Australian Alps

The Australian Alps is a general term for the highest mountain ranges in south-eastern Australia.

Related Topics:
Mountain range - Australia

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The term Great Dividing Range is used to describe the series of mountains and plateaus which run about 3000 kilometres from northern Queensland to central Victoria. These highlands divide the rivers and streams which flow eastwards into the Pacific Ocean, from those rivers and streams which flow inland to the Murray River system or internal catchments.

Related Topics:
Great Dividing Range - Queensland - Victoria - Pacific Ocean - Murray River

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The highlands reach their greatest height in the region of far southern New South Wales and eastern Victoria. It is only in this region that peaks exceeding 2000 metres occur and it is only in this region that snow occurs regularly. The Snowy Mountains in southern New South Wales are a part of the Australian Alps.

Related Topics:
New South Wales - Victoria - Snowy Mountains

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These highlands 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 and Australia's only ski resorts, which represent virtually the only permanent settlements in the area. Several medium-sized towns are present in the valleys immediately below including Jindabyne, Corryong, and Mount Beauty.

Related Topics:
Conservation - Recreation - Catchment - Murray River - Murrumbidgee River - Snowy Mountains Scheme - National park - Jindabyne - Corryong - Mount Beauty

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The "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).

Related Topics:
Mountaineering - Abseiling - Rock climbing

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Within the Australian alps there are 120 still active alpine huts that mainly originate from the early cattlemen days however many have remained in use by hikers and skiing groups throughout the year. Many 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, Mawsons Hut. In recent years many huts have been lost to maintenance and bush fire. An example of that is the Pretty Plain Hut which was lost in the Bushfires of 2003.

Related Topics:
Alpine hut - Hikers - Skiing - Volunteers - Moscow Villa Hut - Valentine Hut - Mawsons Hut - Bush fire - Pretty Plain Hut - Bushfires of 2003

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Significant areas in the Australian Alps include

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• Mount Kosciuszko
• Mount Bogong
• Snowy Mountains
• Kosciuszko National Park
• Alpine National Park in Victoria

Skiing areas include

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• Perisher Blue in New South Wales
• Thredbo
• Charlotte Pass
• Mount Buller in Victoria
• Falls Creek
• Mount Hotham