Is the High Country calling? Try these mountain escapes

Australia's mountain escapes deserve a place on your travel list

See a mountain, climb the mountain; it’s a primal instinct to go to higher ground to watch the lay of the land below. If Australia’s high country is calling, read on for five of the best mountain escapes, from eroded desert mountains to alpine beauties. 

Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

Australia’s highest alpine region is home to our greatest peak, Mt Kosciuszko, at home in its national park halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. Ski and fish in winter, hike and bike in summer – there are four ski resorts within the national park: behemoth Perisher, Thredbo and the much smaller Charlotte Pass and Selwyn Snowfields. Camp at a range of free or paid campgrounds, such as The Pines, which draws boaties to the nearby Blowering Reserve or Tom Groggin campground, beside the Murray River. In late summer, combine a hike to the top of Mt Kosciuszko with wildflower season, visit Yarrangobilly Caves and take a dip in its striking natural thermal pool nearby.

Glass House Mountains, QLD

Erupting from the plains of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, the Glasshouse Mountains aren’t your traditional alpine scene. The 11 peaks are the remains of 25-million-year-old volcanoes, and many are easily walkable, including Wild Horse Mountain, which has a paved walking trail to the top with fabulous views, and family-friendly Mt Ngungun, whose views from the peak are best admired at sunrise or sunset. You might be mountain hunting, but it’s also home to the world’s only organic camel dairy farm; drop in for morning tea or put Glasshouse Plantation coffee farm on the list for an all-Australian, post-walk caffeine hit. Close to the coast, there are plenty of campsites that give mountain and sea vibes in one day. 

Mount Field, TAS

Crane your neck to follow the lines of Australia’s tallest tree species, the mountain ash, which rises up above the rainforest canopy at Mount Field National Park. Just over an hour from Hobart, there are waterfalls and tall trees, trails, and walks that take you to idyllic tarns and snowy peaks in this diverse national park. Stay in the campground near the visitor centre, or pull up in nearby Ellendale or welcoming New Norfolk, where you can hunt antiques and hit its renowned food scene. In autumn, daytrippers turn leafpeepers, flocking to Mt Field for the turning of the Fagus (deciduous beech), while Lake Dobson and Mount Mawson ski field comes alive in the snowy winter, and dramatic Russell Falls gets all the social media love year-round. 

Alpine National Park, VIC

For a roll-call of Victoria’s highest peaks, head to the Alpine National Park for walking through wildflowers, horseback treks, fly-fishing in snow-fed rivers and all the romance of the Man from Snowy River (you’re heading for Craig’s Hut, near Mt Stirling, if you’re seeking full Banjo Paterson immersion). Come winter, this is Victoria’s ski heartland, with Mt Buller, Falls Creek and Hotham within the park, while summer is for short walks;  Wallace’s Hut, the oldest cattleman’s hut in the park, is only a kilometre off the road, while the ultimate day walk is Mount Feathertop via the Razorback. Victoria’s largest national park is fringed with towns offering picturesque RV campsites, including Bright and Tawonga, and pretty Harrietville, set on the Ovens River and overlooked by Feathertop. 

RELATED ARTICLE: The Victorian High Country: Quaint Villages, Scenic Rides, and Breathtaking Views

East MacDonnell Ranges, NT

Overshadowed by its famous sister, Tjoritja-West MacDonnells, on the western side of the Stuart Highway, the East Macs downplays its charms. Loaded with great hikes, rock art, history, and gorgeous yet to be discovered, this is ancient country – so expect mountains long and low. Pitch the wagons at Hale River Homestead or Artlunga Bush Pub & Eco Retreat, or go off-grid at Ruby Gap, and plan a dip at John Hayes Rockhole in Trephina Gorge Nature Park. The 2,200-kilometre Binns Track passes through the region, whose ridges are aptly reflected in the Yeperenye (Caterpillar) Dreaming story of the Arrernte people.