Monday 15/09/2025 Charlotte Pass Village – Charlotte Pass – Kosciuszko Road – Snowy River – Lake Albina
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo Country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
This morning, I offered to lead a trip to Lake Albina. This was one of about six trips that materialised over breakfast. It would only be Sue and I who went in the end, as most other people hadn’t skied for ages and thought it might be too far for their first day, or expected it might be too exposed to some strong wind that was in the forecast.
Max elevation: 2045 m
Total climbing: 598 m
Total descent: -591 m
Average speed: 5.98 km/h
Total time: 05:15:05
We headed out around 9:00am under a breezy, blue sky and excellent, soft snow cover. We had no issues sidling up across the downhill slopes today as we escaped the resort, as it had closed yesterday. This is earlier than in previous years, but it seemed some building work was about to commence. Southern Alps and Pigmy Possum next door were the only two lodges with anyone in them, everything else being closed for the season.
The walk up to Charlotte Pass from the Village was easier than usual as the snow was soft enough to leave tracks but firm enough not to collapse under our weight. From the pass, we headed up along Kosciuszko Road, with only the occasional light cloud in sight and awesome views of the entire Main Range.
Around 1km along Kosciuszko Road, we headed west off track towards the Snowy River, aiming for a point where there is often a snowbridge, to gain access to the other side. We became distracted a little before reaching that point and headed down to the Snowy River further downstream to check it out. I have always loved snowbanks and snow bridges along waterways. It was well worth the effort and produced some good photos. One waterfall below the snowbridge was particularly impressive.
Yes, the snow bridge was where expected and was still solid. Once across, we turned upstream and followed the valley towards Muellers Pass for a couple of kilometres before a right turn under Muellers Peak, which leads to the pass above Lake Albina. It was along this climb up to the pass that we caught the worst of the strong wind for the day, but remained happy to proceed into it, knowing it would be at our backs on the return. Once through the pass, we took a long gliding path towards the lake across the lower slopes of Mount Northcote onto Lake Albina. It was great snow, and I was tempted to get some turns in on a direct descent, but I was not prepared to test my knee so far from “home”.
Still a bit cold and breezy at Lake Albina, I got our Bothy bag out to act as a wind break whilst we had lunch # 1. The bag worked a treat even though we were only holding it across our backs, not sitting inside it.
Heading back, we both got a few turns in as we descended the pass on some very easy spring snow. The knee was holding up much better than I had hoped for.
We continued our return by much the same route as we had come, stopping for lunch # 2 just past the Snowy River. From there, it was back onto Kosciuszko Road and down into the village by the same line we had climbed in the morning. We were back in the Lodge about 2:30pm. We were both very happy with our day out, and the morning concern about it being too windy was forgotten.
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries
The local landscape features, geology, scenic highlights, flora, fauna, Indigenous history, white history and other nearby walks in the area (Perplexity AI Model)
Landscape Features
The physical landscape near Charlotte Pass is defined by undulating alpine ridges, rounded peaks, and glacially-carved valleys situated primarily above 1,700 metres. The terrain includes steep granite outcrops, broad saddles, extensive frost hollows, and bowl-shaped cirques—such as that containing Lake Albina—indicative of significant Pleistocene glaciation. The upper Snowy River courses through this alpine environment, its stony, braided channel often bordered by snowgrass plains and patches of shrubland. Snow-laden slopes, expansive heaths, and interspersed feldmark communities typify the broader plateau, especially around Mount Kosciuszko and nearby summits.
Geology
The geology in this sector of the Main Range is dominated by Palaeozoic granite intrusions with exposures of porphyritic granite and granodiorite. The Kosciuszko massif, including Charlotte Pass and the adjacent high country, owes its morphology to both tectonic uplift and extensive glacial sculpting. Moraines, glacial valleys, and alpine lakes such as Lake Albina are tangible evidence of late Pleistocene glaciation. Local soils tend to be shallow, rocky, and acidic, derived from weathered granite and shaped by freeze-thaw cycles, contributing to drainage patterns and the endemic plant assemblages present.
Scenic Highlights
Prominent scenic highlights include sweeping views over the Snowy River valley, the serrated ridgeline of the Main Range, and the shimmering alpine tarn of Lake Albina, surrounded by rocky screes and lush summer wildflowers. Walking tracks originating at Charlotte Pass provide remarkable panoramas southward towards Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, as well as the expansive subalpine plateau. In the thaw, snowmelt-fed streams cascade through alpine herbfields, creating seasonally dynamic vistas.
Local Flora
This high-elevation landscape supports uniquely adapted plant communities, including alpine herbfields dominated by snowgrass (Poa spp.), silver snow daisy (Celmisia spp.), alpine marsh-marigold (Caltha introloba), and extensive stands of heaths, notably Epacris glacialis and Hakea microcarpa. Feldmark, at the highest and most windswept points, contains prostrate shrubs, mosses, and lichens. In sheltered hollows, alpine bogs and mires occur, supporting sphagnum moss (Sphagnum cristatum) and rare specialist vegetation, some of which are endemic to the Australian Alps.
Local Fauna
The fauna of the Charlotte Pass region includes the mountain pygmy possum (Burramys parvus), broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus), and the threatened Kosciuszko galaxias fish in alpine streams. Birds such as the flame robin (Petroica phoenicea), Richards pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), and the Australian kestrel (Falco cenchroides) are commonly observed. Invertebrate diversity is notable, with several endemic alpine grasshoppers and moths. Introduced species, including hares and foxes, are also present and pose management concerns for native populations.
Indigenous History
The Charlotte Pass locality lies within the traditional lands of the Ngarigo people, who maintain a strong cultural connection with the Kosciuszko region. This is Ngarigo Country, with longstanding seasonal visitation for Bogong moth (Agrotis infusa) feasting, stone tool manufacture, and ceremonial activities. Pathways following the Snowy River and crossing the plateau formed part of a broader network linking high country camps with lower altitude gathering sites. Despite harsh alpine winters, the summer months supported vibrant gatherings, as evidenced by archaeological sites, artefacts, and oral histories.
White History
Non-Indigenous presence began with the incursion of European graziers in the early 19th century, bringing sheep and cattle into the alpine pastures during the warmer months. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the scientific and recreational allure of the high country resulted in the establishment of walking tracks and huts, as well as the development of ski fields and alpine accommodation at Charlotte Pass Village, one of Australia’s earliest snow resorts. The area was eventually incorporated into Kosciuszko National Park (established 1944), with extensive environmental management, heritage preservation, and tourism development reflecting ongoing debates over land use, conservation, and cultural recognition.
Clickable icons on this world map will open the related trip report
A detailed, searchable trip list with links to reports, photo galleries
