Suggestions on nicest route from Melbourne to Canberra via Jyndabyne?

Thanks for your advice, that sounds a pretty scenic route. Only question, when you say via the Brindabellas, I am assuming mountain range? Is that down the Snowy Mountains Highway?

Quote "You can go from Khancoban across to Batlow, then Tumus and the via the brindabellas to Canberra if you want."

The OP is towing a 20' van. I would not tow any van over the Brindabellas. I will however tow a van from Khancoban through Dead Horse Gap to Jindabyne.

So Graeme, if we headed to Tumut and came down the Snowy Mountains Highway through Adaminiby with the van, into Jyndabyne,
a) what is the scenery like, and
b) is it tricky going with the van with steep inclines/descents and twisting narrow roads - or is it reasonably easy going?

Any scenery in the Snowys is stunning and there will be no problem with the van on the highway. The road is good and the inclines are not too steep.
There are a couple of nice bakeries in Jindabyne and have a nice walk around the town and lake. It is a nice refreshing place.

Hi SEANDF,

There is a steep windy incline heading up from Talbingo but nothing compared to some of the stretches of road between Khancoban and Thredbo. If you want to visit Yarrangobilly Caves and thermal pool there is a bit of steep windy road there too but okay if you take it slowly and it is also made a little easier being one way roads in and out of the caves.

If your tow set up is good then a side trip and potential camp destination is Long Plains Road, Coolamine Homestead and BlueWaterholes caves and short bush walks. Goes out to old huts and school houses, lots of brumbies and native wildlife (if they haven't been culled). For just a day trip you could ask to park the van at Yarrangobilly and visit the huts and Blue Waterholes from there.

Kiandra is a gold mining ghost town but if you have the right maps and nav skills you can do a long day walk from there up to one or 2 alpine huts. If you cross the Eucumbene heading east there is a beaut hut called Whitses Hut, very ambient. I have photos on Google Earth of most of the huts in that area but Whitse is one of my faves.

If you want to try hut camping (not actually camping in the hut but using it as a base for meal prep, toasting marshmallows in the fireplaces, drying out clothes and boots, etc) without the bushwalking there are 2 recently rebuilt huts between Kiandra and Adaminaby with parking space off the road.

When you get to Jindy you can take your van without any hassles to Dead Horse Gap, just past Thredbo before the steep windy section to Khancoban. Great views and bushwalking, another good 1 day walk to Cascades Hut or just park in Thredbo and walk to Kosciusko. Camping is good in Ngarigo and Thredbo Diggings camping grounds (they might still be free)

If you need any advice about where to explore or how best to exlpore it drop into Wilderness Sports at Nuggets Crossing shopping centre Jindy and have a chat with Bruce and Ros. They have been operating local adventure sports for travelers and schools for over 20yrs.

Enjoy the trip :)

Hi Sean,
I agree with Graham. There are 3 ways in, 2 from Khancoban (either left or right there) and both I would not recommend towing wiith a Territory. Then if you go in from Tumut there is a very steep hill this way as well. Not just steep, windy and a very long climb. A territory is not a vehicle for towing a 20 ft van up this kind of grade. It can over heat the transmission and cause permanent damage.

Goinging from Tumut is the better of the three. I would suggest camping in a couple of places and doing day trips. There is some fantastic country there and a day trip will let you recon the route as well.

Sounds great advice, and can't wait!

Much appreciated, cheers!

"FollowupID: 784799 Submitted: Monday, Mar 25, 2013 at 08:22
graham B9 posted:
Hi Sean,
I agree with Graham. There are 3 ways in, 2 from Khancoban (either left or right there) and both I would not recommend towing wiith a Territory. Then if you go in from Tumut there is a very steep hill this way as well. Not just steep, windy and a very long climb. A territory is not a vehicle for towing a 20 ft van up this kind of grade. It can over heat the transmission and cause permanent damage.

Goinging from Tumut is the better of the three. I would suggest camping in a couple of places and doing day trips. There is some fantastic country there and a day trip will let you recon the route as well."
////////////////////////////// - (PS can't work out how to embed this previous conversation) //////////////////
(Sean continues here): Graeme B9, I am a little confused on your last post here especially if there is risk to my vehicle. Just to clarify, it's a 2011 AWD 2.7l diesel Territory with a 2.7t towing capacity. I tow it all around Tassie and up some pretty steep windy inclines without problem - however I haven't driven this section of road, and will take advice on it.

You say, going in from Tumut there is a very steep hill which is steep, windy and a long climb, which you believe could overheat my transmission. FYI my van weight is around 2.2t fully laden.

But then you say going in from Tumut is the better of the three (routes). So, just to clarify, are you saying if I drive to Tumut, then drive to Jindabyne via the Snowy Mountains Highway, through Adaminaby etc, it is this section of road you have concerns about for me? (or are you saying that that section of road will be fine?).

Really concerned I don't put at risk my investment.

Cheers,
Sean

SEANDF Your rig will have no problems towing as that 2.7 TD and the ZF auto is also in the heavier Land Rover Discovery and it can tow 3500kg without a problem.
Just enjoy the wonderful scenery.
I am so glad you liked Tassie; I do too as I grew up in Launceston in the 50s and early 60s and was paradise.

Cheers Graeme, that makes me feel better. I must say I have been really pleased with the towing capacity of the Territory, and have done a 5,000km trip to SA last year over to Port Lincoln, Quorn, Broken Hill and Mildura without incident. Averaged 15l/100km which I was well pleased with.
Oh and you are a Tassie boy too! I was born in '57 in Smithton (NW Coast) and lived in various parts of the state - Avoca, Orford then to Hobart. Fabulous state, but now wonderful to be able to explore the Big Island too!
Thanks for your helpful advice, and fingers crossed we don't get ice and snow through the mountains when we do the trip next month. Hope we can enjoy that magnificent scenery, and bag a fish or two as well.
Cheers mate,
Sean

Cheers, will look this one up, thanks for that.

Cold fronts can bring snow to the alps (snowline about 1400-1600m) anytime in April. It has already been snowing up there this Autumn.

If snow is forecast to fall between Tumut and Adaminaby don't be tempted to try and cross. Too many people have had accidents up there thinking they could get across before the road iced over.

In April the snow/ice doesn't last long so just find a nice fishing hole, like Talbingo, and wait a day until it melts away.

Okay, that's great advice, thanks! Yes we were planning to go to the Tassie highland lakes this Easter, but looks like we are in for a cold snap there, so am re-considering that trip.

Really not too keen on dragging the van through snow and ice on unfamiliar roads, so will need to keep a real good ear on the weather forecast. Thanks for the tip there.

Appreciate the advice on fishing spots. So pumped! Hope it doesn't snow mind you. Very pretty, but the ice is the real worry when driving.