Site to Sights
Cowombat Flat
Pilot Wilderness NSW
Category:
Camping Ground
Snowy Mountains NSW
Area
NSW: CAPITAL REGION
GPS:
-36.2400083, 149.1104009
Nearby Sights/Things To Do
🏕️ Cowombat Flat – Pilot Wilderness, NSW
📍 Description & Location
Cowombat Flat lies deep within the Pilot Wilderness Area of southern Kosciuszko National Park, very close to the NSW–Victoria border. This remote alpine grassland sits near the headwaters of the Murray River, where it begins as a small stream. It's surrounded by snow gum forest and high-country ridgelines, offering a pristine and rarely visited bush camp zone.
🛠️ Facilities and Amenities
❌ No facilities—this is a true backcountry wilderness zone
🛖 Dispersed bush camping only (no designated sites)
🔥 Campfires allowed with restrictions—check seasonal bans
🐾 No pets permitted (national park)
No signage, bins, toilets, or water—fully self-sufficient setup required
🛻 Vehicle Access
No vehicle access directly to Cowombat Flat
Accessible only on foot, horseback, or mountain bike
Most common access route:
Via Cowombat Track or Forest Hill Trail (NSW)
Or Tingaringy/Cowombat Fire Trail from the VIC side (via Native Dog Flat or Wulgulmerang)
Remote terrain—map, compass/GPS, and PLB strongly recommended
🕰️ History
Cowombat Flat lies on the traditional lands of the Ngarigo people, and is of high cultural and environmental significance. It is the true origin of the Murray River, and the surrounding Pilot Wilderness is protected for its undisturbed alpine ecosystems, endangered species (e.g. Corroboree frog), and absence of vehicular access.
Cowombat Flat was also the first officially surveyed site for the Murray’s source, marked in part by a survey cairn.
🏕️ Nearby Campgrounds
Tin Mine Huts – Rustic hut with cleared area, accessible by foot or bike
Cascades Hut Campground – Popular overnight stop for hikers and riders
Native Dog Flat (VIC) – Basic bush campground, nearest drive-in access
Murray Gates Campground – More developed, but much further downstream
🌄 Nearby Attractions
🚶♂️ Murray River Source walk – Follow the upper river trickle from Cowombat Flat
🧭 Pilot Wilderness Traverse – Remote trekking loop toward Pilot Lookout
🐎 Alpine horse trails connecting VIC/NSW borderlands
🛖 Historic cattlemen ’s huts along Tin Mine and Forest Hill trails
💬 Reviews Summary (limited due to remoteness):
“Remote, silent, and absolutely untouched”
“Worth every step for those who want solitude and story”
“Alpine meadows in full bloom after rain—magical”
“Be ready—it’s a serious multi-day walk in and out”
⚠️ Confidence Notes
🟠 Access is non-vehicular only
🔴 No facilities or support—wilderness survival skills essential
🏔️ Cowombat Flat is a place where the Murray is born, where silence still rules, and where the wilderness runs uninterrupted for days in all directions.
