Snowy Mountains

Discover an adventure wonderland in the magnificent NSW Snowy Mountains, from a summit walk to Australia’s highest peak and fly fishing in pristine mountain waters in warmer months, to skiing and snowboarding in colder months. You’ll enjoy delicious experiences too, such as wine tasting.

After the snow melts, a network of mountain biking and bushwalking tracks is revealed. Horseriding is popular too in the high country, portrayed in Banjo Paterson’s 1890 poem The Man from Snowy River as where ‘the hills are twice as steep’ and the ‘air is clear as crystal’, and this holds true today.

The best time for exploring the alpine walking tracks is December through March. Two paths wind to the top of Mount Kosciuszko, starting at Thredbo or Charlotte Pass. You can also explore a UNESCO-protected Biosphere Reserve and stroll through pretty wildflowers and majestic snow gum forests.

Kosciuszko National Park is home to the snow resorts of Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass and Mount Selwyn. Inside Yarrangobilly Caves are beautiful limestone structures. There are many more wonderful natural attractions, including the Tuross Falls and a special platypus reserve in Bombala.

You can fish all year in some well-stocked waterways such as Lake Jindabyne and Lake Eucumbene, both part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Australia’s greatest engineering project that creates hydro-electricity. You’ll learn about the scheme at the Snowy Mountains Hydro Discovery Centre.

From Tumbarumba in the west to Tumut in the north to Jindabyne and Cooma in the east, you’ll find beautiful scenery, intriguing heritage and marvellous events. You’ll relish the Boggy Creek Show and thrilling rodeo, and country fairs and fun festivals, such as Tumbafest and the Batlow CiderFest.

The Snowy Mountains Trout Festival in spring is open to all recreational anglers. You can admire the 10-metre high Big Trout, one of Australia’s iconic ‘big things’, in Adaminaby. There are exhilarating outdoor adventure tours as well, including whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Snowy River.