Snowy Mountains Guides Attractions Events in New South Wales

Adaminaby was first settled as the township of Seymour in the 1860s. John Cosgrove and Charles and Henry York were the first settlers and they named one of their large land holdings Adaminaby (properly spelt Adamindumee and possibly meaning 'resting place' or 'place of springs' in the local Aboriginal language). It was later to change its name to Adaminaby to avoid confusion with Seymour in Victoria.

It wasn't until the discovery of gold at nearby Kiandra in 1859 that people began to move into the area in significant numbers. Being located midway between Cooma and Kiandra, the town became a convenient stopover point for gold prospectors.

Adaminaby was later to achieve fame as being the place where the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme was officially launched on 17 October 1949.

Check out the website for what's happening in and around Adaminaby.

This is a small residential community on the northern shores of Lake Eucumbene. This is an ideal location to base yourself for fishing and exploring the northern area of Kosciuszko National Park including Kiandra, Yarrangobilly Caves, Mount Selwyn and the remains of Old Adaminaby. During winter it is a great base for your skiing holiday. Caravan parks and cabins in the area provide ideal family holiday accommodation.

The tiny settlement of Berridale calls itself 'Crossroads of the Snowy' because, when miners were making their way to the goldfields at Adaminaby and Kiandra from the port at Twofold Bay, they passed through Berridale.

Today it is a small service town which, by an accident of history, lies conveniently between Cooma and the snowfields of Thredbo and Perisher Valley. Consequently each winter it becomes a popular stopover point for thousands of people who are heading to the snowfields.

Located 436 kilometres south west of Sydney and 35 kilometres from Cooma it has a population of 800 and is 860 metres above sea level (below the snow line). It is a small township with a winery, a small shopping centre and the Snowy River Shire Council Offices.

Blue Cow Mountain is a ski resort incorporated in Perisher Blue. A day resort only with ski hire, ski school, restaurant and bistro facilities.

Blue Cow has been operating as a ski resort from 1987 and is now part of Perisher Blue Resort. Visitors can ski both areas on one ticket. Close proximity to the main range of Snowy Mountains giving great views year round. Access to Blue Cow is either via the ski lifts or Skitube. The Skitube is a Rackrail from Bullocks Flat to Perisher Valley and Blue Cow Terminal. Operating daily during the winter months. No service open during the summer months.

No accommodation available.

Situated midway between the mountains and the South Coast, Bombala was settled in the1840s largely because of its rich grazing pastures. The area is famous for its stream trout fishing. Bombala Shire is known as Platypus Country because of the high concentration of these shy animals in the rivers around Bombala.

Things to do and see around Bombala include seeing platypus at the Platypus Reserve, about four kilometres along the Delegate Road. The Bondi State Forest offers spectacular scenery which can best be appreciated by following some of the 85 kilometres of trails specially built for mountain biking. The production of lavender products such as jams, soaps and oils is a thriving local industry with the lavender said to be on par with that produced in France.

The old railway station buildings house Railway Land, home to Monaro Country Lavender's oldest lavender association and Lavender House is great for shopping.

Bredbo is a quaint rural village located in the Monaro the heart of Merino Country. Bredbo has retained its old world charm and the true nature of Australian rural life. The village began to support squatters' runs established as Bredbow and Bridbot between 1848 to 1850. The Bredbo area prospered and was proclaimed a village in 1888. Bredbo became a bustling village with several shops servicing local residents and graziers.

Bredbo boasts a number of historic buildings one of which is the Bredbo Inn. This was the original stagecoach stop on the way to the South Coast or Snowy Mountains and later as a stop for railway travellers. You can take a stroll for just a few minutes down to the Bredbo and Murrumbidgee Rivers where you'll find some perfect spots for fishing or picnicking.

Gold was discovered in the area in the late 1800s.

Bullocks Flat is located by the Thredbo River and is the location of the Ski Tube, the rackrail train which operates to Perisher Blue Ski Resort in winter. Nearby is Bullocks Hut which was built in 1934 for Dr Bullock as a fishing lodge. The National Park took ownership of the hut in 1969.

The village of Cathcart was originally named Taylors Flat when James Taylor moved his stock into the area and squatted on the land. In 1857 the area was surveyed and renamed Cathcart after General Cathcart of Crimean War fame. The village retains its links with its pioneer past with memorabilia from the era on permanent display at Cathcart Collectables and a pioneer remembrance wall outside the Old Hall. A well sign-posted town walk also takes the visitors back in time.

History is also captured in the General Store which still has an amazing array of old advertising posters up on the walls. This same store was operated by members of the one family for over 100 years.

The residents are keen to preserve the local history. Plaques have been erected around the village to record the history of some of the sites. Maps are available from the shop and museum.

Charlotte Pass Village is located in the heart of the Snowy Mountains, eight kilometres past Perisher Valley towards Mount Kosciuszko. It is the highest village in Australia. As the resort’s entirely snowbound in winter access is only by over snow transport from the Perisher Valley Skitube terminal.

Charlotte Pass Village and the historic Kosciuszko Chalet have a long tradition in Australian skiing. It’s the most intimate ski resort in Australia with only 12 club lodges plus the Kosciuszko Chalet for accommodation.

In summer it’s the starting point for two main trails to Mount Kosciuszko. One’s the Summit Walk which is nine kilometres one way and the Main Range trail which is 12.5 kilometres one way.

At the beginning of the Trail Heads there is a scenic boardwalk called the Snowgums Boardwalk with an observation tower to view the magnificent Main Range of the New South Wales Alps and Mount Kosciuszko.

Cooma is the major town of the Snowy Mountains region and one of the state's many "gold rush" towns. A hundred years after the Cooma Township was settled by Europeans in 1849, it became the headquarters for the huge Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. Its historic avenue of flags represents the people of those 27 nations who came to the Snowies to help build one of Australia's greatest feats in engineering.

Cooma also became the centre of a winter tourist industry in 1889, with the opening of the railway.

Things to do and see around Cooma include the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre, the Aviation Pioneers Memorial, Mt Gladstone Lookout with views of the Monaro Plains and the Snowy Mountain Main Range. Visit the vast Deua and Wadbilliga National Parks to see native animals in abundance. The Lambie Town Walk is an easy ramble (or drive) through local history.

Before European settlement, Aboriginal people lived on the Monaro for more than 20,000 years. They roamed widely and had complex interrelationships between tribes. The main group was the Ngarigo who moved in and out of the region according to the seasons.

In 1823, explorers Currie and Ovens met with members of the Ngarigo group who described extensive treeless downs in the south, called the area 'Monaroo'. In 1827 cattle were brought from Sydney and the area quickly became popular with settlers. The Aboriginal name 'Kuma' was changed to Cooma by William Bradley and used for his 19,000 acre run. The village of Cooma was surveyed in 1849.

Discovery of gold in the 1860s at Kiandra brought a permanent increase in Cooma's population, and the railway opened in 1889. Cooma was booming and prosperous and by 1900 the town boasted its 'Regional Capital' status with many grand official buildings.

The Crackenback Range is located within Kosciuszko National Park and the outskirts of the Thredbo River Valley between Jindabyne and Thredbo.

Sitting at the base of the range is the alpine village of Thredbo, the Novotel Lake Crackenback Resort and Crackenback Farm Bed and Breakfast.

Crackenback is not a locality or township.

Craigie is a locality about 15 minutes drive from Bombala. It has a lovely old hall and some excellent fishing spots. Nearest accommodation is Cochabonddu, a delightful cottage offering a very relaxed holiday with good fishing and plenty of platypuses in the river which runs through the property. There are no visitor facilities at Craigie.

The historic village of Dalgety is the only town left on the Snowy River in New South Wales. The Dalgety Bridge built in 1888, is a grand structure that was, in its day, an engineering feat. Once considered as a site for the National Capital, not much has changed in this quiet little hamlet. With the introduction of increased flows to the river, visitors can learn about Snowy River Recovery and the many projects that will see the River slowly come back to life.

Situated on the Monaro Plains and in the rain shadow of the Snowy Mountains, Dalgety is a relatively dry area of rolling hills with granite boulders scattered across the landscape and full of history. There is a lovely Historic Town and River Walk with brochure to describe the sights.

Nestled amidst spectacular scenery and wildlife, this peaceful town is the service centre for people living in the far North East Gippsland area. The town boasts a fascinating historical retreat into the bygone era of early settlers and pastoralists. The name 'Delegate' is an aboriginal name meaning 'one big hill' and is first noted in 1864 in colonial writings of the Polish explorer Dr. John Lhotsky.

There are many other historical interests in the region including a small shrine marking the site of the first place of worship on the Monaro erected in the Delegate Cemetery, which also has many interesting graves dating back to early settlement. At the western end of Bombala Street stands a red granite monument commemorating the historic 'Men from Snowy River March' which commenced in Delegate in 1916.

Guthega, a picturesque ski resort village at the base of the Snowy Mountains, has an excellent full range of skiing and boarding facilities. Guthega is a small ski area with tree-lined runs therefore, it can hold good snow on its southern slopes when many other areas are bare. There is private lodge accommodation and rooms available at the Guthega Hotel. Nearby Guthega Dam is the start of the legendary Snowy River and the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric scheme.

There are excellent intermediate ski facilities available during winter with good slopes for both beginners and advanced.

On the face of it, Jerangle is just another of those blink and you'll miss it villages. A trip out to Jerangle is well worth the effort, if only because of the historical buildings and breathtaking scenery on the way out.

One of the earliest known references to Jerangle was in Gazette number 45, dated April 6, 1850. In the Gazette a John Cutmore is listed as claiming the "Gerangle" run of 17,920 acres and a grazing capacity of 4000 sheep. From there development continued, with the site where the village now stands providing a focal point for people on properties in the area.

While the present village is not large, there are signs of it being more prosperous in years gone past. Buildings of significance are the Jerangle Public School which celebrated its centenary in 1992. Also contained within the village are the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church.

The original town of Jindabyne actually lies at the bottom of Lake Jindabyne, created when the valley was flooded and dammed, as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme in the 1960s. Located closest to the Snowy Mountains ski resorts, modern day Jindabyne is also one of the state’s best trout fishing locations.

Things to do and see around Jindabyne; go fishing on Lake Jindabyne, the second largest reservoir of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and in nearby streams, or visit Gaden Trout Hatchery on the banks of the Thredbo River; picnic by the lake, go sailing, windsurfing, fishing, or canoeing.

Take a walk or cycle on the Lake Jindabyne Pathway; local operators specialise in white-water rafting, mountain biking, horse riding, canoeing and walking treks and drive to one of the many lookouts along the Alpine Way like Scammels Spur or Geehi, to see historic mountain huts.

Jindabyne East is a small residential community on Lake Jindabyne east of Jindabyne township. Some services are available including a variety of accommodation types, including motels, a service station, ski hire and an art gallery. The area is growing, with several homes being built in the area and more land being made available for housing projects.

Khancoban is one of those well-kept secrets, and the secret to its unassuming success is its isolation. Drive the 567 kilometres from Sydney via Jindabyne, and drive past Thredbo Village (and all the delights of the Kosciusko National Park region) and wind through the mountains before reaching Khancoban, which is located only 13 kilometres from the Victorian border. This is a fully sealed road and a great tourist drive, taking in many places worth stopping at, such as Tom Groggin Station (where the Man from Snowy River lived and worked), Geehi Rest Area, Leatherbarrel Creek and Scammels Ridge Lookout, with awesome views of the Snowy Mountains.

Other activities in Khancoban include exploring the Kosciusko National Park, water sports on Khancoban Pondage such as boating, kayaking and swimming, visiting the interactive Snowy Hydro Murray 1 Visitor Centre and not to forget trout fishing, which the town is renowned for.

The locality of Kiandra is now a ghost town with the old Court House, ruins and enough memories to bring the valley alive. In its heyday it was a true gold rush town which rose and fell in less than a year.

At its height it attracted more than 10,000 men, women and children and saw the construction of banks, hotels and the usual services required by such a large population. In less than a year most of the gold was gone and the population was reduced to just 200 to 300.

Today all that remains of Kiandra and its mining era are the cemetery, courthouse/gaol, chimneys from Yan's Store, Matthews' Cottage, racelines, dams and mullock heaps. A self-guided heritage walk includes signs on the sites of many of the main buildings to give visitors a sense of Kiandra as it was.

Please note there are no facilities at Kiandra.

Lake Eucumbene is located around 40 kilometres from Cooma at its closest point. It sits at an elevation of 1200 metres above sea level making it a pristine alpine lake.

The closest town is Adaminaby. Here you can stock up on food, fuel and fishing supplies. Accommodation can be found in Adaminaby, as well as numerous locations around the lake such as Providence, Anglers Reach, and Old Adaminaby.

The dam construction was finished in 1958 creating the largest of the Snowy Scheme lakes. It holds around nine times the volume of water that Sydney Harbour does. This lake is undoubtedly one of the best fisheries in the Australian Highlands holding Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon. It was the stage for the world fly fishing championships in January 2000. Whether you prefer Fly-fishing, Spinning, Trolling, or Bait fishing, everyone should have no problem catching a Trout in Eucumbene.

Access the Bago State Forest via Laurel Hill. Bago State Forest provides great mountain bike trails, four-wheel driving in the dry months, fossicking, and fishing at Paddy's River Dam. The Hume and Hovell Walking Track also passes through the forest.

Other attractions at Laurel Hill and Bago State Forest include Asgard Nursery and tea room, the spectacular “Sugarpine Walk” and Pilot Hill Arboretum and picnic area. The "Sugarpine Walk" is a walk through a perfect cathedral of sugar pines. It is even better when the sun shines through and casts shadows – you just have to see it for yourself! Picnic at the nearby Lochinvar picnic area under the shady heritage trees.

Laurel Hill Forest Lodge provides catered accommodation for groups, conferences, school group activities.

Mount Kosciuszko is Australia's highest peak standing at 2228 metres above sea level. The Europeans were the first to scale the mountain, with Polish explorer Paul Edmund Strzelecki naming the peak after its similarity to the tomb of the Polish patriot Kosciuszko. A plaque on the summit commemorates his early achievements. The aboriginal name for the mountain is Tar Gan Gil.

Mount Kosciuszko is located in the southern section of the Kosciuszko National Park. The Park is host to a wonderful variety of flora and fauna, and boasts almost 40 percent of the known bird species in New South Wales. The Parks outstanding natural features received international recognition in 1977 when it was made a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Camping is permitted virtually anywhere in Kosciuszko National Park except: in the catchment areas of the glacial lakes and in the resort areas at Yarrangobilly Caves.

Mount Selwyn is a ski resort specialising in families and low cost skiing. Located in the northern section of Kosciuszko National Park, the Selwyn Snowfields is a perfect example of family skiing made affordable and fun. They offer a variety of programs and action packed experiences that you are sure to treasure for years to come.

The nearest accommodation is at Providence Portal on Lake Eucumbene and Adaminaby.

Mountain Information:
Elevation: base 1492 metres, mid 1550 metres, top 1614 metres.
Developed terrain: 45 hectares – 40 percent beginners, 48 percent more difficult, 12 percent most difficult.
Longest trail: 800 metres (Long Arm).
One Terrain Park.

Total of 12 lifts. Lift operations: 8.30am - 4.30pm

Snow tubing and cross country are also available. Marked trails ranging from 2.5 kilometres to 15 kilometres in length are available.

Nimmitabel, first settled in the 1850s is a small rural township of 300 people on the Great Dividing Range. It is located on the Snowy Mountain Highway, 447 kilometres south west of Sydney via Cooma which is 38 kilometres to the north. It is 1070 metres above sea level.

Once known as 'Nimity Bell' the name is said to mean 'place where many waters start'. In 1959 Nimmitabel was used as one of the locations for the filming, by Warner Brothers, of Jon Cleary's novel, The Sundowners.

Take the time to explore the historic village: buildings of interest include Geldmacher House and Mill and St. Andrew's Catholic Church. Maps can be obtained from the Visitor Information Centre at Nimmitabel.

Numeralla which was proclaimed as a village in 1885 although settled in the 1860's. Numeralla and surrounding rural areas have a population of 350 and boast a Folk Festival which is held in January each year.

The small village is situated on the banks of the Numeralla River, a popular spot with anglers and once a site for gold mining. Evidence of these times can be seen on the Badja River approximately three kilometres from town toward Countegeny.

Follow the signs to nearby Wadbillaga National Park and the popular Cascades camping and picnic area, where there is an easy return walk to Tuross Falls. Please note this is along a dirt road and can be unsuitable for two wheel drive vehicles in inclement weather.

There are no services available within the village; the closest facilities are in the town of Cooma.

Perisher Blue Ski Resort was formed in March 1995 as a result of the merger of Perisher-Smiggins Ski Resort and Blue Cow-Guthega Ski Resort, creating the biggest ski resort in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere, which also included the Skitube Alpine Railway at Bullocks Flat and the Station Resort at Jindabyne.

Since 1995, the resort has hosted over 6.9 million skier days, carried over 2.5 million train passengers on the Skitube and invested around 50 million dollars into resort improvements.

An awesome 1250 hectares incorporate seven mountain peaks across four great resorts that are interlinked by an amazing network of 51 lifts.

The resorts' world-renowned ski and snowboard school is the largest in the southern hemisphere.

The Berridale Rocky Plain area extends from the highway between Cooma and Jindabyne west to Kosciuszko National Park, as far north as Lake Eucumbene and south to Dalgety and the Snowy River. The area is primarily open grassland which is mostly grazed with sheep but includes a large number of small acreages.

The locality of Rocky Plains is just a crossroads now with no facilities.

Sawpit Creek located within Kosciuszko National Park is the home of the Kosciarium Education Centre which is open during the School Holidays and by special arrangement. The Centre houses wonderful museum information on Kosciuszko National Park along with hands on displays and videos.

Sawpit Creek has a day use picnic area and a commercial camping and caravan park called Kosciuszko Mountain Retreat in a picturesque bush setting with plenty of animal and birdlife. Fully self-contained chalets and cabins available along with powered and unpowered sites.

Further information can be obtained from the Snowy Region Visitors Centre, Jindabyne. Phone (02) 6450 5600

Smiggin Holes is apparently Scottish in origin, and it is here that one of Australia's best beginner's ski run exists.

This popular ski resort includes the Smiggins Ski Centre, Smiggins Ski Hire and a Snowboard Centre, so if you are planning a trip to the snow you'll be in for a quality experience.

Australia's high country is home to spectacular peaks, clear mountain streams and cool, crisp air, which make an interesting setting for any holiday.

Natural occurring features in the Snowy Region abound and are for the most part easily accessible by car. More than half of the alpine habitat in Australia falls inside the Snowy Mountains boundaries. Coupled with the abundance of unpolluted freshwater streams, the famous Murray and Snowy Rivers, magnificent valleys and undulating meadow, the region is proudly unique and abundant in its natural attractions.

National Parks cover a fairly large area of the Snowies, including Kosciuszko National Park, the largest National Park in New South Wales and home to Mt Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mountain at 2228 metres. Other parks in the area include, Wadbilliga, Deua, Namadgi and South East Forests National Parks.

The Snowy River Area is varied and vast with rolling prairie and mountains. The source of the Snowy River begins in the creeks and rivers of the Main Range and winds down to Lake Jindabyne where it is damned up. The Snowy then winds itself south to Dalgety where there is easy access to the river before it heads back into the National Parks on its journey to Victoria and the coast.

Situated beside the Thredbo River at an altitude of 1,365 metres, Thredbo is the closest resort to Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mountain.

Thredbo Village is open all year with plenty of adventure activities during summer and winter. With its chalets, narrow winding streets and mountain vistas, the village has a European feel, like a true alpine retreat, unique in the Australian Alps.

Things to see and do around Thredbo include the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift, operating all year round and particularly the top station, which boasts Australia's highest restaurant, Eagles Nest.

You can also slide down the Thredbo Bobsled, a 700 metre luge-style track, take advantage of village facilities, such as fashion shopping, gift stores, great cafes and restaurants and there are also activities including tennis, mountain biking, golf, horse riding and hiking on offer.

Tumbarumba is situated in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, this area is now establishing itself as a superb, cool-climate wine making region. Tumbarumba sprang to life in the 1850s during the gold rush era and you can still see restored historic buildings such as the Court House.

Things to do and see around Tumbarumba include a visit to the Artists on Parade Gallery and the Pioneer Women’s Hut Museum. Enjoy a day at the Tumbarumba Races and New Year’s Day Rodeo, visit cellar doors and of course Tumbafest is the town's annual festival of music, food and wine. Tumbarumba is close to Paddy’s River Falls and the halfway point for the Hume and Hovell Walking Track from Albury to Yass. A little further south is the Southern Cloud Lookout.

The Tumbarumba Shire lies at the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains approximately half way between Melbourne and Sydney. Home to Mount Kosciuszko itself and the western extremities of the highest ranges, home of mountain riders and cattlemen keeping unique traditions alive. Fresh mountain air, sweeping mountain panoramas set this district apart. The winter snowfields add magic and excitement while the high country’s special history adds the romance of pioneering adventure.

Looking for a river somewhere, there are great mountain streams which start as a murmur and a trickle before flowing through steep, rugged gorges en route to fertile high country river flats nestled between the valleys. Dams are open for fishing all year round and are famous for the size of their trout with large numbers replenished annually. Big stretches of water can be found at Khancoban Pondage, Talbingo Dam, Geehi Dam and Tooma Dam.

Situated in a beautiful valley at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, Tumut is one of the prettiest towns in New South Wales. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word, meaning 'a quiet resting place by the river'.

Tumut's rich colonial heritage from the gold rush era remains and can be seen in magnificent old buildings and the pioneer cemetery. The Historical Society Museum has fascinating information about the town's pioneering history as well as memorabilia belonging to famous local author, Miles Franklin.

During your visit to Tumut visit the African Violet Farm, the Snowy Mountains Trout Farm, Boonderoo Wines and the Tumut Broom Factory. Walks around town include the River Walk along the Tumut River, Elm Drive best during spring and autumn and the historic Hume and Hovell Walking Track.

Don't miss the Festival of the Falling Leaf, celebrated each April when the autumn leaves are falling.