Why you need to hike to Australia’s highest suspension bridge

By Emily Murphy
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Australia’s highest suspension bridge is found in the Snowy Mountains, and the views are next level.

Suspended 50 metres above a rushing alpine river and sitting 1627 metres above sea level, Spencers Creek Suspension Bridge isn’t just any old walkway – it’s Australia’s highest suspension bridge. Stretching 162 metres across a dramatic gorge, this lofty crossing belongs on every hiker’s bucket list.

Tucked within the soaring beauty of Kosciuszko National Park in the NSW Snowy Mountains, the record-breaking bridge opened in 2022 as part of the ambitious Snowies Alpine Walk project – a 55-kilometre trail designed to turn the region into a year-round hiking destination. But despite its lofty stats and spectacular views, Spencers Creek Suspension Bridge remains surprisingly under the radar.

Spencers Creek Suspension Bridge on the Snowies Alpine Walk

Spencers Creek Bridge links Guthega to Charlotte Pass. (Image: Elizabeth Whitehead)

The bridge links Guthega to Charlotte Pass along one of the most scenic and elevated sections of the trail. It offers uninterrupted views of the surrounding alpine wilderness – think gorges, waterfalls, wildflower meadows and distant peaks still dusted with snow well into spring.

Spencers Creek Bridge was built as part of Stage 4 of the Snowies Alpine Walk, an epic undertaking by the NSW Government and National Parks and Wildlife Service. The project includes new boardwalks, lookouts and signage – all designed with sustainability in mind. Raised pathways protect the fragile alpine ecosystem, while the trail’s design prioritises minimal impact on the surrounding terrain.

The idea is to make the high country more accessible – and more appealing – outside of ski season. With growing interest in multi-day hiking, the Snowies Alpine Walk has been a strategic push to turn winter-only destinations like Perisher and Thredbo into four-season favourites.

Spencers Creek Suspension Bridge on the Snowies Alpine Walk

Spencers Creek Suspension Bridge is accessible on a half-day hike. (Image: Daniel Parsons/DCCEEW)

While the full Snowies Alpine Walk can take four to five days to complete end-to-end, Spencers Creek Suspension Bridge is accessible on a half-day hike from either Guthega or Charlotte Pass, making it ideal for day-trippers or less experienced hikers.

And it’s not just about ticking off a record-breaking bridge. The experience offers a rare opportunity to explore one of Australia’s most unique ecosystems – a landscape shaped by glaciers, snowmelt and extremes of weather. In spring and summer, the area explodes with colour as wildflowers bloom, while autumn brings golden tones and fewer crowds.

If you’re after a trail with wow-factor – the kind that earns you bragging rights and a camera roll full of envy-inducing photos – Spencers Creek Bridge delivers. And now that you know it exists, there’s only one thing left to do: go walk it.

Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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This NSW sculpture trail is at its most magical in the snow

    By Liz Whitehead
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    You’re probably familiar with Sculpture by the Sea, but this snow-dusted sculpture trail by the same team is well worth a look.

    Sculpture by the Sea is an annual art installation that pulls visitors to both coasts of Australia like a magnet. The most famous, Sculpture by the Sea Bondi, transforms the renowned coastal walk between Bondi and Coogee into an outdoor sculpture park come October. But it’s a little-known fact that the same arts organisation actually runs multiple events. The sister event, Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe, also bedazzles a pocket of Perth’s coastline with sculptures from artists across Australia and the world.

    However, most aren’t familiar with Sculpture by the Sea’s third venture, which isn’t by the sea at all, but in a mountainous inland region about 400 kilometres from Sydney. Meet the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail from the very same team behind Sculpture by the Sea, a permanent sculpture exhibition in NSW’s Snowy Valleys. Although you can visit this one year-round, we reckon the best time to see it is in the winter when the sculptures are dusted in snow. Here’s everything you need to know about the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail.

    Václav Fiala, 'Universum', Sculpture Forest Snowy Valleys

    Universum by Václav Fiala looks extra special dusted in snow. (Image: Angela Lyons)

     

    What is the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail?

    The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, in the region abutting Canberra and Kosciusko National Park in southern NSW, is a little bit more spread out than its coastal counterparts. It spans roughly 150 kilometres between Tumut and Tumbarumba, comprising 60 sculptures by artists from Australia and around the world. Completing the sculpture trail is like a treasure hunt, as it leads visitors through historic towns, a ‘sculpture forest’ and even local wineries, so you can enjoy a tipple as you cross sculpture sightings off your list. The Snowy Valleys is known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities, and the sculpture trail combines art with the outdoors for a fun and interactive way to explore the region.

    Unlike Sculpture by the Sea, this trail is a permanent exhibition that can be accessed year-round, but it’s especially striking in the winter months when the region receives snowfall. Photos that emerged via an ongoing photo competition spotlight the snow-dusted sculptures, the cool change bringing an otherworldly mood-shift to works such as Seated Man by Sean Henry, who sits stoically on a bench, draped with ice.

    Sean Henry, ‘Seated Man’, Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, Sculpture Forest

    Sean Henry’s Seated Man takes on a somber mood in the snow. (Image: Angela Lyons)

    Budding photographers, take note: a competition is on for the best snap of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. The winner will be flown up to Sydney to be an official photographer for day one of Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi, with the award-winning photo published in About Regional and Region Riverina. Find more information on how to enter here.