Australian Alps - Ecology, Alpine huts, Attractions, Resort skiing areas

Chain of mountains in SE Australia forming the S part of the Great Dividing Range; extends c.300 km/185 mi SW from Australian Capital Territory to the Goulburn R, Victoria; includes the Snowy Mts, Bowen Mts, and Barry Mts; rises to 2228 m/7310 ft at Mt Kosciuszko; much used for winter sports.

The Australian Alps are the highest mountain ranges of mainland Australia.

The Australian Alps are part of the Great Dividing Range, the series of mountains and plateaus which run about 3,000 kilometres from northern Queensland to central Victoria.

Ecology

The Alps are important for conservation, recreation and as a water catchment, with much of the eastern slopes' runoff diverted into the Murray River and its tributary the Murrumbidgee River through the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

They contain large National Parks which are managed cooperatively as Australian Alps National Parks by agencies of the Australian, New South Wales, Victorian and Australian Capital Territory governments.

The Australian Alps are mostly considerably less steep in character than their European counterparts, and most peaks can be reached without specialised mountaineering equipment (though there are some cliffs suitable for abseiling and rock climbing).

Alpine huts

Within the Australian Alps there are 120 still active alpine huts that mainly originate from the early cattlemen days, research and surveying. Most of these huts are maintained by volunteers through the Kosciuszko Huts Association and the local National Parks services.

Some of the more famous huts include Moscow Villa Hut, Valentine Hut, and Mawsons Hut.

Attractions

Mount Kosciuszko, New South Wales' and mainland Australia's highest peak at 2,228m Kosciuszko National Park Snowy Mountains Mount Bogong, Victoria's highest peak at 1,986m Bogong High Plains Alpine National Park Great Alpine Road National Alpine Museum

Resort skiing areas

New South Wales

Perisher Blue Thredbo Charlotte Pass

Victoria

Mount Buller Falls Creek Mount Hotham Dinner Plain Mount Baw Baw Lake Mountain