Parking area below Guthega Alpine +

	Walking along the roads at Guthega +

	The end of the road +

	View across to the Dam +

	Looking down to Blue Cow Creek +

	Guthega Pondage, looking along Blue Cow creek arm +

	Bridge over Blue Cow Creek +

	The old flying fox on Blue Cow Creek +

	The track heading up the hill on the western side of Blue Cow Creek +

	The Snowy River arm of Guthega Dam +

	Following the track on the eastern side of the Snowy River +

	looking down The Snowy River +

	looking up at the illawong lodge +

	Illawong lodge +

	the cable suspension bridge +

	Suspension Bridge over the Snowy River +

	Snowy River +

	Snowy River below the suspension bridge +

Since this is a 'return' style walk once you have had enough of the walk, turn around and retrace your steps back to the start.

Wildwalks
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Drive to Car park below Guthega Alpine Inn
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park. You can drive or ride to the start of this walk Use these links to plan your trip to the start of this walk. Plan your trip from --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Covered in snow part of the year	Alt = 1597 m
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. Between May and the end of October, this walk is likely to be covered in snow/ice, visitors should be carrying and be prepared to use snowshoes or cross country skis. When there is a chance of significant snow on the ground, visitors will need particularly strong navigation and snowcraft skills - tracks and signage may not be visible. For most visitors, it is best to consider this walk closed during the colder months.

Guthega	Alt = 1660 m
Guthega is a relatively small township, north of Perisher, and comprises mostly of hotel and lodge-style buildings. The most popular service in town is the Guthega Alpine Inn, open year round. The town is remote and access is by an all-weather dirt road. There are great views over the main range and the Guthega Pondage (part of the Snowy River Scheme). Guthega offers a great place to ski in winter, and to holiday in summer. In summer, there is plenty of walking, mountain biking, fishing and relaxing to be done. Walkers please note - there is no public water supply in the township, please fill water bottle before coming (or be willing treat and use the creek water).

Guthega Alpine Inn	Alt = 1665 m
Guthega Alpine Inn is on Guthega Road, about 500 metres past the base of the chairlift and 'Guthega Centre'. The hotel provides a year-round service including accommodation and meals. The hosts are friendly and the hotel provides a great base for walkers and other holiday makers. Please phone and book ahead for meals and accommodation. Phone 02 6457 5383 More info

(0 km) Car park below Guthega Alpine Inn to Int. of Guthega road servicetrail and Flying fox track Track: Moderate - road,servicetrail	Length = 481 m	Time = 10 mins
	Climb = 6 m	Descent = -34 m
From the car park (just below Guthega Alpine Inn, on Guthega Rd, 500m past the Guthega Centre), the walk follows the concrete road down the hill, keeping the main valley to the left. The road passes a small stone building and light post, just before coming to an intersection with another road heading off to the left, below the building named 'Toibunga'. Turn sharp left: From the intersection, the walk follows the concrete road down the hill towards the dam. After about 100m, the track veers right at another intersection, following the lower track. The concrete track turns to the right, but this walk continues straight, onto the wide dirt management trail (between the small boulders). Soon the trail bends right and comes to an intersection with a bush track.

(0.48 km) Int. of Guthega road servicetrail and Flying fox track to Flying Fox Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 333 m	Time = 9 mins
	Climb = 15 m	Descent = -44 m
Turn left: From the intersection, the walk heads between the boulders and is fairly flat initially, then, near a snow gum, the track steps down steeply and then winds down the hill to a 'T' intersection above Blue Cow Creek. (There is broken glass along this section of track, left over from Snowy River Scheme Camps). Veer left: From the intersection, the walk initially steps over a small, eroded gap in the track[1] and then heads upstream alongside Blue Cow Creek, keeping the creek to your right. Before long, the track comes closer to the creek, and reaches a rocky crossing with a bridge[2] and a flying fox[3] over the creek.

Flying Fox	Alt = 1598 m
This metal flying fox was put in place to provide a safer option for crossing Blue Cow Creek when the water rises over the rocks. There are many flying foxes in the area to help people cross creeks, especially useful during snow melt when water is cold, deep and fast-moving. In 2010, a metal bridge was installed over this creek, parallel to the flying fox, and the bridge is now the safest way to cross.

(0.81 km) Blue Cow Creek crossing to Illawong Lodge Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 2.22 km	Time = 50 mins
	Climb = 129 m	Descent = -87 m
Turn right: From the intersection, the walk crosses the creek on the bridge[4] next to the metal flying fox[5]. The walk then follows the bush track on the other side as it climbs to the top of the ridge. From the top of the hill, the track then winds down towards the Snowy River then turns left and generally follows it upstream. Soon the walk crosses a small creek and continues up the other side, undulating through the valley, crossing several more small creeks. The track winds left, away from the Snowy River, to climb the short hill to Illawong Lodge.

Illawong Lodge	Alt = 1645 m
In 1956, the year after the Guthega Dam was first filled, the Kosciuszko State Park Trust gave permission for the conversion of the then-dilapidated hut into the present simple lodge.[6] The lodge is maintained by members of Illawong Ski Tourers and friends. The nearby suspension bridge over the Snowy River and the flying fox over Farm Creek were built by members of Illawong. NPWS now maintains the suspension bridge and a new bridge over Farm Creek which has replaced the flying fox. The lodge can be reserved by members of the general public - see illawong.asn.au. There is also a small emergency shelter in the base of the hut, on the western wall, with enough room for a few people to see out a blizzard, with some water, blankets and other emergency supplies. More info

(3.03 km) Illawong Lodge to Suspension bridge Track: Moderate - bushtrack	Length = 160 m	Time = 4 mins
	Climb = 0 m	Descent = -28 m
Turn right: From the west side of Illawong Lodge (where the emergency shelter is located), the walk heads down towards the creek following the bush track. The track winds through scrub, passing through a grass clearing along the way. The walk soon comes to a cable suspension bridge.

Suspension Bridge	Alt = 1614 m
Constructed and maintained by Illawong Ski Tourers[7], and only a stone's throw from Illawong Lodge, this cable suspension bridge provides a safer way to cross the upper Snowy River. This provides the main access between Guthega and the Main Range. The bridge also provides great views of the valley.

Drive from Car park below Guthega Alpine Inn
A park entry fee is required for driving into the park. You can drive or ride from the end of this walk Use these links to plan your trip from the end of this walk. Plan your trip to --> Castle Hill|Chatswood|Dural|Epping|Gosford|Hornsby|Katoomba|Manly|Parramatta|Penrith|Strathfield|Sutherland|Sydney|

Campsites in the park
Black Perry Rest area
Blue Waterholes Picnic and camping Grounds
Bradneys Gap Camping area
Buddong Falls
Clover Flat camping area
Cooinbil Camping area
Cooleman Mountain Camping Area
Coonara Point Camping Area
Denison Camping area
Geehi Picnic Camping Ground
Ghost Gully Camping Ground
Half-way Flat camping area
Humes Crossing Camping area
Island Bend Camping area
Jacobs River Picnic And Camping Area
Jounama Creek Camping Area
Leather Barrel Picnic And Camping Area
Log Bridge Creek Camping area
Long Plain Hut Camping Area
Ngarigo Picnic And Camping Area
OHares Rest Area
Pinch River Camping area
Ravine Camping area
Rock Flat Camping Area
Rocky Plain Camping Ground
Running waters Camping area
Scotchies Yard Camping area
The Pines Camping Area
Thredbo Diggings Camping area
Three Mile Dam Camping area
Tom Groggin Picnic And Camping Area
Wares Yards Camping Ground
Willis Camping Area
Yarrangobilly Village Camping Area
Yachting Point Camping area
Yolde Camping Area
No Name camping area


Nearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk

Store	Address	Phone	Distance (straight line)
Paddy Pallin Adventure Centre	Thredbo Turnoff, Jindabyne	(02) 6456 2922	20.2 km
Wilderness Sports	Nuggets Crossing, Jindabyne	1800 654 168	22.5 km
Larry Adler Ski & Outdoor	3 Nuggets Crsng, Jindabyne	(02) 6457 2233	22.5 km
Snowy Camping World	106 Sharp St , Cooma	(02) 6452 2729	69.6 km
Tumuts Fishing Camping & Outdoor	56 Wynyard St , Tumut	(02) 6947 1100	121 km

A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Illawong Walk.

Channel	Call sign (more info)	Site	Distance and dir from Illawong Walk Click to re-center search
2	KHN02	Fire Tower MT YOUNGAL	23 km (to the W)
1	1227830	Country Energy/Monaro County Council Site JINDERBOINE HILL	26 km (to the E)
2	1227833	Commsite INGEBIRAH TRIG	30 km (to the SSE)
3	EUC03	Bald Hill via EUCUMBENE	34 km (to the NNE)
3	MTI03	Broadcast/Comms Site Mt Ikes via TUMBARUMBA	66 km (to the NW)

Fire Danger
This walk passes Monaro Alpine fire area which currently has a LOW MODERATE rating and No fire ban in place.
(Tomorrow the Fire Danger Rating is LOW MODERATE, No fire ban.) (Downloaded 7 years ago)
Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.

Weather and Climate
Weather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here

°C (feels like °) km/h from the % humidity     (as at ) Tue       16° Mostly sunny. Wed 2°|18° Sunny. Thu 4°|20° Mostly sunny. Fri 9°|25° Late rain at times.

Kosciuszko National Park Link to official closures and fire bans page

Region: South Coast & Highlands
Park fees Camping Facilities
Current Park Closure information for Kosciuszko National Park
Closure information last downloaded Sunday 27th of September 2015 07:00 AM
Closed areas: Thredbo Diggings campground closed to caravans
Thredbo Diggings campground is currently closed to all caravans and camping trailers due to continuing wet conditions. There will be limited sites available for tents. Caravans and camping trailer sites are available at Ngarigo, Island Bend and Tom Groggin campgrounds. For more information please phone (02) 6450 5620.

Closed areas: Island Bend campground partially closed due to maintenance
Partial closure of Island Bend campground due to maintenance. Camp sites are now available at the lower camp at Island Bend in Kosciuszko National Park. Other sites have been fenced and will remain closed for 6 to 12 months following capping works to ameliorate the asbestos risk and to allow for revegetation. Please observe all signs and closures. For more information, please contact Andrew Miller at the NPWS Jindabyne Office or on 0427 437391 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page. Download a map of the closed area.

Closed areas: Winter road closures
The following roads will be closed until the October long weekend, unless weather allows them to be opened in late September:

• Behrs Flat trail
• Blue Waterholes trail
• Broken Cart trail
• Bullocks Hill trail
• Cabramurra - Khancoban Road (KNP5)
• Cumberland trail
• Four Mile Hill trail
• Geehi Dam Road (Olsen's Road)
• Goobragandra Powerline Road
• Kings Cross Road
• Link Road
• Long Plain Road
• Major Clews Road
• Manjar Road
• Perisher to Charlotte Pass
• Pocket Saddle Road
• Port Phillip trail
• Tantangra Dam Road
• Three Mile Dam access trails
• Davies Plain track

and all associated subsidiary roads and access trails.
The Murray River crossing into Victoria at Tom Groggin campground is closed until 29 October 2015 due to winter road closures by Parks Victoria. There will be no access into Davies Plain, Mt Pinnibar and Tom Groggin fire trails in the Victorian Alpine National Park.
Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information, please contact the NPWS Tumut Visitor Centre on (02) 6497 7025 or the NPWS Snowy Region Visitor Centre on (02) 6450 5600, or visit the NSW National Parks safety page.

Closed areas: Thredbo Valley track reopening Sunday 27 September 2015
Sections 1 and 2 (Thredbo to Ngarigo) of the Thredbo Valley track will be reopening on Sunday 27 September 2015. The track from The Diggings to Skitube- Bullocks Flat, Bullocks Hut and Lake Crackenback Resort will remain open. The Bullocks and Muzzlewood tracks will also remain open. For more information, please contact the Snowy Region Visitor Centre, Jindabyne on (02) 6450 5600 or visit the NSW National Parks safety page for park safety guidelines.

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