Cross country skiing
Tourism New South Wales

Highlights

Thredbo

This charming alpine village with its peaked European-style lodges makes for an unusual sight in the Australian landscape. Packed and brimming with life during winter, it is also popular in summer with wildflower enthusiasts, anglers, mountain-bike riders and bushwalkers wanting to tackle Mt Kosciuszko. A chairlift drops people at the beginning of a 6 km walk to the summit.

Yarrangobilly Caves

Among myriad natural wonders in Kosciuszko National Park, Yarrangobilly Caves stand out as a world-class attraction. Of the 70 caves formed some 40 million years ago, six are open to the public, with highlights including underground pools, frozen waterfalls and a bizarre web of limestone formations. Visitors can marvel at the radiant white, orange and grey limestone flows, stalactites and stalagmites, or take a dip in the naturally formed thermal pool offering year-round swimming.

Alpine Way

Stretching 111 km from Jindabyne to Khancoban, this spectacular route winds around the Thredbo slopes, passes through Dead Horse Gap, and crosses the valley of the Murray headwaters. It is best driven during spring and summer, although the winter scenery is superb.

Snowy River power

This once mighty river was dammed and diverted for the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Some 100 000 men from 30 countries worked for 25 years on the largest engineering project of its kind in Australia. Drop in at the Snowy Mountains Authority Information Centre in Cooma, or visit the power stations near Khancoban.

Lake Jindabyne

Created as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, this huge lake, along with nearby Lake Eucumbene, has a reputation as one of the best inland fishing destinations in the state, particularly for trout. Sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing are popular in summer.

Focus On: Ski resorts

The Snowy Mountains resorts are well equipped in terms of lessons, lifts, ski hire, transport, food, accommodation and entertainment. Perisher, Smiggin Holes, Guthega and Mt Blue Cow (near Guthega) are collectively known as Perisher Blue, the largest ski resort in Australia, with 50 lifts and a variety of slopes. A good range of accommodation is available at Perisher and Smiggin Holes, but overnight parking is limited (many visitors leave their cars at Bullocks Flat and take the Skitube). Accommodation is limited at Guthega and not available at Blue Cow. Thredbo, the main village, has excellent skiing and tourist facilities. Charlotte Pass provides access to some of the region’s most spectacular runs for experienced skiers. In the north of the park, Mt Selwyn is a good place for families and beginners, and is one of the main centres for cross-country skiing.