Things to do in Snowy Mountains
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Alpine Way
This spectacular route runs through dense forest, around the southern end of Kosciuszko National Park to Thredbo and on to Jindabyne. All vehicles have to carry chains. The fine for not carrying them is steep (about A$300). Motorbikes are not permitted along the Alpine Way from June to October. In winter, check conditions at Khancoban or Jindabyne. There's no fuel available between Khancoban and Thredbo (71km).
If you're driving between Khancoban and Jindabyne, you can get a free transit pass, but if you stop en route you must have a day pass.
South of Khancoban, Murray 1 Power Station has an informative visitors centre explaining the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme…
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Skiing Perisher
Skiing or snowboarding in Australia is oft derided for its short season and unpredictable snowfalls. But don't be put off. Perisher has upgraded its facilities to enable more reliable connections between major chairlifts. When there is snow on the ground there's plenty of fun to be had, with long meandering runs to keep beginner and intermediate skiers happy and enough short sharp black runs for the more experienced.
The scenery is also worth getting excited about, making Nordic (cross-country or langlauf) skiing popular too. Some of the best trails run along old cattle-herders' huts.
For snow and road reports contact the visitor centre or try www.ski.com.au. Also tune…
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Perisher
Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Mt Blue Cow and Guthega make up the massive resort of Perisher. The terrain is roughly 22% beginners, 60% intermediate and 18% advanced with most of the action in Perisher Valley. Guthega (1640m) and Mt Blue Cow (1640m) are mainly day resorts so they're smaller and less crowded. From Guthega, cross-country skiers head to the Main Range or Rolling Ground.
Mt Blue Cow is accessible via the Skitube. Because of Perisher's sporadic layout, it doesn't have the village ambience of Thredbo, but it's widely held (though still debated) that the skiing is superior. Boarders should head for the half-pipe park where there are rails, boxes, kickers etc…
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Thredbo
At 1370m, Thredbo has the longest runs and some of the best skiing to be had in this big ol' sunburnt country. The village itself is eye-candy compared with other Australian ski villages, with blue, green and grey tones ensuring chalets and lodges blend with the surrounding snow gums and alpine flora.
It sleeps approximately 4300 people and most of the infrastructure has been built on one side of the valley so that visitors holed up in their lodges on the other can kickback and watch the ski action. And of course Thredbo is an all-season resort, so if you can't afford it in winter, summer has got a lot to offer too. Thredbo is generally cool in summer with average…
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Charlotte Pass
There are just over 600 beds in the village, which doesn't represent many skiers on the slopes. At the base of Mt Kosciuszko, this is one of the highest, oldest and most isolated resorts in Australia and in winter you have to 'snowcat' (use oversnow transport) the last 8km from Perisher Valley (book ahead).
Five lifts service rather short, but uncrowded, runs and this is good ski-touring country. In summer, it's the start of a number of walks including to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko (18km return), the Main Range (25km return) and the Blue Lake Lookout (10km return).
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Skiing Thredbo
Skiing or snowboarding in Australia is oft derided for its short season and unpredictable snowfalls. But don't be put off. Thredbo has recently forked out a fortune to automate its snowmaking machines (ensuring 25% of rideable terrain is covered). If the outcome is not exactly 100% guaranteed snow, it's a pretty good start.
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Yarrangobilly Caves
Perhaps the most underrated in Australia, the Yarrangobilly Caves were formed in a belt of limestone around 440 million years ago. There's also a thermal pool, which retains a constant 27°C - if it's snowing, even better. There's a NPWS visitors centre but not much in the way of food or petrol so come prepared.
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Bushwalking
From Charlotte Pass you can walk to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko (18km return), or take the easier walk to the summit from Thredbo (13km return). Other walking trails from Charlotte Pass include the 21km glacial lakes walk. Contact the NPWS visitor centre in Jindabyne for information on the many walks in the park.
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Thredbo Snow Sports Outdoor Adventures
Has a diverse range of high-energy activities including snowshoeing, snow climbing, telemark and back-country alpine touring. It also hosts a cool five-star snow camping expedition where you snowshoe to a secret camp site, feast on gourmet cuisine and test your snow survival skills overnight.
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NSW Department of Corrective Services Museum
Next to functioning Cooma Gaol is the new NSW Department of Corrective Services Museum exhibiting artefacts from convict time through to the present prison system. Inmates conduct tours and sell their art and craft.
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Riverina Community College
Batlow, on one side of a bowl-shaped valley, is an apple-orchard town, where picking and pruning work is usually available year-round. Contact Riverina Community College.
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Gourmet 42
Hung-over boarders and sleepy bar staff rock up to this small but busy café with excellent coffee. Soup and pasta are also on the menu. Coffee and dessert are available Thursday to Saturday evening.
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Kuma Pies & Pastries
This cosy slip of a cafe has bar stools where patrons can munch on a 'bushman' pie (cheese, bacon and beef) or a 'drover' (beef, mushy peas and bacon) for under $5. It does decent coffee.
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Snow Gums Restaurant
In the Perisher Valley Hotel, this is a fine dining option in a cosy room with a fireplace and atmospheric bar. The à la carte menu has something for everyone but the gnocchi is especially good.
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Aprés Bar
Cosy couches and crimson leather poufs are crammed together in this cosy over-25s atmosphere. The tunes are spot on and vino by the glass is affordable. It's downstairs at the Denman Hotel.
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Ruffles Restaurant
Does a gourmet take on lunchtime favourites such as steak sandwiches, fish & chips and Caesar salads. It has a piano bar for cocktails - just turn a blind eye to the dated décor.
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Lott
In a kitted-out corner shop, Cooma's foodie hub has excellent coffee, hearty snacks, light lunches ($9 to $22) and pastries ($4 to $7) and is a provedore of all kinds of gourmet goodies perfect for picnics.
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Candlelight Lodge
For a true Alpine experience - the fondue - try this lodge's Swiss Gruyere and Emmental with white wine and schnapps or eye fillet fondue. It also has accommodation (see the website).
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Schuss Bar
Live bands give this place a bit of energy as do the young folk fresh from the slopes. Beers are on tap and schnapps is also popular. Monday is comedy night, entry from 20:30).
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Thredbo Leisure Centre
The Thredbo Leisure Centre organises all sorts of activities, summer and winter, including hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, white-water rafting, abseiling and horse riding.
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Jax Bar & Grill
Check out the ski bunnies from this big glassed-in bar at the bottom of Mitchell T-bar. There are a couple of pool tables, beers are on tap and you can cook your own steak.
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Avalanche Café
At the bottom of Ramshead chairlift, this place has an open-air grill. The whiff of fried onions is enough to tempt anyone off the slopes for a steak sandwich.
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Pastry Box Patisserie
Opens at about 6am (knock and the pastry chef will let you in) with a selection of French pastries, chicken-and-tarragon pies, wraps, flans and sandwiches.
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Murray 1 Power Station
Murray 1 Power Station, has an informative visitors centre explaining the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric scheme and a pleasant café on the pondage.
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Smiggin's Chargrill
Has good pizzas and a bistro menu the kids will love. It's reasonably priced with a late-night bar and live band on Wednesday nights.
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