Most of Australia never needs a snow chain, but the alpine roads of New South Wales and Victoria do, and the rules are strict. In Victoria all vehicles entering the main alpine resorts must carry chains throughout the declared snow season, and in Kosciuszko National Park two-wheel-drive vehicles must carry them from the June long weekend to the October long weekend. Police check, and vehicles without chains are turned back. This guide sets out the rules as the official pages state them, and what they mean for a campervan or a car with camping gear.
The short answer
If your route includes the snow, carry chains in the right size and know how to fit them. The rules differ by state, and the table shows who has to carry them and when.
| Area | When | Who must carry chains |
|---|---|---|
| Kosciuszko National Park, NSW | June long weekend to October long weekend | All two-wheel-drive vehicles; four-wheel drives are exempt from carrying |
| Falls Creek, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, Mt Baw Baw and Mt Stirling, Victoria | The declared snow season, 7 June to 4 October in 2026 | Every vehicle entering, including all-wheel and four-wheel drives |
| Lake Mountain, Victoria | Decided daily by weather and road conditions | As directed on the day |
Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales
NSW National Parks says all two-wheel-drive vehicles must carry snow chains between the June long weekend and the October long weekend. The requirement applies to Kosciuszko Road from the park boundary at the Thredbo River up to Perisher Valley, to the Alpine Way between Thredbo and Tom Groggin, and to the Guthega and Island Bend road. Four-wheel drives are exempt from carrying under the park regulations.
Chains are recommended but not required on the Alpine Way between Jindabyne and Thredbo and on the Snowy Mountains Highway. The designated sections can change, so check the NSW National Parks and Live Traffic NSW pages the day you drive.
- Two-wheel drives must carry chains
- Check the designated sections
- Recommended on the Snowy Mountains Highway
The Victorian Alps
Victoria is stricter. Alpine Resorts Victoria says that in the declared snow season, which ran from 7 June to 4 October in 2026, all vehicles entering Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Mt Stirling must carry snow chains at all times. That includes all-wheel and four-wheel drives. Lake Mountain is decided daily.
You must also fit the chains when signs, resort staff or police direct you to, in the chain fitting bays. Victoria Police's 2026 release put the fine at $407 for failing to carry chains and $1018 for failing to fit them when required, and police patrol the roads to Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Falls Creek every day of the season. Last season, 1,471 vehicles were turned back at Mt Hotham alone for not carrying chains.
- All vehicles carry chains, even 4WDs
- Fit them when directed
- Fines of $407 and $1018 in 2026
Buy or hire the right chains
Chains must match your tyre size, so check the size on the sidewall and buy or hire a set that lists it. Fit them to the drive wheels, and practise in the driveway, because the first time you fit them should not be in a snowstorm on a hillside. Resort towns and tyre shops hire chains.
Carry gloves, a torch and a waterproof mat for kneeling, and check chains for broken links before each trip.
- Match your tyre size
- Practise fitting at home
- Hire sets are widely available
Driving a campervan to the snow
Alpine roads are steep, winding and icy in the morning, and a loaded van is heavy and slow to stop. Drive in a low gear on descents instead of riding the brakes, leave a large gap, and expect the road to be shaded and frozen long after the sun reaches the valley.
Check the hire contract first. Many hire companies restrict where the vehicle may go and what the insurance covers, and snow roads may be excluded. If a hire van is not allowed, a day tour from Jindabyne, Thredbo or Bright is simpler than breaking the contract.
- Low gear on descents
- Allow for frozen shade
- Check the hire contract
Camping in the alps in winter
Many alpine campgrounds are closed or buried in winter, and nights drop well below freezing at altitude. The lower valleys are warmer and have holiday parks with powered sites and heating, which makes them the practical base for a snow day. Our winter camping guide covers where Australia stays warm and where the snow is.
Fires and cold are the main risks at camp. Keep fuel for heating dry, ventilate a van when you use a heater, and never run a gas stove or barbecue inside a closed space.
- Base in a valley holiday park
- Ventilate any heater
- Check campground closures
Plan the base in AussieCamps
AussieCamps lists campgrounds, national parks and holiday parks across New South Wales and Victoria, with each place's facilities, fees and rules as the agency publishes them. Use it to find a base near Jindabyne, Bright or Mansfield, and save the stops to a trip to see the driving distance between them.
It runs on iPhone and is free to download, with in-app purchases.
- Find a base outside the snow zone
- Save stops to a trip
- iPhone only
Places along the way
Check before you go
Rules and conditions change. Recheck the official source and the page for your exact park or campground before departure.
Common questions
Do I need snow chains in Australia?+
Only if you drive into the Australian Alps in winter. In Victoria, every vehicle entering Falls Creek, Mt Baw Baw, Mt Buller, Mt Hotham and Mt Stirling must carry chains during the declared snow season, including four-wheel drives. In Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales, two-wheel-drive vehicles must carry them from the June long weekend to the October long weekend.
Do four-wheel drives need chains in Kosciuszko?+
New South Wales exempts four-wheel drives from the carrying rule in Kosciuszko National Park, but not in Victoria, where the rule covers all-wheel and four-wheel drives too. Conditions can still require chains to be fitted, and carrying them is sensible on any alpine road.
What is the fine for not carrying chains in Victoria?+
Victoria Police's 2026 snow season release put the fine for failing to carry chains at $407 and for failing to fit them when required at $1018. Amounts change each year, so check the current figure.
Can I take a hire campervan to the snow?+
Check your hire contract before you plan it. Many contracts restrict where the vehicle may go and what it is covered for, and the company decides whether snow roads are allowed.
Take it on the road
Save the stops. Plan the whole trip.
Build an ordered route from saved places, calculate the distance and keep dates, notes and to-dos attached.
