Southern New South Wales
Southern New South Wales Highlights
The Southern Highlands
Bowral
Berrima & Bundanoon
Yass & Around
Albury
Wagga Wagga
Griffith
Snowy Mountains
Jindabyne
Kosciuszko National Park
Thredbo
Southern New South Wales
Why Go?
Between Sydney and Albury, atmospheric old towns straddle the Hume Hwy, each of them with a claim to fame, be it bushrangers, rich grazing land or old money.
Highlights include the Southern Highlands town of Bowral, and the sleepy heritage settlements of Yass and Gundagai. Right on the New South Wales (NSW)–Victoria border, Albury combines an emerging arts scene with a fine museum and good cafes and bars, and to the north, riverside Wagga Wagga is NSW's biggest inland city.
Northwest of the highway, the land flattens out, becoming redder and drier. The Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers provide much-needed irrigation in the Riverina district fuelling a food tourism scene around Griffith.
Between Albury and the NSW coast, the Snowy Mountains are defined by the massive hulk of Mt Kosciuszko, Australia's highest summit. Visit in winter for good skiing and alpine sports, or mountain biking, hiking and fishing in summer.
When to Go
AEaster Head to the riverside town of Deniliquin for the Big Sky Blues & Roots Festival.
AJun–Aug Enjoy Australia's best skiing and snowboarding in the Snowy Mountains.
AOct Experience the culinary highlights of the Riverina's annual Taste festival.
Best Places to Stay
Southern New South Wales Highlights
1 Learning about 'The Don' at Bowral's Bradman Museum of Cricket.
2 Going underground to explore the cave systems of the Southern Highlands.
3 Experiencing regional NSW's interesting heritage in sleepy Yass and quirky Gundagai.
4 Combining art with local cuisine, wine and beer in Albury and Wagga Wagga.
5 Discovering your inner Italian in Griffith's main street eateries.
6 Mountain biking around the hills of lakeside Jindabyne.
7 Skiing and snowboarding in bustling wintertime Thredbo.
The Southern Highlands
Bowral
Pop 12,154
Just off the Hume Hwy, Bowral is one of the Southern Highlands' main towns, a pretty area revelling in its Englishness. Other towns to explore include Moss Vale.
1Sights
oInternational
Cricket Hall of FameMUSEUM
(
%02-4862
1247; www.internationalcrickethall.com.au;
St Jude St, Bowral; adult/child
$20/11; 
h10am-5pm)
Bowral is where the late great cricketer Sir Donald Bradman, Australia’s most legendary sporting hero, spent his boyhood. Within the Hall of Fame complex, there’s a pretty cricket oval, and fans pay homage to Bradman at the Bradman Museum of Cricket (www.bradman.com.au), which has an engrossing collection of Ashes and Don-centric memorabilia. The ever-expanding collection showcasing the international game is a must for all sports fans, not just cricket buffs.
zFestivals & Events
THE MIGHTY HUME
The four-lane Hume Hwy, running nearly 900km from Sydney to Melbourne, has many scenic routes and heritage towns just off it. Note the highway's speed limit of 110km/h is rigorously enforced, and speeding fines are hefty.
4Sleeping & Eating
This area is popular with Sydney day trippers
and overnighters, and has a good dining and B&B scene. Top
spots for lunch include Centennial
Vineyards (%02-4861
8700; www.centennialrestaurant.com.au;
Centennial Rd; mains
$28-39; hnoon-3pm
Wed-Mon), Southern Highland Wines (%02-4686
2300; www.shw.com.au; Oldbury
Rd; mains $27-34; hnoon-3pm
Thu-Mon) and
McVitty Grove Estate (%02-4878
5044; www.feastatmcvitty.com.au;
Wombeyan Caves Rd; tapas
$18-20, mains $28-34;
h10am-4pm
Thu-Sun).
oLinks
ManorGUESTHOUSE
(%02-4861
1977; www.linkshouse.com.au;
17 Links Rd; r
$190-340; 
a
W)
This boutique guesthouse has a drawing room and garden courtyard straight out of Remains of the Day. Prices are highest on Friday and Saturday.
oRaw &
WildCAFE
(250 Bong Bong
St; mains $14-24; h8am-5.30pm
Sun-Thu, to 9pm Fri & Sat; 
v)
S
Enter through the health food shop to Bowral's best cafe, with a focus on all things organic, local, wild and sustainable. Did we mention it's all very tasty as well? Good beers and wines mean you don't need to be too virtuous. On weekends, tapas nights are very popular.
oBiota
DiningMODERN AUSTRALIAN
(%02-4862
2005; http://biotadining.com;
18 Kangaloon Rd,
Bowral; brunch mains $19, degustation
$105-165; h9-11am Sat
& Sun, noon-2.30pm Fri-Mon, 6-9.30pm daily)
Innovative seasonal menus include interesting dishes like salted cucumber with oysters and beach plants, and the wine list is as good as the weekend brunch. Try the crab and creamed egg sliders with a restorative pepperberry Bloody Mary.
8Information
Southern Highlands Visitors CentreTOURIST INFORMATION
(%02-4871
2888; www.southern-highlands.com.au;
62-70 Main St,
Mittagong; h9am-5pm
Mon-Fri, to 4pm Sat & Sun)
In Mittagong, near Bowral.
CAVES OF THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
The spectacular limestone Wombeyan Caves (%02-4843
5976; www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au;
Wombeyan Caves Rd; Figtree Cave
adult/child $18/12, 2 caves & tour 'Discovery Pass'
$30/23; h9am-4pm) lie up an unsealed mountain road 65km
northwest of Mittagong. Nearby are walking trails, and a campground
with cabins and cottage accommodation.
The Abercrombie
Caves (%02-6368
8603; http://abercrombiecaves.com;
self-guided/guided tours
$18/30; h9am-4pm
Thu-Mon) are reached via
a turn-off 72km south of Bathurst. The complex has one of the
world's largest natural tunnels, the Grand Arch.
About 57km southeast of Yass, along some
partly dirt roads, the limestone Careys
Cave (%02-6227
9622; www.weejaspercaves.com;
adult/child
$15.40/9.90; htours noon,
1.30pm & 3pm Sat & Sun, noon & 1.30pm Fri &
Mon) is at Wee Jasper.
Phone ahead for tours.
The Jenolan
Caves (
GOOGLE MAP ; %1300 763
311; www.jenolancaves.org.au;
Jenolan Caves Rd; adult/child
from $32/22; htours
9am-5pm) are also in the
region.
Berrima & Bundanoon
Pop 246 (Berrima), 2419 (Bundanoon)
South along the Hume Hwy is heritage-classified Berrima, founded in 1829, and featuring galleries, antique shops, and good food and wine. South of Berrima is sleepy Bundanoon, a gateway to Morton National Park.
1Sights
Morton National ParkNATIONAL PARK
(www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au; per vehicle $3)
Morton National Park features the deep gorges
and high sandstone plateaus of the Budawang Range and includes the
81m-high Fitzroy Falls. The NPWS visitor
centre (%02-4887
7270; www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au;
Nowra Rd, Fitzroy
Falls) has information
on walking and hiking.
4Sleeping & Eating
oBundanoon
YHAHOSTEL
(%02-4883
6010; www.yha.com.au; 115 Railway
Ave; dm/d/tr $34/78/102)
Occupies a restored Edwardian guesthouse wrapped in a shady verandah.
Bendooley Bar & GrillBISTRO
(%02-4877
2235; www.bendooleyestate.com.au;
pizza $22-25, mains
$27-34; h10am-3pm)
A top spot for a leisurely lunch showcasing local and seasonal produce. Try the prawn and chilli pizza with an Aussie craft beer. Attached to Berkelouw's Book Barn & Café.
Josh's CaféCAFE
(%02-4877
2200; 9 Old Hume Hwy, Berrima; mains
$25-32; hnoon-3pm
Wed-Sat, 6-9pm Thu-Sat, 9am-3pm Sun)
An eclectic cafe with a focus on Turkish flavours.
oEschalotMODERN
AUSTRALIAN
(%02-4877
1977; www.eschalot.com.au;
24 Old Hume Hwy,
Berrima; mains $36-40, 7-course degustation
$110; hnoon-2.30pm
Thu-Sun, 6-9pm Wed-Sat )
This heritage sandstone cottage showcases superb modern Australian cooking. Flavours could include sesame-crusted alpaca tataki (seared and thinly sliced meat) with watermelon, kaffir cream and wild rice, and desserts are heavenly.
7Shopping
Berkelouw's Book Barn & CaféBOOKS
(%02-4877
1370; www.berkelouw.com.au;
Old Hume Hwy,
Bendooley; h9am-5pm)
Three kilometres north of Berrima, Berkelouw’s Book Barn & Café stocks secondhand and antiquated tomes.
8Getting There & Away
NSW TrainLink
(%13 22
32; www.nswtrainlink.info)
trains runs from Bundanoon to Wollongong ($8.60, two hours) and
Sydney Central ($21, two hours).
Yass & Around
Pop 5591
Laced with heritage buildings and sleepy corner pubs, Yass is atmospheric and quiet (thanks to the highway bypass).
Yass Valley Visitor
Centre (%1300 886
014; www.yassvalley.com.au;
259 Comur St; h9.30am-4.30pm
Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat & Sun) is in Coronation Park. The adjacent
Yass & District Museum (%02-6226
2577; www.yasshistory.org.au;
adult/child $5/free; h10am-4pm Sat
& Sun ) has a model
of the town in the 1890s. The 1835 Cooma
Cottage (%02-6226
1470; www.nationaltrust.org.au/nsw/CoomaCottage;
adult/child $5/3; h10am-4pm
Fri-Sun) is on the Yass
Valley Way on the Sydney side of town. Walking maps from the
visitor centre include coverage of the Hume & Hovell
Walking Track.
In early November, the Wine, Roses & All That Jazz Festival features music, gourmet food and wine tasting.
The best place to stay is the graceful
Globe Inn (%02-6226
3680; www.theglobeinn.com.au;
70 Rossi St; s/d from
$130/160).
YOU'RE HALFWAY THERE…
On the Murrumbidgee River,
Gundagai is around halfway between Sydney and
Melbourne. There's a good riverside campground and motels, but the
best place to stay is Hillview Farmstay
(%02-6944
7535; www.hillviewfarmstay.com.au;
Hume Hwy; 1-/2-/4-bedroom cottage
$145/175/450;
a) on a
1000-acre farm around 34km to the south.
Gold rushes and bushrangers were part of Gundagai's colourful early history. The notorious bushranger Captain Moonlite was tried in Gundagai's 1859 courthouse and is buried in the town's northern cemetery. Also in the cemetery is the grave of Yarri, an Indigenous man who saved almost 50 locals during a flood in the early 1800s.
The evocative Prince Alfred Bridge – closed to traffic and pedestrians – crosses the flood plain of the river. Alongside is a stretch of the longest wooden railway track in New South Wales.
The Mt Parnassus Lookout has 360-degree views. Ask at the visitor centre about the equally scenic Rotary Lookout.
About 8km east of town, the famous Dog on the Tuckerbox is a poignant sculpture of a dog from a 19th-century bush ballad.
Albury
Pop 45,627
This major regional centre on the Murray River sits on the state border opposite its Victorian twin, Wodonga. It's a good launchpad for trips to the snowfields and high country of both Victoria and NSW and for exploring the upper Murray River. It's also a good spot to break the journey between Sydney and Melbourne.
1Sights
Library MuseumMUSEUM
(%02-6023
8333; www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au;
cnr Kiewa & Swift
Sts; h10am-7pm Mon,
Wed & Thu, to 5pm Tue & Fri, to 4pm Sat, noon-4pm
Sun)
F
Exhibitions and local history, including Indigenous culture and 20th-century migration into the area.
Albury Regional Art GalleryGALLERY
(%02-6043
5800; www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au;
546 Dean St; h10am-5pm
Mon-Fri, to 4pm Sat, noon-4pm Sun)F
After a $10.5 million makeover, Albury's art gallery reopened in mid-2015 as probably the finest NSW gallery outside of Sydney. Highlights include the Indigenous and contemporary galleries.
2Activities
Noreuil ParkSWIMMING
Just before the Lincoln Causeway with beautiful shady plane trees and a river swimming pool. Try the loop, a magical 20-minute float on your back.
Wonga WetlandsBIRDWATCHING
(Riverina Hwy, Splitters Creek)
See up to 154 bird species and an Indigenous camp site established by local Wiradjuri people at this innovative project to restore local wetlands.
4Sleeping
Albury Motor Village YHAHOSTEL
(%02-6040
2999; www.yha.com.au; 372 Wagga
Rd; dm/d/f $30/70/90; 
i
s)
About 4.5km north of central Albury with cabins, vans and backpacker dorms.
oBriardale
B&BB&B
(%02-6025
5131; www.briardalebnb.com.au;
396 Poplar Dr; r
$155-190; a)
This elegant North Albury B&B has beautiful rooms with an understated antique style. The property adjoins a spacious park.
Quest AlburyAPARTMENT
(%02-6058
0900; www.questalbury.com.au;
550 Kiewa St; r from
$149; aW)
Studio suites and apartments feature contemporary decor with soothing dark-wood furniture.
5Eating & Drinking
Green ZebraCAFE
(
GOOGLE MAP ;
%02-6023
1100; www.greenzebra.com.au;
484 Dean St; mains
$11.50-17.50;
h8am-6.30pm
Mon-Fri, 7.30am-3pm Sat & Sun; v)S
Homemade pasta, salads and other organic dishes are all winners at this excellent main street cafe.
Mr BenedictCAFE
(
GOOGLE MAP ; www.mrbenedict.com.au;
664 Dean St; mains
$12-21; h7.30am-3pm
Wed-Sun)
Our favourite Albury cafe combines the best coffee in town, a concise but well-chosen beer and wine list, and interesting breakfast and lunch blackboard specials.
Kinross WoolshedPUB FOOD
(%02-6043
1155; www.kinrosswoolshed.com.au;
Old Sydney Rd,
Thurgoona; mains $12-32; h9am-late
Mon-Fri, from 7am Sat, from 8am Sun)
Drive (or get the shuttle bus) to this country pub in an old 1890s woolshed. Country music kicks off on Saturday nights after budget-busting $2 bacon-and-egg rolls.
Border Wine RoomMODERN AUSTRALIAN
(www.borderwineroom.com.au;
492a Dean St; mains
$28-37; h4pm-midnight
Tue-Sat)
This classy bar and restaurant delivers innovative food often imbued with subtle hints of Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine.
BambooCRAFT BEER
(
GOOGLE MAP ;
www.bambooalbury.com.au;
498 Dean St; hnoon-3pm
Wed-Sun, 5.30pm-late Tue-Sun)
Craft beer, Asian street food and occasional live music in the garden courtyard.
8Information
Albury Visitor Information CentreTOURIST INFORMATION
(%1300 252
879; www.visitalburywodonga.com.au;
Railway Pl; h9am-5pm)
Opposite the railway station.
8Getting There & Away
The airport
(Borella Rd) is 4km out of town. Rex (%13 17
13; www.rex.com.au), Virgin Australia
(www.virginaustralia.com.au)
and Qantas (%13 13
13; www.qantas.com.au) share routes to Sydney (from $130, 1¼
hours) and Melbourne (from $109, one hour).
GreyhoundBUS
(%1300 473
946; www.greyhound.com.au)
Buses to Melbourne ($52, 3¾ hours), Wagga Wagga ($35, 2½ hours) and Sydney (from $82, 10 hours).
NSW TrainLinkTRAIN
(%13 22
32; www.nswtrainlink.inf)
XPT trains to Wagga Wagga ($19, 1¼
hours) and Sydney ($72, eight hours), and to Melbourne ($46, 3½
hours). NSW TrainLink buses also run to Echuca ($32, 4¼ hours) and
V/Line trains (%13 61
96; www.vline.com.au) run to Melbourne ($33, 3¾ hours).
Wagga Wagga
Pop 46,913
The Murrumbidgee River squiggles around Wagga Wagga's northern end, and riverside eucalypts complement tree-lined streets and lovely gardens. Known as 'place of many crows' to the Wiradjuri people, 'Wagga' is NSW's largest inland city.
1Sights & Activities
Botanic GardensGARDENS
(
GOOGLE MAP ; Macleay
St; hsunrise-sunset)
Featuring a small zoo with kangaroos, wombats and emus, and a free-flight aviary. Nearby Baden Powell Dr leads to a good lookout and scenic Captain Cook Drive.
Museum of the RiverinaMUSEUM
(
GOOGLE MAP ; www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/museum;
Baden Powell Dr; h10am-4pm
Tue-Sat, to 2pm Sun)F
Two sites at the Civic Centre and the Botanic Gardens; the latter site focuses on Wagga's people, places and events.
Wagga Wagga Art GalleryGALLERY
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6926
9660; www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/gallery;
Civic Centre, Morrow
St; h10am-4pm
Tue-Sat, to 2pm Sun )F
Local and national artists, and the wonderful National Art Glass Gallery.
Wiradjuri Walking TrackWALKING
A 12km and a 30km circuit each begin at the visitor centre; the circuits include lookouts and places of Aboriginal significance.
Wagga BeachSWIMMING
At the end of Tarcutta St, this is a good swimming option by the river.
zFestivals & Events
TasteFOOD, WINE
(www.tasteriverina.com.au;
hOct)
A month of tasty culinary events across the Riverina area.
WAGGA WINES & OILS
Harefield RidgeWINERY
(www.cottontailwines.com.au;
562 Pattersons Rd; h11.30am-late
Wed-Sun)
Cellar-door tastings and meals.
Wagga Wagga WineryWINERY
(%02-6922
1221; www.waggawaggawinery.com.au;
Oura Rd; h11am-10pm
Thu-Sun)
Cellar-door tastings and meals.
Charles Sturt University WineryWINERY
(
GOOGLE MAP ; www.winery.csu.edu.au;
McKeown Dr; h11am-4pm
Fri-Sun)
Wine, olive oil and cheese tastings.
Wollundry Grove OlivesOLIVE GROVE
(%02-6924
6494; www.wollundrygroveolives.com.au;
15 Mary Gilmore Rd; h11am-4pm)
Award-winning olive oil and table olives.
4Sleeping
Wagga Wagga Beach Caravan ParkCAMPGROUND
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6931
0603; www.wwbcp.com.au; 2 Johnston
St; sites per adult $25, cabins
$115-170; aW)
Includes a swimming beach fashioned from the riverbank.
Townhouse HotelHOTEL
(%02-6921
4337; http://townhousewagga.com.au;
70 Morgan St; r
$119-189; aWs)
Centrally located with excellent service and stylish rooms, although not all have exterior windows.
Dunns B&BB&B
(%02-6925
7771; www.dunnsbedandbreakfast.com.au;
63 Mitchelmore St; s/d
$130/140; aW)
A pristinely decorated Federation home with a private balcony and sitting room. It's out near the Botanic Gardens.
5Eating & Drinking
Mates Gully OrganicsCAFE
(www.matesgully.com.au;
32 Fitzmaurice St; mains
$14-33; h8am-4pm
Sun-Wed, to 9.30pm Thu-Sat; W)S
Shared tables and wall art create a cool vibe, and much of the produce is home-grown. There's also occasional live music.
Oak Room Kitchen & BarBISTRO
(www.townhousewagga.com/the-oakroom/;
Townhouse Hotel, 70 Morgan
St; bar snacks $7-17, mains $28-39; h6pm-late
Mon-Sat)
The bustling Oak Room combines small plates, like seared Queensland scallops, with larger meals, including house-made gnocchi and roast lamb from the nearby Riverina region. The bar is open for drinks and snacks from 5pm.
Magpies NestBISTRO
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6933
1523; www.magpiesnestwagga.com;
20 Pine Gully Rd; set menu
$55; h5.30pm-late
Tue-Sat)
A delightfully informal restaurant set in a restored 1860s stone stable overlooking the Murrumbidgee River flats and surrounded by olive groves and vineyards.
Thirsty Crow Brewing CoCRAFT BEER
(www.thirstycrow.com.au;
31 Kincaid St; pizzas
$19-25; h4-10pm Mon
& Tue, 11am-11.30pm Wed-Sat, noon-9.30pm Sun)
Come for the tasty beer – our favourite is the hoppy Dark Alleyway IPA – and stay for the wood-fired pizzas.
8Information
Visitor CentreTOURIST INFORMATION
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %1300 100
122; www.visitwagga.com;
183 Tarcutta St; h9am-5pm)
Bookings and information.
8Getting There & Away
Qantas
(%13 13
13; www.qantas.com.au) flies to Sydney (from $129, one hour) and
Rex (%13 17
13; www.rex.com.au) flies to Melbourne (from $129, 1¼ hours)
and Sydney (from $126, 1¼ hours).
NSW TrainLink
(%13 22
32; www.nswtrainlink.info)
buses leave from Wagga train station
(%02-6939 5488,
13 22 32), where you can
make bookings. Trains run to Albury ($25, 1¼ hours), Melbourne
($88, five hours) and Sydney Central ($88, 6¾ hours).
WORTH A TRIP
JUNEE
Some 33km north of Wagga Wagga, Junee features numerous impressive buildings.
Built in 1884, the mansion of
Monte Cristo (%02-6924
1637; www.montecristo.com.au;
Monte Cristo Rd; adult/child
$12/6; h10am-4pm) is open for self-guided tours. It's
rumoured to be haunted by its former owner. The town also has three
fine heritage pubs.
Other attractions include the 1947
Roundhouse Railway Museum (%02-6924
2909; www.roundhousemuseum.com.au;
Harold St; adult/child
$6/4; hnoon-4.30pm
Mon-Fri, from 9.30am Sat & Sun), featuring a giant turntable with 42
train-repair bays – the only one still working in Australia – and
the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate
Factory (%02-6924
3574; www.greengroveorganics.com;
45-61 Lord St; adult/child
$4/2.50; h9.30am-4.30pm, tours on the hour
10am-3pm).
Griffith
Pop 17,616
You're likely to see Indians, Fijians and Italians in Griffith, a tribute to the cultural diversity of this small agricultural town. The local culinary scene makes Griffith the wine-and-food capital of the Riverina.
1Sights & Activities
Pioneer Park MuseumMUSEUM
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6962
4196; cnr Remembrance & Scenic
Drs; adult/child $10/6; h9.30am-4pm)
North of town with a re-creation of an early Riverina village, and a recently added wine exhibition.
Sir Dudley de Chair LookoutVIEWPOINT
This panoramic lookout is near the Hermit's Cave, which was inhabited by an Italian-born man for decades in the early 20th century; watch out for snakes.
McWilliam's Hanwood EstateWINERY
(www.mcwilliamswine.com;
Jack McWilliam Rd,
Hanwood; htastings
10am-4pm Tue-Sat)
The region's oldest winery (1913).
De BortoliWINERY
(www.debortoli.com.au;
De Bortoli Rd; h9am-5pm
Mon-Sat, to 4pm Sun)
Try the astounding Black Noble dessert wine.
Catania Fruit Salad FarmFARM
(%02-6963
0219; www.cataniafruitsaladfarm.com.au;
Farm 43, Cox Rd,
Handwood; htours 1.30pm
Feb-Nov)
Farm tours include a session tasting pickles, relishes, fruits and jams.
DON'T MISS
ITALIAN GREATS IN GRIFFITH
ABest
cannoli pastry: Bertoldo's Bakery
(324 & 150 Banna Ave; h8.30am-5pm)
ABest
focaccia: La Piccola Italian Deli
(444a Banna Ave; h8.30am-5.30pm
Mon-Fri, 8.30am-1pm Sat, 9am-noon Sun)
ABest pizza: Belvedere
zFestivals & Events
4Sleeping
Myalbangera OutstationHOSTEL
(%0428 130
093; Farm 1646, Rankin Springs Rd,
Yenda; dm $19-25, d $40-45; a)
Backpacker option 12km out of town. The owners can assist with finding seasonal work.
Banna SuitesAPARTMENT
(%02-6962
4278; www.bannasuites.com;
470 Banna Ave; 1-/2-bedroom
apt from $150/260)
Chic and cosmopolitan apartments right on Griffith's main street.
Grand MotelMOTEL
(%02-6969
4400; www.grandmotelgriffith.com.au;
454 Banna Ave; r
$135-175; aWs)
Lofty ceilings and bright modern rooms, but avoid the ones without windows.
DENILIQUIN: FESTIVAL TOWN
On the NSW Labour Day long weekend in
October, sleepy Deniliquin celebrates the Ute
Muster (www.deniutemuster.com.au;
hOct),
attracting thousands for an action-packed weekend in their utes.
Events include rodeos, chainsaw sculpturing, woodchopping, and
kids' activities. The muster also draws big names in Australian
music.
Across the Easter weekend, the
Big Sky Blues & Roots Festival
(www.bigskybluesfestival.com;
hEaster
weekend) presents an
international and eclectic range of artists. Recent events have
featured Elvis Costello and the ever-funky George Clinton.
5Eating
Banna Ave is lined with Italian eateries, and Indian restaurants also reflect Griffith's ethnic diversity.
RoasteryCAFE
(www.facebook.com/TheRoasteryGriffith;
232 Banna Ave; mains
$12-24; h7am-5pm
Mon-Fri, 8am-3pm Sat & Sun)
The Roastery sources its own beans from around the world and combines Griffith's best coffee and local Riverina wines with cafe favourites and counter food.
BelvedereITALIAN, PIZZA
(www.facebook.com/Belvedereristorante;
494 Banna Ave; pizzas
$14-30, mains $18-30;
hnoon-late
Tue-Sun)
Our favourite pizza spot in town, plus the surprise of its very own Tresetti craft lager.
La ScalaITALIAN
(
GOOGLE MAP ;
%02-6962
4322; 455b Banna Ave; mains
$26-30; h6-9.30pm
Tue-Sat)
Expect old-school recipes, mural-covered walls and cheap house white by the glass. Just brilliant.
7Shopping
Riverina GroveFOOD
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6962
7988; www.riverinagrove.com.au;
4 Whybrow St)
From marinated feta and olive oils to homemade jams and chutney. Lots of free tastings, too.
8Information
Various farms and vineyards provide year-round harvest jobs. Ask at the visitor centre.
Visitor CentreTOURIST INFORMATION
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6962
4145; www.visitgriffith.com.au;
cnr Banna & Jondaryan
Aves)
Bookings and information.
8Getting There & Around
Rex
(%13 17
13; www.rex.com.au) flies to Sydney (from $173, 1¼
hours).
All buses stop at the visitor centre, except NSW TrainLink ones, which stop at the train station. Services run to Melbourne ($80, 9½ hours) and Sydney ($70, 10¼ hours) via Mildura ($59, six hours) and Cootamundra ($28, 2¾ hours).
Snowy Mountains
The 'Snowies' form part of the Great Dividing Range where it straddles the NSW–Victorian border. They include the highest mountain on the Australian mainland, Mt Kosciuszko (koz-zy-os-ko), at 2228m. This is Australia's only true alpine area; snow falls from early June to late August. Summer is also a very pleasant time to visit.
8Getting There & Around
Cooma is the Snowy Mountains' eastern gateway, but to best experience the region, base yourself in Jindabyne – especially in summer – or in Thredbo and the ski fields.
If you're only going to ski, public transport is an option, but in summer you'll need a car to fully explore.
At the time of writing, there were no flights to the Snowy Mountains.
NSWTrainLink Links Cooma year-round to Canberra ($14, 1¼ hours) and Sydney Central ($53, seven hours). At the time of writing, buses linking Jindabyne with Canberra and Cooma were being trialled.
V/Line Buses from Canberra to Cooma ($13, 1¼ hours).
Snowliner Coaches Offers a public-accessible school run from Cooma to Jindabyne (adult/child $15/8) during NSW school terms.
Murrays Daily winter services including skiing packages from Sydney and Canberra.
Greyhound Similar itineraries and packages.
GreyhoundBUS
(%1300
GREYHOUND, 1300 4739 46863; www.greyhound.com.au)
Regular skiing packages from Sydney and Canberra across winter.
MurraysBUS
(%13 22
51; www.murrays.com.au)
Daily winter bus services including skiing packages from Sydney and Canberra.
NSW TrainLinkTRAIN
(%13 22
32; www.nswtrainlink.info)
Links Cooma year-round to Canberra ($14, 1¼ hours) and Sydney Central ($53, seven hours). At the time of writing, buses linking Jindabyne with Canberra and Cooma were being trialled.
Snowliner CoachesBUS
(%02-6452
1584; www.snowliner.com.au)
Offers a public-accessible school run from Cooma to Jindabyne (adult/child $15/8) during NSW school terms.
THE ALPINE WAY
From Jindabyne this spectacular route runs through Bullocks Flat, Thredbo Valley, Thredbo village and on through dense forest and the Kosciuszko National Park to Khancoban. The best mountain views are from Scammell's Lookout and Olsen's Lookout. All vehicles must carry chains in winter; check conditions at Khancoban or Jindabyne.
Jindabyne
Jindabyne is the closest town to Kosciuszko National Park's major ski resorts, and more than 20,000 visitors pack in over winter. In summer, the town assumes a more peaceful vibe, and fishing in the rivers and lake – and increasingly excellent mountain biking – are the mainstay activities.
2Activities
Sacred RideADVENTURE SPORTS
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %1300 736 581,
02-6456 1988;
www.sacredride.com.au;
6 Thredbo Tce)
Gear hire and activities including wake boarding, mountain biking, white-water rafting, abseiling, canoeing and kayaking. These are the guys to see regarding mountain biking.
Mountain Adventure CentreADVENTURE SPORTS
(%1800 623
459; www.mountainadventurecentre.com.au;
Shop 5, Snowline Centre, cnr
Kosciuszko & Thredbo Rds; h9am-4pm
Nov-May, 8am-6pm Jun-Oct)
Outdoor gear for sale and hire, and adventure activities can be arranged. In summer, try mountain biking, canoeing or hiking, and winter offers cross-country skiing, telemarking and snowshoeing.
Discovery Holiday ParksBOATING
(%02-6456
2099; www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au;
cnr Kosciuszko Rd & Alpine
Way)
Motorboats, canoes and paddleboats for hire.
4Sleeping
Winter prices increase greatly, so book
ahead. See Jindabyne & Snowy Mountains
Accommodation Centre (%1800 527
622; www.snowaccommodation.com.au)
and Visit Snowy Mountains (%02-6457
7132; www.visitsnowymountains.com.au)
for holiday rentals.
Snowy Mountains BackpackersHOSTEL
(%1800 333
468; www.snowybackpackers.com.au;
7-8 Gippsland St; summer dm/d
$25/60, winter dm $30-50, d $90-140; i)
This good-value place in the village has clean dorms, en suite rooms, sunny public spaces, and advice on transport and activities.
Banjo Paterson InnHOTEL
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6456
2372; www.banjopatersoninn.com.au;
1 Kosciuszko Rd; r summer
$100-130, winter $150-230)
The best rooms have balconies and lake views. Other facilities include a rowdy bar and microbrewery. Come winter, it's extremely popular.
5Eating
In winter, Italian, Indian, Japanese and Mexican flavours are all available, but fewer restaurants open during summer.
Red Door RoasteryCAFE
(www.facebook.com/TheRedDoorRoastery;
Town Centre Mall; mains
$9-16; h7.30am-3pm)
Grab an outdoor table with lake views and plan your day's adventure over 'Jindy's' best coffee and an all-day menu with a terrific breakfast wrap.
oWild Brumby
Mountain SchnappsBISTRO
(www.wildbrumby.com;
Alpine Way; mains
$12-30; h10am-5pm)S
Located between Jindabyne and Thredbo, this is the place to go for punchy schnapps. Sit on the verandah and team a wheat beer with a cheese and charcuterie platter. Check online for occasional live music over summer.
oCafé
DaryaMIDDLE EASTERN
(%02-6457
1867; www.cafedarya.com.au;
Snowy Mountains
Plaza; mezze $14, mains $29-32; h6-9pm
Tue-Sat)
Fill up on slow-cooked lamb shank in Persian spices and rose petals or a rustic trio of dips. BYO beer and wine. Cash only.
6Drinking & Nightlife
Banjo Patterson InnMICROBREWERY, BAR
(www.banjopatersoninn.com.au; 1 Kosciuszko Rd)
Kosciuszko Pale Ale is brewed on site, and there's decent food at Clancy's Bistro. Hitting the dance floor at the winter-only Banjo's Nightclub completes a big night out.
8Information
Snowy Region Visitor CentreTOURIST INFORMATION
(%02-6450
5600; www.environment.nsw.gov.au;
Kosciuszko Rd; h9am-4pm)
Operated by the NPWS with display areas, a cinema and cafe. Ask about fishing, and winery and brewery visits.
SKIING THE SNOWYS
The ski season at Thredbo (
GOOGLE MAP ; %1300 020
589; www.thredbo.com.au)
and the Snowy's other ski areas of Perisher
Blue (%02-6459 4495,
1300 369 909;
www.perisherblue.com.au)
and Charlotte Pass (
GOOGLE MAP ; www.charlottepass.com.au)
is usually from early June to late August.
Thredbo's terrains suit skiers of all experiences. Options include the Supertrail (3.7km), the easy Village Trail (5km), or the challenging Karels T-Bar (5.9km).
Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Mt Blue Cow and Guthega make up Perisher Blue.
At the base of Mt Kosciuszko, Charlotte Pass is one of the highest, oldest and most isolated ski resorts in Australia. It's also a good base for summer activities.
Kosciuszko National Park
Covering 673,492 hectares and stretching for 150km, this is the jewel in NSW's national-park crown.
In spring and summer, walking trails and camp sites are framed by alpine flowers. Caves, limestone gorges, historic huts and homesteads also feature, and cycling and mountain biking are very popular.
If you're driving straight through the park, no park fees are payable, but if you're overnighting or driving beyond Jindabyne towards Charlotte Pass, the fee is $16 per vehicle per 24 hours.
Thredbo
At 1370m, Thredbo is oft lauded as Australia's number-one ski resort. A smattering of worthwhile summer activities also feature.
1Sights & Activities
Thredbo Landslide MemorialMEMORIAL
(Bobuck Lane)
This memorial can be seen along Bobuck Lane where the two lodges, Carinya and Bimbadeen, were destroyed in a 1997 landslide. The 18 posts supporting the platform signify the 18 lives tragically lost.
BobsledADVENTURE SPORTS
(1/6/10 rides
$7/36/50; h10am-4.30pm
year-round)
Seven-hundred-metre, luge-style track down the mountain.
Kosciuszko Express ChairliftCHAIRLIFT
(day pass
adult/child return $34/18; hyear-round)
Ascends 560m. Climbing Mt Kosciuszko is possible from the top station.
Thredbo Snow Sports Outdoor AdventuresADVENTURE SPORTS
(%02-6459
4100; www.thredbo.com.au)
Winter alpine adventures.
K7 Kosciuszko AdventuresADVENTURE SPORTS
(%0421 862
354; www.k7adventures.com)
Summer and winter adventures.
CLIMBING AUSTRALIA'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN
Australia's highest mountain is relatively easy to climb, although getting to the top can still be strenuous. Hiking is possible when there's no snow, but weather conditions can be changeable throughout the year.
Guided options include the Mt Kosciuszko Day Walk (www.thredbo.com.au;
adult/child/family
$44/30/88; h10am-3.30pm
Tue, Thu & Sat late Oct-late Apr) or the Sunset
Tour (www.thredbo.com.au;
adult $93; hspecific days
around Christmas & New Year).
Solo options are as follows:
Mt Kosciuszko Track From Thredbo, take the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift. From the top of the lift it's a steep 13km-return climb to the summit and back.
Summit Walk Drive to the end of the paved road above Charlotte Pass, then follow a wide gravel track. It's a 9km climb to the summit (18km return), including a steep final climb.
Main Range Track Also beginning above Charlotte Pass, this strenuous 20km loop includes minor creeks en route.
4Sleeping
Thredbo YHA LodgeHOSTEL
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6457
6376; www.yha.com.au; 8 Jack Adams
Path; summer tw $99, dm/tw without bathroom
$35/85; i)
Thredbo's best budget option with great common areas. Rates surge in winter and adults must be YHA members.
Candlelight LodgeLODGE
(
GOOGLE MAP ; %02-6457 6318,
1800 020 900;
www.candlelightlodge.com.au;
32 Diggings Tce; s/d winter
from $210/250, summer from $135/180; W)
This Tyrolean lodge has great rooms, all with views. The restaurant's fondue (winter only) is fabulous.
oLake Crackenback
ResortRESORT, LODGE
(%1800 020
524; www.lakecrackenback.com.au;
1650 Alpine Way; r from
$255; aiWs)
Apartments and chalets are classy at this lakeside spa resort, the restaurants are excellent, and plenty of activities are on offer throughout winter and summer.
5Eating & Drinking
Gourmet 42CAFE
(
GOOGLE MAP ; 100 Mowamba
Pl, Village Sq;
mains $12-19; h7.30am-3pm)
Hungover snowboarders and sleepy bar staff rock up for coffee, soup and pasta.
KnickerbockerMODERN AUSTRALIAN
(%02-6457
6844; www.jeanmichelknickerbocker.com.au;
Diggings Tce; mains
$32-33; hnoon-2pm Sat
& Sun, 6pm-late Wed-Sun)
Sit indoors for alpine cosiness, or rug up on the deck with brilliant views. Seriously gourmet meals go down well after drinks in the bar (from 4pm).
8Information
Thredbo Visitor CentreTOURIST INFORMATION
(%02-6459
4294; www.thredbo.com.au;
Friday Dr; h9am-5pm
summer, 8am-6pm winter)
Bookings and information.