Jindabyne to Khancoban

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 16:33
ThreadID: 135499 Views:4106 Replies:6 FollowUps:11
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Hi, I'm doing a trip to the Snowy Mountain early next year.
I have a single axle 16ft caravan.
From the small amount of research I've done at this stage, it is recommended that no large caravan to use the Alpine Way. Has anybody with a 16ft van (approx) used this particular stretch of road, and if so, how did you find it? Thanks
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Reply By: Gronk - Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 18:18

Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 18:18
You will get heaps of replies, but, it's just an ordinary road. A bit steep in one section, and a 16ft van will have no problems at all.
Like all steep hills, use your gears not the brakes.
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Follow Up By: Member - Julio C (VIC) - Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 18:48

Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 18:48
Thank-you...
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Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 19:09

Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 19:09
Some years ago there were three of us who went through there. My 18' van was the smallest. Both of the others were dual axle vans. We had no problems on the trip. The rangers at the entry gate did not pass any comments about the road being unsuitable for us. If you are a competent, confident driver it will be a breeze. No doubt there will be nervous Nellies who follow up and say don't do it.

You do not need a parks pass or a payment at the gate if you are passing through. You just get a pass with a reasonable time limit to pass through.
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Follow Up By: Member - Julio C (VIC) - Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 19:28

Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 19:28
.......thanks....
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Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 22:54

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 22:54
If you say you aren't stopping then you don't need a pass. If you do stop without a pass then you are in trouble.
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 23:01

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 23:01
Michael, when I went with the other two vans they were issued with a pass to travel through. The rangers would not let them through the entry to the park without a pass.
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Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 23:06

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 23:06
I've travelled that road twice straight through without paying and not stopping..except at the ranger station to tell them I'm not stopping of course. Other times I've payed and stopped. Has it changed in the past few years?
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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 23:20

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 23:20
If you are travelling from Khancoban there is no where to pay as you enter the park. If you are travelling the other way you do what the rangers who greet you tell you to do.
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Reply By: Erad - Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 21:00

Thursday, Aug 31, 2017 at 21:00
The road is narrow, and steep in places. There are steep uphill and downhill sections. You don't say what tug you will be using, but a 4WD should handle the road with ease. As said above, USE YOUR GEARS. IF you rely on your brakes they will fade for sure. I have towed a fairly well loaded box trailer over the whole length of the run, as well as my 16 ft Jayco Poptop van from Khancoban to Geehi. Driven sensibly, keeping to your own side of the road (and hoping the clowns coming the other way do so as well) you will have no problems at all.

Geehi airstrip is a piece of heaven and a superb place to camp overnight, but you will need a National Sparks & Wildfire permit if you stay in the park longer than a certain time. Tom Groggin ias another glorious place - again to camp overnight. I understand that next year they are going to have an E-tag type system in place, so there is no way you will be able to tell them that you are driving through and then stop off for a while en route
In my opinion, this is the grandest piece of scenery in Australia. After 52 years of driving it, I still am awestruck by ity every time I go over that piece of road.

Should you be afraid to travel the Alpine Way, you have the option of going through Cabramurra and then down to Khancoban, but that road is on the whole narrower and in places more difficult than the Alpine Way. At least you won't have big brother looking over your shoulder on that road, but you could still be sprung by them should you decide to overnight somewhere on that road.

As said above, take your time, take it carefully and you will have a most enjoyable trip.
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Follow Up By: Member - Julio C (VIC) - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 08:13

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 08:13
.....thanks......
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Reply By: GarryR - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 06:48

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 06:48
I tow a large trailer from Jindabyne through to Khancoban each February with no dramas. Yes there are a couple of switchbacks, but nothing of concern. Watch out for motorbikes on that stretch of road as it is a favorite run for them, and some tend to be on the wrong side of the road. You don't need to get a pass if you a driving straight through allowable time is 2hours (which is plenty), but if you then stop at Threadbo without a pass, watchout as the dreaded parking inspector,he will get you. He is really good though, instead of fining you he will more than likely just make you pay for a pass. (been there, done that). The road can be very slippery after a big storm with lots of bark across the road. Use your gears as you will suffer brake fade if you use them excessivly
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Follow Up By: Member - Julio C (VIC) - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 08:15

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 08:15
.....thanks....
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Follow Up By: Sigmund - Saturday, Sep 02, 2017 at 15:31

Saturday, Sep 02, 2017 at 15:31
With that rig YOU will have to be on the wrong side of the road on some bends, so take it easy and scan the road ahead.

You can get snow or sleet at any time of the year around Dead Horse Gap so check the road conditions report before setting out.
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Reply By: 3ways - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 08:39

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 08:39
We have towed our 21ft van on that stretch of road a few times without problem. In March this year we followed a kenworth with a dozer on the float from Khancoban to Jindabyne on that same road. Enjoy your trip
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew & Jen - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 18:11

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 18:11
3ways
As a matter of interest, was it over-width and if so, did you have an escort?
I ask because I have been through there quite a few times and on a couple of occasions have met a wide load in the narrow sections around the Murray #1 PS and near the Scammels LO. Fortunately I could hear the pilot and the driver talking their way through the narrow sections so was prepared and sat back in a wider section until it went past (and was thanked by both the pilot and driver)
Cheers
Andrew
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Follow Up By: 3ways - Saturday, Sep 02, 2017 at 15:23

Saturday, Sep 02, 2017 at 15:23
Andrew it was just the semi travelling alone no escort. We watched him drive past while refuel at Khancoban and caught up about Schammels LO. We were on a Harley so don't know if he was calling locations on UHF.
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Reply By: Rangiephil - Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 09:20

Friday, Sep 01, 2017 at 09:20
Having driven the road many times with my camper trailer , I would add that to be considerate to others you should not do it during school holidays or on weekends.

There are very few places to pull over if you have a tailback behind you and you will need the whole road while turning the really sharp hairpins.

I will second ( or third) the comment to use the gears to slow down, as the Alpine Way AFAIK is the longest almost continuous down slope in Australia at about 20Km and is one of the steepest.
The road from Tom Groggin andGeehi to Khancoben is more up and down as you cross ridgelines but there is a narrow section not far from Geehi. There are a few passing places . AFAIR , one at the turnoff to the pondage, and one at the power station.
Regards Philip A
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