Australia's Alpine Areas: Motivations, Experiences and Satisfaction of Visitors to Mt Kosciuszko

The interest and fascination with high mountain regions is explored in this chapter on mountain tourism in Australia. The chapter deepens our understanding of wilderness and what it is that draws tourists to alpine areas, looking at visitor motivation, perceptions and satisfaction in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. The Snowy Mountain National Park, one of the most prominent national parks in Australia, has not been formally designated a wilderness area - even though it is looked upon by visitors as wilderness. A survey of tourists along major summer walking tracks gives a comparative profile of wilderness visitors and their key interest priorities categorized by escape, personal goals, socialization and engaging with nature