Setting up a tent on snow and packing it down in the Australian Alps

Snow camping in Australia might sound a bit bonkers to anyone who thinks the country is all beaches and red dirt, but once winter hits the high country, conditions up in the Snowy Mountains, around Mount Hotham, or near Cradle Mountain in Tassie can rival anything in the Northern Hemisphere. The catch is that snow transforms every part of the camping routine, from choosing where to pitch to the way you cook brekkie and break camp the next morning.

A four-season tent, decent insulation, and a few tricks learnt from locals make all the difference between a cosy night under canvas and a soggy, sleepless ordeal. Whether you're planning your first overnight at Dead Horse Gap or heading into Kosciuszko National Park for something more remote, here's how to set up and pack down a snow camp the right way.

Picking the right snow campsite in the Australian Alps

Snow camping around Thredbo, Perisher, or Falls Creek starts with reading the landscape. Wind is the single biggest enemy at altitude, so look for natural windbreaks: a stand of snow gums, a ridge of boulders, or the lee side of a small rise. In the Australian alps the weather can flip from bluebird to whiteout in an arvo, and exposed sites get punished fast.

Avoid pitching directly under cornices or steep slopes where loose snow could slough off, and skip low-lying dips where cold air pools overnight. Trample the site down firmly before you unpack — a packed base stops your feet sinking and helps the tent sit flat. If you're on a slope, always pitch with the head of the tent slightly uphill so a rolling sleeper doesn't slide down the middle of the tent in the middle of the night.

Pitching a tent that stays put on snow

Regular pegs are basically useless on a frozen surface, so switch to snow stakes, bury deadman anchors (snow-filled stuff sacks tied to guylines), or use skis and trekking poles as anchors in a pinch. Tension every guyline evenly — a drum-tight pitch is what keeps a four-season shelter from flapping itself to pieces in a Southerly buster.

Vents stay open at all times. Snow camping is a condensation factory if you close everything up, and damp down or sleeping bags can quickly become a real problem when the temperature drops below zero. A footprint or ground sheet is worth using, but make sure it's slightly smaller than the tent floor so meltwater doesn't channel straight under your sleeping mat.

Cooking and cleaning up at a snow camp

Most Aussie winter campers cook outside the tent on a stable platform of packed snow or a flat rock, both for safety and to keep moisture out of the shelter. A small liquid-fuel stove handles the cold far better than a butane canister, which struggles below about five degrees. Bring plenty of water — melting snow over the stove is slow and burns through fuel surprisingly fast.

Wash-up matters more than people think, especially when snow turns grey around camp after a few days. Choosing the right eco-friendly soap options keeps the alpine tundra pristine and avoids contaminating runoff that feeds rivers downstream. Pack out all food scraps, grease, and dirty water, even if it means carrying a heavy bag out at the end of the trip.

Breaking down camp without damaging your gear

The morning after a snow camp, the goal is to get home with dry, intact equipment. Knock snow off the tent walls and fly before you start collapsing the poles, working from the top down so the snow falls away cleanly. Never fold a wet or snowy tent into its stuff sack; it can freeze into a brick and damage coatings.

Shake out the sleeping bags, hang them on a line if the sun is up, and let everything air out in the back of the ute on the drive home. Back home, set the tent up in the backyard or garage to dry properly before packing it away long-term. Going through this routine each trip extends the life of your gear dramatically.

Staying safe in alpine conditions

Australian alpine weather is famously fickle. Hypothermia can creep in fast if you sweat during the walk in then sit still in cold, damp clothes, so strip layers while climbing and add them back at camp. Carry a bivvy bag, head torch, and a personal locator beacon — mobile coverage is patchy above the tree line around Mount Kosciuszko and basically non-existent in parts of the Victorian High Country.

Tell someone your plan and expected return time, and check the Bureau of Meteorology alpine forecast the morning of departure. Snow camping is one of the most rewarding things you can do in this country, but it asks for respect.

A few final things worth committing to memory before you head off:

• Trample a firm platform before pitching and aim for a sheltered, slightly elevated site.
• Use snow stakes or deadman anchors and tension every guyline tight.
• Keep vents open and use a footprint slightly smaller than the tent floor.
• Cook and clean outside the tent with a liquid-fuel stove and biodegradable soap.
• Air out and dry every piece of gear before packing it away at home.

For advice on gear selection, layering, or picking the right setup for your trip, contact our team and they'll point you in the right direction before your next alpine adventure.