A NEW multi-day hiking trail through the breathtaking alpine scenery is complete and ready for exploring, with the entire Snowies Alpine Walk in Kosciuszko National Park officially open.

Federal Regional Development, Local Government and Territories Minister and Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain, joined NSW Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, and Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, last week to open the track.

“It’s a great pleasure to be at the opening of this last link, in what will be an iconic Snowy Mountains walk,” Mr Whan said, at the opening.

“Kosciuszko National Park is already a huge destination year-round, and this walk gives people the opportunity to experience a unique alpine environment.”

The world-class Snowies Alpine Walk is a 56 kilometres four day walk that links the alpine locations of Guthega, Charlottes Pass, Perisher and Bullocks Flat with 27 kiloemeters of new walking track linking existing walks.

The project was made possible with $10 million from the Australian Government and $17.17 million from the NSW Government as part of their commitments to boosting regional NSW local economies and making this landscape more accessible for everyone.

The new Snowies Alpine Walk is expected to significantly boost tourism in the Snowy Mountains region, attracting hundreds of thousands of visits over the long term and generating substantial revenue for the local economy.

Ms McBain said it is pleasing to see the alpine walking track extension now connecting several resorts across the Snowies.

“We’re delivering for the people of the Snowy Mountains of NSW, as well as tourists, by investing in this infrastructure and building value into the experience of the area.

Ms Moriarty said this picturesque walk will draw visitors from across Australia and the world, creating an enduring legacy for the region that will benefit local communities, businesses and the tourism industry," Ms McBain said.

The completion of the entire project supported 80 local construction jobs and will create four ongoing jobs for regular track maintenance.

The newly constructed 12 kilometres of walking track between Perisher Valley and Bullocks Flat has been built to withstand the harsh alpine environment of Kosciuszko National Park.

It consists of steel platforms, staircases, natural granite rock, gravel hardened track and natural track to provide a comfortable walking experience for all.

The Snowies Alpine Walk caters to beginner and experienced hikers. Walkers can choose to complete any section of the track as single-day walks or combine sections for two, three or four-day walks that showcase the Ngarigo Monaro Country.

Those embarking on the walk can choose to experience it as a self-guided adventure or opt to enlist the help of an expert guide who will teach walkers about the area as they go.

Walkers also have a variety of accommodation options to choose from in Kosciuszko National Park, including the NPWS-managed Numbananga Lodge, Creel Lodge and Creel Bay cottages.

They can also stay in the alpine villages of Jindabyne, Thredbo, Perisher, Guthega and Charlotte Pass.

Kosciuszko National Park is the largest national park in NSW, covering 690,000 hectares.

It’s home to Australia’s highest mountain, the 2,228-metre Mount Kosciuszko, as well as hundreds of native animals and plants.

The Snowies Alpine Walk provides opportunities to enjoy high-country plains, snow-capped mountain ranges and uninterrupted horizons, as well as unique plants and animals such as gnarled snow gums, wildflowers, wombats, echidnas and native birdlife.