Snow Camping - but where?

Submitted: Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 10:45
ThreadID: 95817 Views:4208 Replies:10 FollowUps:2
This Thread has been Archived
Hi All,
I'm keen to do some camping in the snow but don't really know where to go.

Obviously there's the high country but there's many seasonal road closers and gates i'd assume we wouldn't be able to get anywhere off the main road these days. We want to combine snow 4wd'ing with snow camping. Preferably we'd be bush camping and not in a park or designated area.

We'd have a couple of well kitted out trucks and are self sufficient so any recommendations of where we can drive through snow and camp somewhere would be great? We live in Sydney so other options out Barrington Tops, Newnes, etc if they're less controlled with green iron gates.

Alex
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Toyocrusa (NSW) - Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 11:09

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 11:09
Hi Alex. You may get some good ideas from "PradoMad's" video which is down a few on this page. Cheers,Bob.
AnswerID: 486805

Follow Up By: Member - Alex K (NSW) - Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 16:11

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 16:11
Thanks Bob, i checked out the video. Very good, however any idea which of these area's would be open to well prepared 4wd's in Winter or does the NPWS close it all off?
Alex
0
FollowupID: 762046

Reply By: the_fitzroys - Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 18:15

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 18:15
What about Thredbo Diggings or Ngarigo, Jindabyne side of Thredbo, just inside the NP.

http://www.4x4earth.com.au/campsites.html?site=94

Louise
AnswerID: 486831

Follow Up By: Begaboy - Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 19:14

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 19:14
Yes , i agree with this also - there are paid sites ( in addition to park entry ) and some other sites next to the river which are free ( after park entry ) I have camped Newnes and Barrington tops many times - even in winter - and only seen snow at newnes once that lasted 5 min and never at barrington

so if your wanting snow --- head towards thredbo ( only a few hours drive for me btw :)
0
FollowupID: 762054

Reply By: Inflataduck - Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 19:57

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 19:57
you can try snowball just passed bendeathra (braidwood to cooma rd) it has several 4wd tracks & come winter gets regular snow,
AnswerID: 486841

Reply By: wendy H - Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 20:33

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 20:33
Sure to be some snow at Yarringobilly soon .............
AnswerID: 486846

Reply By: Erad - Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 20:52

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 20:52
Pretty well anywhere in the Kosciusko National Park will be "off limits" You could try the Bobeyan Road between Tharwa (ACT) and Adaminaby (NSW). The road goes up to over 1500 m and there are some side tracks leading into campgrounds. Be aware that you could get stuck in there, if a heavy snowfall comes along, but other places offered here suffer the same fate. I doubt that Snowball (above Bendethera) would get much snow. There are other areas in the high country west from Canberra which could also offer some snow and isolation.

If you wantt to go into the Kosciuszko NP, you could try Tantangara (between Adaminaby and Kiandra). You wouldn't have to go far to get away from the road and it will not be patrolled.

For what it is worth, they have had 30 cm of snow at Perisher, and it is damned cold around here (Cooma), so I expect that there is a bit in the hills around here.
AnswerID: 486848

Reply By: Member - Alex K (NSW) - Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 23:15

Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 23:15
Thanks all for your recommendations. I'll keep an eye out for snow fall forecasts and make a move down in a month or so.
A
AnswerID: 486858

Reply By: Geoff in SA - Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 09:58

Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 09:58
Alex
have you cosidered the Southern Alps on the South Island of NZ?
or maybe you could try thr Rockies in the USA

but as you only hve a lopsided 4x4 my other sugestion woild be Jinderbine or around Canberra. All those places have snow and some god 4x4 tracks

Geoff. (expat K1W1)

ps. a little further afield would be Tassie. Great snow there.
AnswerID: 486878

Reply By: Member - Bucky - Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 10:03

Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 10:03
Alex

Have just spent 1 week in the High Country up the Mountain from Licola, that's 1450 Mts, but the gates are locked up from the Gorge Car Park, past Arbuckle Junction, From June 1 to Novenber 1.., and believe me, it gets real cold up there.

Gates will prevent you from going higher.

Image Could Not Be Found

Cheers Bucky


AnswerID: 486879

Reply By: snowman - Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 10:28

Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 10:28
Island bend area in Kosciuszko NP is a good spot. You have the snowy river there and there is numerous power line tracks that don't get closed that you could explore.

Dave
AnswerID: 486882

Reply By: Road to Discovery - Monday, May 28, 2012 at 20:51

Monday, May 28, 2012 at 20:51
Thredbo Resort offer an organised guided snow camping experience - check out their website. There are companies in Victorian high country that offer something similar. To me, 'real' snow camping means skiing or snow trekking to your spot and building an igloo. Not 4WDing in.

But for independant advice on the Snowy Mountains Region, camp spots, tracks, maps, gear etc, ring Bruce at Wilderness Sports in Jindabyne. He'll be one guy that knows his stuff!

Don't forget to give someone sensible a "Search & Rescue" time/plan and take an EPERB. The Snowies claim lots of lives every year, most you will never hear about in the media.

By the way, if your 4WD is a diesel, don't forget to buy alpine fuel. Otherwise, your diesel will freeze in the tank and you wont be driving anywhere.

AnswerID: 487043

Sponsored Links