Merritts Traverse

Download & Print Map and Notes

3 hrs

5.8 km Circuit

167 m

Hard track

This walk starts with a scenic journey to the top of the hill on the chairlift. Starting along Merritts Nature walk, this walk soon detours down the hill by following a series of signposted management trails and ski runs. The walk visits a few scenic creeks, but the main highlights are the wide views of Thredbo Valley.

Merrits Nature Track passing under the chair lift

Walking along the side of the hill on Merrits Nature Track

Looking up at the chairlift from Merrits Nature Track

Folowing the Merritts Nature track sign near Top of Snowgums chairlift

Looking over the valley from Merrits Nature Track

Some duckboarding on Merrits Nature Track

Walking beside the large rock on Merrits Nature Track

Merrits Nature Track Crossing one of the Village Trail

Int of Merritts nature track and Village trail (upper)

Walking down hill along Merritts Traverse

Passing a small fall beside the trail on Merritts Traverse

Looking down to Thredbo Village from just below Frostbite cafe

Walking up the trail south west of Gunbarrel Express

Small dam near Gunbarrel Express on Merritts Traverse

Valley view from Gunbarrel Express on Merritts Traverse

Walking along the grassy Merritts Traverse east of Gunbarrel Express

Walking down alongside the Cruiser Chairlift

Walking around teh bottom of the Cruiser Chairlift Station

Walking along the Merritts Traverse through the tall forest

Nice creek near the bottom of Merritts Traverse

Creek and forest near the bottom of Merritts Traverse

Heading up steps to Merrits Nature Track

Intersection east on the bottom of the Bob sled run

Covered in snow & closed part of the year

This walk leads through an extreme alpine environment and all walkers must be well prepared. During summer, be prepared for both very hot and cold weather, high winds, rain, snow, extreme UV levels and some sections of snow or ice on the ground. Before starting this walk, check advice with Snowy Region Visitor Information Centre (02) 6450 5600, the weather forecast and the snow conditions then change your plans as needed. These notes, grades and walking times have been written for use in the summer months only. Part of this walk is used as a groomed winter ski run. This walk is closed and should not be attempted when there is a chance of significant snow on the ground.

Kosciuszko Express Chairlift

This is one of the few lifts operating in the summer months at Thredbo, and is made quite popular by thousands of people walking to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko each year. Lift tickets can be purchased from the store at the bottom of the chairlift. Lift tickets are $31 return ($25 one way) per person. This lift is generally closed during November and May for maintenance each year, but the the Snowgum chair can be used at this time instead, this will add extra walking time to you walk. More info.

(0km) Bottom of Kosciuszko Express chairlift → Top of Kosciuszko Express chairlift

1.9 km

20 mins

558m

-1m Very easy

This walk heads into the 'Valley Terminal' building, where you can buy a ticket for the lift. Continue through the building and up the steps, where this walk turns right to find the bottom terminal of the 'Kosciuszko Express'. Walk up to the platform as directed by the chairlift operator and sit down in the seat, letting it scoop you up. Once seated, pull down the safety bar and enjoy the ride to the top of the ridge. :) At the top step of the chair lift and turn left to find the restaurant (now on your right) and track information signs ahead.

Eagles Nest Restaurant

This is Australia's highest restaurant, providing great food and outstanding views. It is easily accessible, nestled on the mountain directly opposite the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift, and is open year-round. For more information, call (02) 64576019.

(2km) Top of Kosciuszko Express chairlift → Top of Snowgums chairlift

420 m

12 mins

11m

-84m Hard track

Turn sharp left: From the top of the chairlift[3], this walk heads straight downhill (keeping the chairlift to your left) following paved management trail[4]. After about 25m, this walk veers right to leave the paved trail, now following the dirt track marked by the 'Merritts Nature Track' sign[5]. The track follows the arrow posts among the granite boulders[6] and down the long series of steps that leads under the chairlift[7]. The track continues to wind steeply down the hill[8] and after some time, comes to a clear 'T' intersection with a dirt management trail marked with another 'Merritts Nature Track' sign[9].
Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Merritts Nature Track' sign[10] downhill along the wide management trail, keeping the main valley to your right. The trail soon leads to a four-way intersection marked with a 'Kosciuszko Walk' sign[11], just above the top of Snowgums chairlift[12].

(2km) Top of Snowgums chairlift → Lower bench seat

290 m

8 mins

-73m Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the track that leads down the left side of the Snowgums chairlift, where the track soon passes a 'Merritts Nature Track' sign[13]. The track heads left, away from the chairlift through some snow gums and winds steeply down the hill[14]. About 100m from the chairlift, the walk turns right at a minor intersection[15] (the left branch leads to a view of a small fall) - here, the main track leads down more steep steps to come to a small clearing, with a view of the creek[16] and a wooden bench seat[17].
Veer right: From the bench seat[18], this walk follows the clear track downhill, which soon heads down the steep steps[19][20], coming to another bench seat (and another good excuse for a rest).

Lower bench seat

This small lookout on Merritts Nature Track provides a seat[21] and a view looking north across a wide gully[22]. A small creek cascades down the rocks through the gully. There is limited natural shade from the snow gums here. A nice place to rest and enjoy the view whilst giving your knees a rest.

(3km) Lower Bench Seat → Int of Merritts nature track and Village trail (upper)

210 m

6 mins

-48m Hard track

Veer right: From the bench seat[23], this walk follows the track heading downhill away from the creek[24]. The track passes over a timber[25] then metal[26] section of boardwalk, before heading down a series of steep steps[27]. The track winds down the hill, passing some large boulders[28] before heading down a timber ramp[29] to a four-way intersection with a wide management trail.

(3km) Int of Merritts nature track and Village trail (upper) → Bottom of Antons

470 m

11 mins

20m

-42m Moderate track

Turn left : From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Merritts Traverse' sign[30] fairly steeply downhill along the wide management trail, as it bends to the right[31]. Soon the walk comes to an intersection and turns sharply left[32] following another 'Merritts Traverse' sign[33]. Now fairly flat, the trail bends around the side of the hill, crossing a creek[34] and then, about 200m later, coming to Sponars T-bar lower station[35]. Continuing along the wide trail (following the arrow posts[36] for just over 200m), this walk then comes to the station at the bottom of Antons T-bar[37].

(3km) Bottom of Antons → Top of Gunbarrel Express

500 m

17 mins

85m

-11m Hard track

Continue straight: From the station at the bottom of Antons T-bar[38], this walk follows the arrow post[39] along the clear management trail, steeply up the hill. After about 150m, the trail passes just below 'Frostbite' cafe[40][41] (only open in winter) and continues steeply up the hill[42]. Just as the trail begins to flatten out, it passes an intersection (ignoring the trail on your left) marked with a 'Merritts Traverse' sign[43]. Here the walk continues uphill and soon crosses a creek (with a small dam[44] on your left), coming to the large station at the top of Gunbarrel Express chairlift[45].

Top of Gunbarrel Express

The top station of Gunbarrel Express provides shade[46], shelter and views into the valley[47]. In winter, this chairlift provides access to the blue and green ski runs on the eastern side of Thredbo. There is a small weir behind the top station that would require treatment before drinking[49].

(4km) Top of Gunbarrel Express → Bottom of The Cruiser

840 m

19 mins

-125m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the station at the top of Gunbarrel Express[50], this walk heads east following the wide management trail, keeping the main valley to your right[51]. Soon this walk takes the right-hand fork at the 'Y' intersection, following the 'Merritts Traverse' sign[52] gently downhill. After about 300m of following the arrow posts[53] across a couple of ski runs, this walk comes to another 'Merritts Traverse' sign[54]. Here the walk turns right and heads down the middle of the ski run[55]. Soon the grassy trail leads to the left, following an arrow post through a grove of trees[56], and then turns right[57] and follows beside the chairlift[58] down to the station at the bottom of 'The Cruiser'[59].

(5km) Bottom of The Cruiser → Schuss intersection

1.5 km

37 mins

-261m Hard track

Turn left : From the the bottom of the chairlift[60], this walk follows the 'Merritts Traverse' sign[61] downhill along the wide management trail, initially keeping the Cruiser station to your right[62]. The trail leads down the hill, fairy steeply in places, and after about 270m, the trail bends sharply left[63] then after a further 240m, it bends sharply right[64]. The trail leads through the snow gum forest[65] and past a few small service buildings[66][67] to pass under a chairlift[68]. Just over 200m after passing under Gunbarrel Express chairlift, the trail heads over a creek[69] then follows beside Merritts chairlift[70] to find a clear three-way intersection[71]. There is another 'Merritts Traverse' sign[72] pointing back up the hill.

(6km) Schuss intersection → Friday Flats

480 m

10 mins

-55m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk heads away from Merritts Chairlift[73] and the face of the 'Merritts Traverse' sign[74], to head downhill along the management trail[75]. This section of the walk follows the 'Sundowner' ski run over a (lovely mossy) creek[76] and down this hill to Friday Flats[77], a large open area at the bottom of Gunbarrel Express[78]. Just beyond the chairlift station, this walk comes to an intersection at the start of the sealed driveway, marked with a 'Bridle Trail Loop' and 'Merritts Traverse' sign[79].

Friday Flat

Friday Flat is an open flat area at the Bottom of the Easy-Does-it and Gunbarrel chairlifts. Friday Flat is a hub for beginner and hungry skiers in winter. In summer, all the facilities are closed, but the web cam seems to run most of the time.

(7km) Friday Flats → Thredboland intersection

60 m

1 mins

-2m Easy track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the driveway down the hill[81], past 'Thredboland'[82] to come to a 'T' intersection[83] with Friday Drive (about 80m south of the roundabout).

(7km) Thredboland intersection → Int of Friday Drive and Merritts Nature Track

430 m

8 mins

-10m Very easy

Turn sharp right: From the intersection, this walk follows the footpath keeping Friday Dr to your left, heading away from the roundabout, to cross a bridge almost immediately. The walk continues along the side of the road past 'River Inn'[84] and about 100m later passes the 'Thredbo Leisure Centre'[85] (on the other side of the road). Just shy of 200m later this walk comes to an intersection with a set of steps signposted as 'Merritts Nature Track'[86] (on your right), just before the Thredbo River bridge[87].

(7km) Int of Friday Drive and Merritts Nature Track → Int of Riverview Terrace track and Merritts Nature Track

70 m

2 mins

11m

0m Easy track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Merritts Nature Track' sign[88] up the steps[89] and along the paved footpath, soon coming to a 'T' intersection marked with a 'Merritts Nature Walk' sign[90].

(7km) Int of Riverview Terrace track and Merritts Nature Track → Bottom of bobsled run

240 m

4 mins

-8m Moderate track

Turn left: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Merritts Nature Walk' sign[91] along the paved footpath, keeping the road and valley to your left. The path soon crosses a metal grate[92] and heads through a grove of trees, coming to a three-way intersection marked with an arrow post[93] (and a 'Merritts Nature Track' sign pointing up the steps the right[94]).
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the paved footpath west towards the clearing[95], keeping the valley to your left. The footpath soon leads out of the bush[96] and then along side the bobsled run[97] to find the building at the bottom of the run[98].

Thredbo Bobsled

With a twisting and turning path more than 700m long, this luge-style track is a great summer activity for the family to enjoy whilst staying in Thredbo. Offering individual rides or day passes, allowing you to enjoy this fun ride as many times as you want as you whizz down the mountain on your cart, controlling your speed with a neat hand-break system. More info.

(7km) Bottom of bobsled run → Bottom of Kosciuszko Express chairlift

230 m

5 mins

13m

-6m Moderate track

Continue straight: From the bottom of the bobsled run, this walk heads around the building, down the ramp[99] and along the sealed path towards the tennis courts[100]. The walk follows the path beside the tennis courts[101], then through the car park, and around the front of the buildings[102][103] to find the entrance to the ticket sales for the Kosciuszko Express chairlift, and a large map.

Maps for the Merritts Traverse walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.
These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Perisher Valley	1:25 000 Map Series	85252S PERISHER VALLEY	NSW-85252S
Chimneys Ridge	1:25 000 Map Series	85241N CHIMNEYS RIDGE	NSW-85241N
Kosciuszko	1:100 000 Map Series	8525 KOSCIUSZKO	8525
Jacobs River	1:100 000 Map Series	8524 JACOBS RIVER	8524

Cross sectional view of the Merritts Traverse bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Merritts Traverse

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

		Length	5.8 km
		Time	3 hrs
		.
Grade 4/6 Hard track	AS 2156.1	Gradient	Very steep (4/6)
		Quality of track	Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)
		Signs	Directional signs along the way (3/6)
		Experience Required	Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)
		Weather	Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)
		Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

2.8km of this walk is very steep and another 2.7km is flat with no steps. Whilst another 1.4km has short steep hills and the remaining 690m has gentle hills with occasional steps.

Quality of track

4.3km of this walk follows a clear and well formed track or trail and another 2.9km follows a smooth and hardened path. The remaining (430m) follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles.

Signs

Around 4.3km of this walk is clearly signposted, whilst the remaining 3.3km has directional signs at most intersection.

Experience Required

Around 6km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 1.6km requires some bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 5km of this walk is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety, whilst the remaining 2.5km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

This whole walk, 8km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Merritts Traverse walk.

Thredbo to Village Weir return

2.2 km Return, 1 Hr

This short, relaxing walk starts from Thredbo and follows the Merrits Nature Track to the village weir. A great walk for those who enjoy following a well signposted track. The weir is a lovely spot to stop for lunch before the return journey, back down the hill to Thredbo.

Total climbing: 148m

Hard track

Bridle Trail Loop

2.9 km Circuit, 1 hr 15 mins

This walk starts by heading through Friday Flats and following a signposted track along the grassy open hillside of Thredbo River valley. You follow the loop through an enchanting snow gum forest, enjoying more valley views in places. A peaceful walk, with only a few short hill climbs, and particul

Total climbing: 149m

This popular walk starts with a ride up to the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift, and goes to the top of Mt Kosciuszko. From the top of the chairlift, the walk follows a footpath, passing the Kosciuszko and Cootapatamba lookouts, as it winds up to Rawson Pass. At Rawson Pass, the walk meets t

Total climbing: 459m

Hard track

Guthega to Thredbo camping overnight at Wilkensons Creek

25.8 km One way, 2 Days

This great overnight walk explores the Kosciusko National Park between Guthega and Thredbo, visiting some fantastic sights along the way like the Snowy River, Blue Lake and Mt Twynam, Lake Albina and Mt Kosiuszko. The Wilkinsons Creek camping area is a nice place to stop and reflect as the sun sets.

Total climbing: 1364m

Experienced only

This nice walk starts from Charlotte Pass and follows the old Kosciuszko Road through the mountains to Seamans Hut, crossing the famous Snowy River along the way. Seamans Hut is a great place to enjoy lunch and is openly available for day use (and for emergency use at night). Most of this walk gives

Total climbing: 332m

Hard track