Camping in the Snowy Mountains

These are the highest mountains on the mainland, with Mount Kosciuszko at 2,228 metres, and the Snowy Scheme, built between 1949 and 1974, left the lakes that make much of the camping here. Lake Eucumbene holds about eight times the water of Sydney Harbour, and the old towns of Adaminaby and Jindabyne were moved for it.

Where is the best place to camp in the Snowy Mountains?

The Snowy Mountains split into a few very different trips. Around Jindabyne and Thredbo you are close to the lake and the ski villages, and inside Kosciuszko National Park, Thredbo Diggings sits by the Thredbo River. Up on the high plains to the north, the Long Plain and Cooleman camps, such as Blue Water Holes, are simple sites with toilets and plenty of space. On the western side, Tumut is the town base, where Reflections Tumut River has powered sites and showers.

What is there to do in the Snowy Mountains with kids?

Blowering Dam, upstream of Tumut, is used for water skiing, sailing, canoeing and swimming, and Lake Jindabyne holds salmon and trout for fishing. In summer, Thredbo's chairlift carries walkers up towards Mount Kosciuszko on the Main Range, and on a cold or wet day the Thredbo Leisure Centre has an indoor pool. Near Kiandra, the heritage precinct marks the old goldfield, and around Tumbarumba, the sealed rail trail to Rosewood runs about 21 km on gentle grades, easy for kids on bikes.

• Snowy Scheme Museum – Museums and history, Adaminaby. Closest campground: Alpine Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Canberra Space Centre – Museums and history, Paddys River. Closest campground: Perkins Flat campground, 25 km
• Historical Engine Machinery Society – Museums and history, Bombala. Closest campground: Bombala Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Monaro Country Historical Museum – Museums and history, Bombala. Closest campground: Bombala Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Geldmacher House – Museums and history, Nimmitabel. Closest campground: Nimmitabel Caravan Park, under 1 km
• historical museum – Museums and history, Batlow. Closest campground: Batlow Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Tumut and District Museum – Museums and history, Tumut. Closest campground: Reflections Tumut River, under 1 km
• Kiandra heritage precinct – Museums and history, Kiandra. Closest campground: Eucumbene River campground, 2 km
• Thredbo Alpine Museum – Museums and history, Thredbo. Closest campground: Ngarigo campground, 9 km
• Adelong Alive Museum – Museums and history, Adelong. Closest campground: Reflections Tumut River, 14 km
• Cathcart Museum – Museums and history, Cathcart. Closest campground: Bombala Caravan Park, 15 km
• Adaminaby Swimming Pool – Swimming, Adaminaby. Closest campground: Alpine Tourist Park, under 1 km
• Batlow Swimming Pool – Swimming, Batlow. Closest campground: Batlow Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Khancoban Pool – Swimming, Khancoban. Closest campground: Khancoban Lakeside Caravan Park, under 1 km
• Tumut Swimming Pool – Swimming, Tumut. Closest campground: Reflections Tumut River, 1 km
• Thredbo Leisure Centre – Swimming, Thredbo. Closest campground: Ngarigo campground, 8 km

What are the best walks and waterfalls in the Snowy Mountains?

Near Yarrangobilly, the thermal pool walk is 700 metres down into the valley to a spring-fed pool that stays at 27 degrees all year, with change rooms and toilets. On the high plains there are waterfalls such as Cooleman Falls and Ginini Falls, and on the Monaro, the Bombala Platypus Reserve has a viewing platform where early morning and late afternoon are the best times to see one.

• Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool walk – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Bullocks Hill campground, 6 km
• Rotary Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Reflections Tumut River, 1 km
• The Cascades – Waterfall. Closest campground: Cascades campground, under 1 km
• Buddong Falls (Upper) – Waterfall. Closest campground: Buddong Falls campground, under 1 km
• Tuross Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Cascades campground, 2 km
• Cooleman Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Blue Water Holes campground, 2 km
• Ginini Falls – Waterfall. Closest campground: Perkins Flat campground, 9 km
• Tumut Pond Reservoir – Swimming spot. Closest campground: Tumut Ponds campground, under 1 km
• Jack's Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Running Waters campground, under 1 km
• Weemala Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Batlow Caravan Park, 1 km
• Endeavour Reserve Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Bombala Caravan Park, 2 km
• Snowy Valley Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Kosciuszko Tourist Park, 2 km
• High Rock Lookout – Lookout. Closest campground: Yachting Point campground, 2 km

Do you need to book campsites in the Snowy Mountains?

Kosciuszko National Park campgrounds are booked through NSW National Parks. Park fees are higher over the winter season, from the June long weekend to the October long weekend, and roads, including the Alpine Way, can close for snow and weather, so check the park alerts before you drive in.

Are there powered sites in the Snowy Mountains?

Yes. 7 campgrounds here have powered sites confirmed, including Reflections Tumut River, Tumbarumba Caravan Park and Bombala Caravan Park. For the rest we are still confirming, so check with the park or holiday park before you book a powered site.

How far is Jindabyne from Canberra?

Jindabyne is about 180 km south-south-west of Canberra. Yarrangobilly Caves is about 110 km from Cooma along the Snowy Mountains Highway, then 6 km of unsealed road, and Bombala is about 80 km south of Cooma. The Alpine Way runs 121 km from Jindabyne over Dead Horse Gap to Khancoban.

Facts from Wikipedia, "Snowy Mountains" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Eucumbene Dam" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Blowering Dam" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Jindabyne, New South Wales" (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikipedia, "Alpine Way" (CC BY-SA 4.0), NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, "Kosciuszko National Park" and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, "Yarrangobilly Caves thermal pool walk".

Map of campgrounds in the Snowy Mountains

78 campgrounds

• Reflections Tumut River — Tumut, NSW. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets, wheelchair accessible, wifi
• Pinch River campground — Ingeegoodbee, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Tumbarumba Caravan Park — Tumbarumba, NSW. caravan sites, dump point, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Blue Water Holes campground — Cooleman, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Bombala Caravan Park — Bombala, NSW. caravan sites, powered sites, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Cooleman Mountain campground — Cooleman, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Jacobs River campground — Ingeegoodbee, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites
• Nimmitabel Caravan Park — Nimmitabel, NSW. caravan sites, laundry, showers, tent sites, toilets
• Thredbo Diggings campground — Thredbo, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic shelter, picnic tables, tent sites
• Yarrangobilly Village campground — Yarrangobilly, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Buddong Falls campground — Buddong, NSW. bbq, picnic tables, tent sites, toilets
• Discovery Holiday Park Jindabyne — Jindabyne, NSW. caravan sites, powered sites, tent sites, wifi
• Island Bend Lower Campground — Kosciuszko National Park, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic tables, tent sites
• Ngarigo campground — Thredbo, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic tables, tent sites
• Willis campground — Ingeegoodbee, NSW. bbq, caravan sites, picnic tables, toilets
• Cooinbil Hut campground — Long Plain, NSW. bbq, tent sites, toilets
• Geehi horse camp — Geehi, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Horseshoe campground — Ingeegoodbee, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter, picnic tables
• Jingellic Reserve — Jingellic, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Kosciuszko Tourist Park — Wilsons Valley, NSW. caravan sites, powered sites, tent sites
• Magpie Flat campground — Cooleman, NSW. bbq, tent sites, toilets
• Scotchies Yard Campground — Ingeegoodbee, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites, toilets
• Snowy River Holiday Park — Dalgety, NSW. powered sites, showers, toilets
• Bredbo Inn Hotel Campground — Bredbo, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites
• Cascades campground — Countegany, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Clover Flat campground — Jagumba, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Coonara Point camp — Nurenmerenmong, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Denison campground — Providence Portal, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Gungarlin River campground — Burrungubugge, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Halfway Flat campground — Ingeegoodbee, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Humes Crossing campground — Blowering, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Island Bend Middle Campground — Kosciuszko National Park, NSW. caravan sites, tent sites
• Jindabyne Holiday Park — Jindabyne, NSW. powered sites, tent sites
• Jounama Creek campground — Talbingo, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Leatherbarrel Creek campground — Kosciuszko, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Log Bridge Creek campground — Blowering, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Long Plain Hut Camping Area — Long Plain, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Nine Mile campground — Ingeegoodbee, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• O'Hares Rest Area campground — Nurenmerenmong, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Rock Flat Campground — Goobarragandra, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Running Waters campground — Ingeegoodbee, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• The Pines campground — Blowering, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Three Mile Dam campground — Providence Portal, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Tom Groggin horse camp — Murray Gorge, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Waratah Gully campground — Paddys Flat, NSW. bbq, picnic shelter
• Yachting Point campground — Blowering, NSW. bbq, picnic tables
• Blowering Dam Campsite — Wereboldera, NSW. tent sites
• Broken Cart campground — Goobarragandra, NSW. tent sites
• Buddong Hut Camp Site — Buddong, NSW. tent sites
• Geehi campground — Geehi, NSW. bbq
• Khancoban Lakeside Caravan Park — Khancoban, NSW. tent sites
• Paddys River Dam Campsite — Paddys River, NSW. tent sites
• Tom Groggin campground — Murray Gorge, NSW. bbq
• Alpine Tourist Park — Adaminaby, NSW
• Batlow Caravan Park — Batlow, NSW
• Blowering Caravan Park — Tumut, NSW
• Braemar Bay Holiday Park — Braemar Bay, NSW
• Browns Creek Campsite — Wereboldera, NSW
• Bullocks Hill campground — Gooandra, NSW
• Camp Hudson — Goobarragandra, NSW
• Dubbo Flats campground — Goobarragandra, NSW
• Eucumbene River campground — Providence Portal, NSW
• Four Mile Trail campground — Providence Portal, NSW
• Ghost Gully campground — Long Plain, NSW
• Jounama Creek overflow campground — Talbingo, NSW
• Lake Mannus Campground — Tumbarumba, NSW
• Lobs Hole Ravine campground — Cabramurra, NSW
• Long Plain Camping Area (for Horses) — Long Plain, NSW
• Old Snowy campground — Tantangara, NSW
• Outward Bound campground — Tantangara, NSW
• Pat's Patch — Jindabyne, NSW
• Perkins Flat campground — Brindabella, NSW
• Rainbow Pines Tourist Park — Old Adaminaby, NSW
• Rocky Plain campground — Providence Portal, NSW
• Tantangara Creek Camping Ground — Gooandra, NSW
• The Tooma Inn — Tooma, NSW
• Tumut Ponds campground — Cabramurra, NSW
• Wares Yards campground — Gooandra, NSW

Region boundary: ABS ASGS Edition 3 Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0.