Merritts Traverse

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Safer Bushwalks

Tips on staying safe on track

Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

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Getting There

Transport options and directions

Start	(-36.5042278,148.3045161)
Mode	Car (A park entry fee is required for driving into the park.)
Directions	From Princes Highway, A1, Bega Valley Shire Council. Turn on to Snowy Mountains Highway, B72 then drive for 67.8 km Turn left onto Springfield Road and drive for another 13.6 km Turn right onto Bobundara Lane and drive for another 15.5 km Turn right onto Maffra Road and drive for another 390 m Turn sharp left onto Bobundara Road and drive for another 19.4 km Turn right onto Dalgety Road and drive for another 2.3 km Turn left onto Jindabyne Road and drive for another 28 km Turn left onto Munyang Street and drive for another 115 m Turn right onto Gippsland Street and drive for another 450 m Turn left onto Snowy River Avenue and drive for another 275 m At roundabout, take exit 1 onto Kosciuszko Road and drive for another 700 m At roundabout, take exit 2 onto Kosciuszko Road and drive for another 1.9 km Keep left onto Alpine Way and drive for another 17.5 km Keep left onto Alpine Way and drive for another 13.3 km Turn right onto Friday Drive and drive for another 910 m At roundabout, take exit 3 onto Friday Drive and drive for another 960 m

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Track Notes

Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
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.....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Cascades (about 55 m back from the start). There is a picnic table (about 30 m back from the start). There is an artwork (about 20 m back from the start). There is a car park. Find the artwork at the start. After another 7 m cross the bridge (about 25 m long) Continue straight. After another 40 m find the "Kosciuszko Express Chairlift" (25 m on your left). Kosciuszko Express Chairlift 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. + - 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. After another 10 m pass the toilet (10 m on your left)., male. Then pass the toilet (15 m on your left)., female.
	Continue straight. After another 25 m head up the steps (about 20 m long)
	After another 7 m turn left. After another 9 m catch the aerial cable car (about 1.8 km long) After another 25 m pass the "Eagles Nest" (25 m on your right). Then pass the toilet (30 m on your right). After another 20 m pass the sign (9 m on your right).
	Turn left. After another 30 m find the "Eagles Nest Restaurant" (9 m on your left). Eagles Nest Restaurant 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. + - 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.
	Turn right, to head along Merritts Nature Trail. After another 305 m continue straight. After another 20 m continue straight.
	After another 35 m (at the intersection of Merritts Nature Trail & Village Trail) veer right, to head along Merritts Nature Trail (a walking track). After another 25 m continue straight, to head along Merritts Nature Trail. After another 10 m pass the "Black Sallees" (35 m on your right). After another 245 m find the "Lower bench seat" (6 m on your left). Lower bench seat Lower bench seat This small lookout on Merritts Nature Track provides a seat and a view looking north across a wide gully. 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. + - This small lookout on Merritts Nature Track provides a seat and a view looking north across a wide gully. 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. After another 210 m veer left.
	After another 35 m turn left. Then cross the bridge (about 75 m long) After another 840 m find the "Top of Gunbarrel Express" (20 m on your right). Top of Gunbarrel Express Top of Gunbarrel Express The top station of Gunbarrel Express provides shade, shelter and views into the valley. 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. + - The top station of Gunbarrel Express provides shade, shelter and views into the valley. 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. After another 960 m pass the "Merritts Mountain House" (50 m on your right). After another 15 m pass the toilet (55 m on your right).
	After another 1.4 km turn left. After another 470 m continue straight. After another 40 m find the "Friday Flat" (30 m on your left). Friday Flat 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. + - 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. Then pass the water tap (40 m on your left). After another 30 m pass the cafe (50 m on your left). Then pass the toilet (80 m on your left).
	Turn sharp right. After another 20 m cross the bridge (about 20 m long) After another 15 m pass the car park (10 m on your left). After another 200 m pass the "P1 Parking" (10 m on your left).
	Turn right, to head along Mountain Drive.
	After another 25 m (at the intersection of Riverview Terrace & Mountain Drive) continue straight, to head along Riverview Terrace.
	After another 80 m (at the intersection of Riverview Terrace & Summit Way) continue straight, to head along Riverview Terrace. After another 80 m continue straight. After another 120 m pass the picnic table (35 m on your left). After another 115 m find the "Thredbo Bobsled" (on your right). Thredbo Bobsled 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. + - 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.
	Turn left.
	After another 200 m turn left. After another 40 m continue straight. Then cross the bridge (about 25 m long)
	After another 7 m come to the end.

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Terrain

Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Merritts Traverse

Grading

	Class 4/6 Hard track
Length	7.6 km
Time	2 h 45 min to 3 h 15 min

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

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 5 on route, on average they are 1.3 km apart with the largest gap of 2.8 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	80 m	[toilet]
Toilet	85 m	[toilet]
Toilet	1.9 km	[toilet]
Toilet	4.7 km	[toilet]
Toilet	6.7 km	[toilet]

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Articles

Discover more details to thrive on track

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.

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.

Lower bench seat
This small lookout on Merritts Nature Track provides a seat and a view looking north across a wide gully. 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.

Top of Gunbarrel Express
The top station of Gunbarrel Express provides shade, shelter and views into the valley. 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.

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.

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.

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