Regulations Australia Kosciuszko National Park
Lake Cootapatamba
Camping & bivouac
Regulations on 30 October 2026
Signs at the site and later resolutions prevail; check the source.
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Prohibited all year
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
Because of this, camping has been prohibited for a number of years in the catchments of the five small alpine lakes – Albina, Blue, Club and Cootapatamba Lakes and Hedley Tarn.
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- 21. Permit dispersed overnight camping except within the catchments of:
- - Lake Albina;
- - Blue Lake;
- - Club Lake;
- - Lake Cootapatamba; and
- - Hedley Tarn;
Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 14 Dec 2014 · Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management
In Kosciuszko National Park
Regulated zone
Kosciuszko National Park
These hold everywhere inside the boundary, whether or not a site is marked.
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Regulated
Climbing · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
8.12.1 Management Objective
Rock climbing, ice climbing and abseiling opportunities are provided in ways that limit disturbance to acceptable levels.
Policies and Actions
- 1. Continue to permit ice climbing throughout the park.
- 2. Continue to permit rock climbing and abseiling throughout the park except at:
- - Mount Morgan (rock climbing and abseiling are to be prohibited due to the cultural and environmental significance of this location); and
- - Other sites, as identified, where significant values are at risk from these activities.
- 3. Undertake an assessment of environmental impacts associated with rock climbing and abseiling at Blue Lake. This assessment will include, but not be limited to, impacts associated with climbers accessing the tops and bottoms of climbs and the use of gullies as descent routes. Depending on the results of this assessment, climbing and abseiling at Blue Lake may be prohibited or managed through the introduction of a booking system.
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- 6. Prohibit the placement of additional rock bolts, climb labels and other permanent fixtures.
- 7. Require the use of protective collars where trees are used as temporary anchor points.
Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 14 Dec 2014 · Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management
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Permit required
Caving · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
Guided cave tours are provided through the show caves at Yarrangobilly (Section 9.3). Unrestricted public access is available to four of the relatively robust undeveloped caves at Cooleman Plain, which are commonly visited by school groups and other large caving parties. Elsewhere, caving access is strictly controlled through a permit system that contains stringent conditions designed to minimise the impacts of all caving visits. Given the fragility of many cave environments, and the potential for irreversible damage, access to these undeveloped caves is restricted to clubs or groups that are members of the Australian Speleological Federation Incorporated, or to approved researchers or overseas organisations. Recreational access to a very small number of caves is completely prohibited for safety or environmental protection reasons.
(Caves to which the public does not have a general right of access are known as Restricted Access Caves. Access to these caves is restricted pursuant to Section 155 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.)
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- 3. Manage access to Restricted Access Caves through a permit system. The system will also be used as a means of correlating use and disturbance levels in individual caves and as a direct means of informing cavers of minimal impact use requirements.
Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 14 Dec 2014 · Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management
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Regulated
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
8.5.1 Management Objective
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Policies and Actions
- 1. Permit vehicle-based camping in designated camping areas only in the Minor and Major Road Corridors and at Sawpit Creek (Kosciusko Mountain Retreat), Threbo Ranger Station and Yarrangobilly Caves in the Visitor Services Zone.
- 2. Permit walk-in camping throughout the park except:
- - Within 200 m of any road open to public vehicular access except at designated walk-in campsites;
- - In the camping exclusion areas on the Main Range (Section 9.2) and near Blue Waterholes (Section 9.4.); and
- - Within the Visitor Services Zone.
- 3. Prohibit camping in areas of ecological or cultural sensitivity, or those regarded as unsafe, including but not limited to:
- - Areas of threatened species critical habitat;
- - Vegetation communities that are restricted in distribution, especially vulnerable to disturbance, or likely to come under increasing stress due to climate change;
- - Within 30 m of rivers, streams and lakes;
- - Sites that are vulnerable to disturbance (e.g. exposed soils);
- - Places that contain culturally-sensitive Aboriginal sites or values or cultural heritage features that are vulnerable to disturbance; and
- - Hazardous places (e.g. areas containing unfenced mines).
Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 14 Dec 2014 · Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management
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Permit required
Paragliding · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
8.17.1 Management Objective
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Policies and Actions
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- 4. Assess proposals for launching sites for non-powered aircraft in terms of safety, and impacts on other visitors and the natural and cultural values of the park.
- 5. Assess proposals to take off and land non-powered aircraft in the park on a case by case basis. All such activities are required to be licensed by the Service.
Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 14 Dec 2014 · Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management
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Regulated
Camping & bivouac · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
Camping restrictions
Camping restrictions apply in a number of alpine areas within Kosciuszko National Park. Camping is not permitted within the catchments of the following alpine lakes and drinking water catchments for ski resorts:
- - Lake Albina, Blue Lake, Club Lake, Lake Cootapatamba, and Hedley Tarn
- - Rock Creek (Perisher/Porcupine Area)
- - Pipers Creek catchment (Prussian Flat)
- - Stilwell Creek (Stillwell/Charlotte Pass)
- - Blue Cow Creek (New and Old Farm Creeks)
- - Also within 30m of rivers, streams and lakes
There are also restrictions within 200m of the following:
- - Charlotte Pass, Crackenback Chairlift, Guthega Village and Guthega Power Station track heads.
- - Crackenback Chairlift to Mount Kosciuszko walkway
- - Summit of Mount Kosciuszko and Rawson Pass
- - Where the Main Range walk crosses the Snowy River at Foremans Crossing (immediately below Charlotte Pass)
- - Any road open to public vehicle access except designated walk-in campsites
Published by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service · Remote camping in Kosciuszko National Park
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Permit required
Canyoning · All year
In force on 30 October 2026
25 Sporting, recreational and other activities
(1) A person must not in a park—
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(d) organise or engage in any activity or recreational pursuit that involves risking the safety of the person or the safety of other persons or damaging the environment.
Maximum penalty—30 penalty units.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subclause (1)(d), the activities and recreational pursuits to which that paragraph applies include abseiling, base jumping, bungy jumping, rock climbing, parachuting, canyoning, white water boating, paragliding, parasailing and hang gliding. However, the activities and recreational pursuits to which subclause (1)(d) applies do not include caving and cave diving.
(3) A person does not commit an offence under this clause—
(a) for anything done or omitted to be done with the consent of a park authority and in accordance with any conditions to which the consent is subject, or
(b) if a plan of management for a park makes provision for the undertaking of an activity in the park, the person undertakes the activity in the park in accordance with the plan of management.
(4) Despite subclause (3)(b), a person must not undertake an activity in a park if a notice erected in the park or given to the person prohibits the undertaking of the activity.
Maximum penalty—30 penalty units.
Published by NSW Government, 4 Jul 2025 · National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2019