spelling.

How very odd. The Numbla map above (BRHC) seems to show water with dead straight edges where I was expecting the Monaro plains. I know we have had a lot of rain, but really ... Unless the blue means something else?

Cheers

I think the Numbla Vale is a 50K sheet rather than a 25K sheet, maybe that is impacting your view???

aahh, yes, blue of 50K sheets

https://www.spatial.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/217938/SS_TopoMapCatalogue.pdf

When I teach nav (big difference from a couple of years ago!) I point out to folks the blue lines is where water might run, don't expect to see water.
I love topo maps btw.

Two maps arrived, decide to order four more to include Jagungal and east.

Current restrictions mean I may not get there before deep winter. Lately the temperature range is roughly zero to ten degrees. Seasonal outlook for rain is pretty good so I guess that could translate into a good snow season coming up!

@wander
The URL you gave points to a corrupt PDF file.
???

Cheers
Roger

@neo

> Seasonal outlook for rain is pretty good so I guess that could translate into a good snow season coming up!
Or it could point to a lot of rain over the winter. The way things are going ...

Cheers
Roger

rcaffin wrote:@wander
The URL you gave points to a corrupt PDF file.
???

Cheers
Roger

That seems to be the official link but yes, the PDF is corrupt.

Roger, this may do depending on your needs:
https://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/etopo.html

Zoom in far enough and it lists by name and number each of the relevant topo maps.
You can click on any you require and download the free PDF. I found Numbla Vale 1:50,000 if that's the one you need.
Unfortunately not all that scale are available e.g Kosciuskzo 1:50,000. Glad I still have my old paper copy.

p.s. Don't bother with the catalogue link on that page. It points to the same corrupt file.

Made some laminated copies of the first two maps when they arrived in the mail.
No idea of landscape but pencilled a southern overnight loop from Thredbo.
The main loop northish looks a bit well traveled, but one to do plus Blue Lake.

Will have some work again from August then busy but a gap sometime then or September. That makes it a deep winter opportunity to visit Kosci!
Think my gear is fine, except not having skis or snow shoes... will see how it plays out.