Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains are in the south-east corner of New South Wales, and
the highest peak is Mt Kosciusko, 2230m (7316 ft). The mountains are home
to the ski fields of New South Wales, and they conjure up visions of fashionable
skiers hurtling down ski slopes before sipping their apres-ski drinks, but
that is only one facet of the Mountains. One of Australia's engineering marvels
is also to be found here, the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme, which
captures the water from the melting snow destined for the coast, and redirects
it through mountain channels to the interior.
The mountains are a carpet of wildflowers in summer and there are numerous
trails for bushwalkers. The many lakes and rivers are an aquatic paradise
for those wishing to get away from it all. Lake Jindabyne (three times the
size of Sydney Harbour) is ablaze with sailboard and catamaran sails, and
the lakes and rivers abound with trout.
Cooma
Population 8,500
Cooma is where the Snowy Mountains begin, and is near the New South Wales-Victorian
Border. Distance from Canberra 114km (71 miles); from Sydney 420km (261 miles);
from Thredbo 97km (60 miles); from Charlotte Pass 105km (65 miles); from
Perisher 98km (61 miles); from Adaminiby 52km (32 miles); from Mt Selwyn
99km (62 miles).
Climate
Cooma is 810m (2657 ft) above sea level. Average temperatures: January
max 26C (79F) - min 11C (52F); July max 9C (48F) - min 1C (30F). Annual
rainfall 450mm (17 ins).
Characteristics
If you are travelling to the snow by train or air, Cooma will be your port
of call. It is a pleasant town and offers transport to Jindabyne and
the snowfields.
Tourist Information
The Cooma Visitor Information Centre, 119 Sharpe Street, (02) 6450 1742,
is hopen 9am-5pm daily. Email them at cvc@snowy. net.au or visit the
website, www. snowymountains.com.au
How to Get There By Road
Greyhound Pioneer have services from Sydney and Canberra.
Snowliner Coaches, 6452 1584, provide services from Bega and Canberra.
By Rail
There is a train service from Sydney via Canberra daily, with connections
to Melbourne from Goulburn.
By Road
From Sydney via the Hume Highway, 420km (216 miles), or via Bega, 542km
(336 miles).
From Melbourne via the coast 730km (454 miles), or via the Alpine Way 664km
(400 miles).
Accommodation
Cooma has motels, hotels and caravan parks. Here is a selection with prices
for a double room per night, which should be used as a guide only. The
telephone area code is 02.
Caravan Parks
Snowtels Caravan & Camping Park, Snowy Mountains Highway, 6452 1828.
(Pets allowed under supervision and by arrangement) 134 sites, good facilities,
tennis, ski hire - powered sites $20 for two, cabins $40-90 for two, on-site
vans $35-55 for two.
Eating Out
Many of the motels and hotels have licensed and BYO restaurants, and the
licensed clubs offer good family meals. There are several takeaway food
outlets.
Grand Court Chinese Restaurant, Snowstop Village, Sharp Street, 6452 4525.
Cooma Truckstop Restaurant, 1 Polo Flat Road, 6452 5550.
Bahn Thai Noodle Restaurant, 178 Sharp Street, 6452 4277.
McDonald's is in Sharp Street.
Points of Interest
Tourist Drive markers signpost an easy drive through and around Cooma,
taking in the town's many points of interest. The first marker is at
Centennial Park near the Visitors' Centre, and from there it goes past
Cooma Creek, Lions Lookout, the Murrumbidgee Water Filtration Plant,
Snowy Mountains Authority Information Centre, the Snowy Memorial, Festival
Pool, Nannygoat Hill, Cooma Cenotaph, Cooma Prison, Lambie Street, Raglan
Gallery, Mt Gladstone, Alpenthaler Park, Southern Cloud Park, Christ
Church, the Lookout, Polo Falt, and back to the Centre.
The Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority Information Centre, Monaro
Highway, 1800 623 776, hopen Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm, Sat 8am-noon, has displays
and models of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and a film show, Mon-Fri at 11am
and 3pm. Visit www.snowyhydro.com.au for further details.
Snowy Mountain Scheme Tours to Adaminaby, Old Adaminaby, Providence Portal,
Kiandra, Cab-ramurra, and Tumut underground Power Station, can be organised
through the information centre.
For those who are energetic, there is the Lambie Town Walk, which passes
through residential and natural areas of scenic and historic interest in
Cooma. One part of the walk is through the town area (5km) and the bushland
section is also 5km, and takes approximately 2.5 hours.
Llama World, Snowy Mountains Highway, 19km (12 miles) from Cooma, has llamas
and alpacas, a tractor ride through their paddocks, rides in llama-drawn
sulkies, and the Inca Gallery, which sells souvenirs, South American and
llama products including yarn, fleece and made-up garments. hOpen Fri-Mon
(weather permitting), 6452 4593.
Festivals
Man from Snowy River Marathon in October each year.
Facilities
Bowling club, golf course, horse riding, swimming pool (heated), snooker,
squash, tennis courts, gliding, ski hire shops, car hire depots and taxis.
Outlying Attractions Adaminaby
The town of Adaminaby is 51km (32 miles) from Cooma, and is the home of
The World's Largest Trout. The town was moved to its present site in 1956-57
to allow for the filling of Lake Eucumbene. Facilities include boating,
fishing, sailing, snow skiing, tennis and water skiing.
Yarrangobilly Caves
The caves are just before the town of Yarrangobilly, and 6.5km (4 miles)
off the Snowy Mountains Highway. They were carved out of the limestone
by the Yarrangobilly River around 440 million years ago, and are a strange
landscape of rugged bluffs and disappearing streams. Beyond the half
light of the cave entrance is an underworld of unrivalled beauty.
The self-guiding Glory Hole Cave is open daily, 10am-4pm. Guided inspections
of either the North Glory, Jersey or Jillabenan Caves are conducted at
1pm each non-holiday week day. Additional tours are scheduled during weekends
and school holidays.
There are plenty of walking tracks in the area, and the Yarrangobilly Caves
Visitor Information Centre, (02) 6454 9597, has brochures and information,
and is open 7 days a week, 9am-4.30pm, 8.30am to 5.30pm in the peak season.
Yarrangobilly is a day use area only, and camping is available at Yarrangobilly
Village or Three Mile Dam.
Jindabyne
Population 1600
Situated 40km (25 miles) from Cooma, Jindabyne is the closest centre to
the ski fields. Many people choose to stay in the town and drive to the
fields each day. In summer time, Lake Jindabyne is the attraction for staying
here.
Tourist Information
The Snowy Region Visitor Information Centre is in Kosciuszko Road, (02)
6450 5600. Their opening hours are 8am-6pm in the winter holidays and
Easter, 8.30am-5pm the rest of the year. They can be contacted by email
at srvc@ npws.nsw.gov.au or you might like to visit the website at www.kos
.com.au for a preliminary look.
Accommodation
Here is a selection of the accommodation available, with winter prices
for a double room per night, which should be used as a guide only. Never
go to Jindabyne in the winter thinking you will be able to pick up accommodation
without a booking, it is far too cold to sleep in the bus station. The
telephone area code is 02.
Caravan Park
Snowline Caravan Park, cnr Kosciusko Road & Alpine Way, 6456 2099.
(No pets allowed) 178 sites, excellent faciltities, sauna, spa, cafe, barbecue,
tennis - powered sites $20-25 for two, cabins $40-205 for two.
Jindabyne Holiday Park, Kosciusko Road, 6456 2249. 200 sites, basic facilities
- powered sites $20-26 for two, cabins $55-130 for two, on-site vans $40-90
for two.
Eating Out
It is well known that cold weather makes everyone hungry, so there is no
shortage of eating places in this neck of the woods. Here is a selection.
Pom's Balcony Bistro, upper level Petamin Plaza (Town Centre), 6456 2144
- fully licensed, steak and seafood, open daily 6pm-31m.
Chit Thai Restaurant, Snowline Caravn Park, cnr Kosciusko Rd and Alpine
Way), 6456 2052.
Brumby Bar & Bistro, Kosciusko Road, 6456 2526.
Bacco Italian Restaurant, Nuggets Crossing, Shop 10, Kosciuszko Road, 6456
1420.
Gringo's Mexican Restaurant, Aspen Chalet, Kosciusko Road, 6457 2229.
Restaurant 14, Town Centre, Shop 14, Kosciuszko Road, 6457 2660.
Il Lago Restaurant, Nuggetts Crossing Shopping Centre, Shop 19a, Kosciusko
Road, 6456 1171.
Ski and Equipment Hire
Ampol Jindabyne, Kosciusko Road, 6456 1177; BP Lakeside, Kosciusko Road,
6456 1959; Arlberg Ski Centre, Jindabyne Road, Berridale, 6456 3177;
Jindabyne Sports Store, Shop 12, Town Centre, 6456 2216; Snowy Mountains
Sports, Petamin Plaza, 6456 2530; Thredbo Sports, Nuggetts Crossing,
6459 4119; Wilderness Sports, Nuggets Crossing, 6456 2966.
Ski Fields Mt Selwyn (1614m - 5295 ft)
The lowest field, Mt Selwyn is very popular with families and school groups.
There is no accommodation at Mt Selwyn.
Ski lifts: 1 Double Chair, 4 T-Bars, 2 Pomas, 1 Platter and 4 Beginner
Ropes and 1 Toboggan Lift.
Ski slopes: beginners 40%, intermediates 48%, advanced 12%.
Facilities/services: ticket office, ski school, ski hire, information centre,
ski patrol, ski and souvenir shop, licensed cafeteria, resort booking centre.
Prices: half day $35 adult, $20 child; full day $46 adult, $23 child; lift & lesson
package $68 adult $45 child.
Perisher Blue
Includes Perisher/Smiggins (2034m - 6673 ft), Mt Blue Cow (1980m - 6496
ft) and Guthega (1932m - 6339 ft) - an extensive 1250 hectares of skifields.
Facilities/services: ticket office, ski school, ski hire, information centre,
resort booking centre, ski patrol, childminding, ski shops, Skitube train
station, oversnow transport to lodges, bars, bistros, restaurants, coffee
shops, takeaway food outlets (including on-slope), banks, post office,
newsagents, chemist, supermarket, bottle shop, photographic services, medical
services, souvenirs, lockers, ski-storage.
Transport: Skitube Trains depart frequently as required in peak times during
winter. Below snowline on Alpine Way, so no chains required.
Bullock's Flat Terminal (Alpine Way) - free car parking for 3,000 cars
and 250 buses. Ticket office for combined Perisher Blue and Skitube tickets.
Ski hire, information centre, National Parks and Wildlife Service sales
and information, souvenir and ski accessories shop, takeaway food outlet.
Perisher Valley Terminal: ticket office for Perisher/Smiggins and Mt Blue
Cow plus train tickets. Ski minding and locker service, coffee shop, licensed
bistro, ski equipment and accessories, children's clothing shop, gift shop,
takeaway snack bar, full Medical Centre and Police Office, oversnow transport
to Perisher Valley lodges.
Prices: check current prices at the time of your visit on the updated website.
Information and prices: www.
perisherblue.com.au, 1300 655 822.
Charlotte Pass
Accommodation: Kosciusko Chalet, 1800 026 369; Arlberg Ski Lodge, 9453
2057; Snowbird Ski Resort, 1300 651 653. The ski lifts are virtually
on the front doorstep.
Ski lifts: 1 triple chairlift, 1 T-bar, 2 poma lifts, 1 rope tow.
Transport: Charlotte Pass is the most isolated resort with access by oversnow
transport (snowcats) from Perisher Valley. The journey takes about 35 minutes.
If travelling by car, you have to park at the Skitube Terminal at Bullocks
Flat and travel on the tube to Perisher. The snowcat part of the trip costs
$28 adults, $19 children each way.
Prices: full day $75 adult, $48 child; half day $60 adult, $35 child. Check
current prices at the time of your visit.
