Spectacular high country

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

Naturally occuring 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.

Kosciuszko National Park

National Parks cover a fairly large area of the Snowies, including Kosciuszko National Park, the largest National Park in NSW and home to Mount Kosciuszko, Australias highest mountain at 2228 metres.

Other parks in the area include, Wadbilliga, Deua, Namadgi and South East Forests National Parks.

Charlotte Pass Village

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 is entirely snowbound in winter access is only by oversnow transport from the Perisher Valley skitube terminal.

Charlotte Pass Village and the historic Kosciuszko Chalet have a long tradition in Australian skiing. In fact the Chalet was established in the first true alpine skiing area in Australia in 1930. It is the most intimate ski resort in Australia with only 12 club lodges plus the Kosciuszko Chalet for accommodation.

Charlotte Pass in summer is the starting point for two main trails to Mt.Kosciuszko. One being the Summit Walk which is 9 kms one way and the Main Range trail which is 12.5 km one way.

At the beginning of the trail heads there is a scenic board walk called the Snowgums Boardwalk with an observation tower to view the magnificent Main Range of the New South Wales Alps and Mt. Kosciuszko.
Toilet facilities exist at Charlotte Pass during the Summer Months but no other services are available.

Cooma

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 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:
- Stop at the Snowy Hydro Education and Information 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, including Lambie Gorge, a site of indigenous cultural significance
' The Mosaic Time Walk in Centennial Park depicts life in the Snowy Mountains from its origins through to the present time
' The region is a popular trout fishing destination, as well as offering four-wheel-drive and mountain bike adventure

Guthega

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.

Jindabyne

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.
' Drive to one of the many lookouts along the Alpine Way like Scammels Spur or Geehi, to see historic mountain huts.

Perisher Valley

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.

Thredbo

Situated beside the Thredbo River at an altitude of 1370m, 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 feels like a true alpine retreat, unique in the Australian Alps.

Kosciuszko Express Chairlift

The Kosciuszko Express Chairlift operates all year round and the top station boasts Australia's highest restaurant, Eagles Nest.

Thredbo Bobsled

Another popular activity is sliding down the Thredbo Bobsled - a 700m luge style track.

Village facilities

Village facilities include fashion shopping, gift stores, great cafes and restaurants serving modern Australian cuisine.

There are tennis courts, mountain biking, golf, horse riding and hiking on offer. One of the best walks is the 13km return hike to the top of Mount Kosciuszko for the less adventurous, the trip by ski lift to the top is a perfect start to the day.

Tumut

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 today and can be seen in magnificent old buildings best explored on a heritage walk. The pioneer cemetery in Adelong Road includes the grave of Thomas Boyd, a member of the Hume and Hovell expedition that passed through Tumut in 1824. The Historical Society Museum has fascinating information about the town's pioneering history as well as memorabilia belonging to famous local author, Miles Franklin.

Things to do and see around Tumut

' Visit the African Violet Farm, the Snowy Mountains Trout Farm, Boonderoo Wines and the Tumut Broom Factory.
' Enjoy the many walks around town such as the River Walk along the banks of the Tumut River and Elm Drive, best during spring and autumn.
' Go for a bushwalk along part of 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.