Kosciuszko National Park is huge, and its camping conditions change more with the season than most NSW parks. A campground that is straightforward to reach in autumn can be behind a winter road closure a few months later, while a valley campground on Alpine Way may remain bookable even as nearby 4WD tracks shut.
The practical rule is simple: choose your campground first, then check the Kosciuszko National Park local alerts for the exact road, trail and precinct before leaving.
Current winter access: August 2026#
NPWS currently has extensive winter closures in place through Friday 2 October 2026.
The northern park winter-closure list includes Long Plain Road, Port Phillip Trail, Blue Waterholes Trail, Four Mile Trail, Pocket Saddle Road and Bullocks Hill Trail. It also includes Olsens Lookout / Geehi Dam Road, Behrs Flat trail including Behrs Flat and Old Geehi campgrounds, Geehi Walls trail, and several other remote 4WD routes.
A separate winter road notice also closes Geehi Dam Road, KNP5 Cabramurra–Khancoban Road, Olsen's Lookout Road, Kings Cross Road and Tumut Ponds Trail until 2 October.
That doesn't mean every campground in Kosciuszko is closed. It does mean you should not infer access to a remote campground from a summer description or an old trip report.
NPWS also continues to list the Tom Groggin suspension footbridge over the Murray River as closed until further notice because it is unsafe for pedestrian access.
Why autumn is still a strong camping season#
For many valley campgrounds, autumn is a useful middle ground between summer crowds and winter access restrictions. Conditions are cooler, the winter entry surcharge has not yet started, and more of the park's unsealed road network is normally accessible.
The important caveat is that alpine weather is unpredictable in every season. Snow and ice can arrive early, rainfall can affect river crossings, and management closures can occur independently of the usual seasonal timetable.
The campgrounds#
Tom Groggin campground#
Tom Groggin sits beside the upper Murray River on Alpine Way between Khancoban and Thredbo. It is one of the more accessible valley bases in southern Kosciuszko.
Facilities: Toilets, unpowered sites, barbecue facilities and picnic tables. Bring drinking water, cooking water and firewood.
Vehicle access: The campground is reached from Alpine Way and accepts tents, camper trailers and caravans. The road is mountainous, so check current conditions if you're towing.
Current alert: The suspension footbridge crossing the Murray River at Tom Groggin Station is closed until further notice. This affects the National Trail connection as well as campground visitors wanting to cross the river on foot.
Booking: NPWS Tom Groggin campground or 1300 072 757. NPWS currently allows online bookings for up to 12 people or 2 sites.
Fees: NPWS currently lists no camping fee, with a $6 booking fee. Park entry fees apply.
Geehi Flats campground#
Geehi Flats sits beside the Swampy Plain River and remains one of the more practical car-based options in the southern part of the park.
Facilities: Toilets, unpowered sites, barbecue facilities and picnic tables. Bring drinking and cooking water and firewood.
Booking and fees: NPWS currently lists no camping fee and a $6 booking fee, with park entry fees applying.
Current access context: The campground itself remains listed for booking, but Geehi Dam Road and Olsens Lookout / Geehi Dam Road are within winter closures through 2 October 2026. Those closures affect nearby drives and routes, so check your planned approach and side trips rather than assuming all Geehi-area roads are open.
Old Geehi campground#
Old Geehi is the more remote option near the historic Geehi huts and requires substantially more attention to seasonal access.
NPWS explicitly lists Old Geehi campground as closed in winter from the June to October long weekends. Its current park alert also places Behrs Flat trail, including Old Geehi campground, within the winter vehicle closure through 2 October 2026.
Outside the winter closure, NPWS lists the campground for tents and camping beside a vehicle, with no camping fee and a $6 booking fee. Park entry fees apply.
If Old Geehi is your target, use the official campground page and live local alerts on the day you travel rather than relying on a generic Kosciuszko access description.
Yarrangobilly Village campground#
Yarrangobilly is on the northern side of the park near the caves and thermal pool. It is a different trip from the Alpine Way campgrounds and has its own access and entry arrangements.
The current NPWS park information lists Yarrangobilly Caves entry at $4 per vehicle per day unless general park entry has already been paid. Check the campground and caves pages for current opening conditions, tours and facilities before travelling.
1080 baiting and pets#
Pets and domestic animals are not permitted in Kosciuszko National Park except certified assistance animals.
The old version of this article said baiting programs ran only through August 2026. That is no longer accurate. NPWS currently lists several 1080 programs with different geographic scopes and end dates, including a wild-dog and fox baiting program across areas such as Thredbo/Ingebyra, Dalgety/Paupong and Snowy Plain from 7 August 2026 to 2 February 2027, as well as other programs in northern parts of the park.
Because the baiting footprint and dates vary, use the live Kosciuszko alerts rather than a single park-wide end date.
Park entry fees#
NPWS currently lists the following general Kosciuszko vehicle-entry rates:
- Winter peak: $29 per vehicle per day, from the Friday of the June long weekend to the Monday of the October long weekend.
- Rest of year: $17 per vehicle per day, from the Tuesday after the October long weekend to the Thursday before the June long weekend.
- Yarrangobilly Caves: $4 per vehicle per day unless general park entry has already been paid.
These charges are separate from campground booking fees. Check the NPWS park page before travel in case rates change.
Firewood, water and alpine weather#
Bring firewood where fires are permitted. Collecting firewood in the park is prohibited. Fire rules vary by site and can tighten with fire danger, so check the campground page and NSW RFS conditions before lighting anything.
Carry drinking water. Many Kosciuszko campgrounds do not provide treated drinking water. The individual NPWS campground page tells you what to bring.
Plan for alpine weather. Weather can change rapidly at elevation, and winter road closures are only one part of the access picture. Heavy rain, snow, ice and park-management operations can create shorter-notice restrictions.
Booking and live-status checks#
Book through the relevant NSW National Parks campground page or call 1300 072 757.
Before every trip, check the Kosciuszko local alerts page. For remote or 4WD camping, also check the specific access road or trail rather than only the campground status.
Tom Groggin and Geehi Flats can fill during busy periods. CampWatch monitors supported campground availability and sends an SMS when a matching site opens up.
This guide was refreshed against current NPWS information on 16 August 2026.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed in Kosciuszko National Park?
No. Pets and domestic animals are not permitted in Kosciuszko National Park except certified assistance animals. NPWS also has multiple current 1080 baiting programs across parts of the park, including programs extending into February 2027, so always check the live local alerts before travelling near park boundaries with working dogs or pets.
Can you have a campfire in Kosciuszko National Park?
Fire rules vary by campground, season and fire danger. At campgrounds where fires are permitted, bring your own firewood because collecting firewood in the park is prohibited. Check the individual campground page, NPWS alerts and NSW RFS restrictions before lighting a fire.
Do I need to pay to enter Kosciuszko National Park?
Park entry fees apply in fee-collecting areas. NPWS currently lists $29 per vehicle per day during the winter peak from the June long weekend to the October long weekend, and $17 per vehicle per day for the rest of the year. Yarrangobilly Caves has a separate $4 vehicle fee unless general park entry has already been paid.
What campgrounds are in Kosciuszko National Park?
Popular options include Tom Groggin, Geehi Flats, Old Geehi and Yarrangobilly Village, plus numerous remote campgrounds across the park. Access varies substantially by season: Old Geehi and its Behrs Flat trail access are currently within the winter vehicle closure through 2 October 2026.
When is the best time to camp in Kosciuszko National Park?
Autumn is a good shoulder-season choice for many valley campgrounds, while winter brings higher park-entry charges and extensive road and trail closures. Summer has broader access but alpine weather can still change quickly. Check live NPWS alerts for the exact area you plan to visit.