Kosciusko National Park

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 11:59
ThreadID: 53777 Views:4093 Replies:3 FollowUps:2
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I was wondering if anyone might be able to give me some info about travelling south in winter. Wanting to plan a trip to the snow this yr for the kids. We are wanting to stay away from the ski resorts and over populated areas, yet we dont want to do any extream off roading. Can anyone suggest a good area to visit? Are all the roads in the NP open through winter. Im a QLD girl so have no idea about any of this. If you have any info, or know of a web site that may help let me know.

Cheers, Hayley :)
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Reply By: Member -Signman - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:19

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:19
For a first timer- with kids- have a look at Mt Selwyn. BUT- check snow conditions before you go !!
Nice & easy gentle slopes for taboganing and playing...
AnswerID: 283095

Follow Up By: Member - Fred G (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:40

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 12:40
Try Kosciuszko Mountain Retreat, at Sawpit Creek. Lovely park, caravan, cabins etc, inside the national park and not far Perisher Valley, 15 mins. Great bush setting, in the snow. See if this link works.Snow camping.
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Reply By: splits - Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 13:26

Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 at 13:26
Haley

If you just want to see snow and stop occassionally for the kids to play, then a drive over the Snowy Mountains Highway between Tumut and Adaminaby is ideal. It is a sealed highway with plenty of snow and lots of places where you can pull over and let the kids go. You will see many families doing this, particularly around the old ghost town of Kiandra.

Once you get up into the snow line you will find the 4wd tracks will be closed along with many of the major sealed roads.

If you want to base yourself out of the snow and drive to it each day then you can do that from Cooma or up near Jindabyne but you have to drive in and out on the same roads and there is a lot of traffic going to and from the major ski resorts.

There is a beautiful all day loop you can do starting at Tumut. You drive up through the fruit growing area of Batlow and on to Tumbarumba. You may find snow at Batlow and Laurel Hill a few ks further on. Mt Kosciusko and parts of the Crackenback Range are clearly visable from some of the streets on the hills to the right as you drive into Tumba and the views are excellent. From Tumba you take the road to Kanchoban and turn to the left at the Elliot Way about 25 ks from town. This will take you through beautiful mountain scenery then deep down into the valley and along the side of the Tumut River. You then climb very steeply up into the permanent snow line past the entrance to one of the underground power stations to an intersection where you can turn right for a few ks to Cabramurra which is the highest town in the country. This town was, and maybe still is, owned by the Snowy Mountains Authority and is set out a bit like a military base. The road from Cabramurra to Kanchoban will be closed. From Cabramurra you go back to the intersection and on to Kiandra. You will pass the short turn off to the Mt Selwyn ski resort and the beautiful Three Mile Dam that was built a century ago to supply the Kiandra gold fields with water. This area is spactacular when the dam is surrounded by snow but it will be snowed over at the peak of the season. From Kiandra you turn left onto the Snowy Mountains Highway and return to Tumut driving down Talbingo Mountain and past the Blowering Dam.

All the roads on this loop are kept open but snow ploughs are working constantly as necesary. It is common to be able to drive through on clear roads while looking at metre deep snow piled up on each side of the road. If it is snowing though it can be a different story. You can usually get through with chains but be careful and crawl along slowly. There are tall orange painted poles sticking up along the sides of the road so you can see where the road is.

Don't forget you must carry chains in the park, even though you may not need them, and practice fitting them before you get into the snow.

Brian
AnswerID: 283099

Follow Up By: Member - Richard K (NSW) - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 07:55

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 07:55
Agree with Splits - I've done this loop a few times, awesome driving thru the "walls of snow" (a motorcycle club I was in years ago used to do this trip annually). Tumbarumba is a great little town, good caravan park with cabins ($77 for 2 x adults and 3 x kids when we were there 2 years ago).
Lobs Hole/Ravine could be worth checking out as they are below the snow line - Blue Waterholes a must see but road usually closed in winter. Check out the 4wd Touring SE NSW and East Gippsland available thru Exploroz..

Enjoy
Rich
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FollowupID: 547862

Reply By: hayley - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 14:43

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 at 14:43
The loop does sound great. Checked out some info on the kosi retreat too and it looks great...exactly what we are looking for. Does anyone else have any suggestions on nice places to stay down that way??
AnswerID: 283335

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