| TOUR
THE ALPINE WAY - JINDABYNE to KHANCOBAN |
The Kosciuszko Alpine Way through New South
Wales’ and Victoria's
High Country is one of Australia’s greatest scenic drives,
with friendly country towns, sweeping plains, peaks covered in
wild flowers and deep blue lakes full of trout.
The road begins
just outside Jindabyne and winds its way through to Tumut some
200 or so kilometres away,
some of the features are
- View virtually the top to the bottom
of Australia in one amazing panorama at Scammells Spur Lookout.
- Walk the wheelchair access paved walkway
along the sparkling clear
river,
- Take in the wildlife antics and absorb
the history of the cattlemen’s
huts at Geehi Rest Area.
- Splash in the headwaters of the mighty
Murray River at Tom Groggin rest area.
- In Thredbo take a chairlift
ride and a walk to the top of Mount Kosciuszko or walk the
historic village.
The Alpine Way was an original pioneering high country trek. You'll
be entering or departing the shire through Khancoban and visiting
spectacular Scammel's Spur and Olsen's Lookouts boasting the best
views over the Main Range, along the way, Geehi with its historic
hut and dam is a picnic favourite. Wildlife including emus and
lyrebirds abounds so drive carefully. The
Alpine Way is steep and winding in places and motorists are advised
to take care and drive to the weather and road conditions, while
making
your way along one of the most spectacular drives in Australia. 0 km KHANCOBAN
(Information Centre turnoff). Khancoban, built as a construction town
: for the Snowy Mountains Scheme is becoming a popular tourist centre. Population
is approximately 300. It is a is a Tidy Town award winner: and there is a variety
of accommodation available. Enjoy the free historic nature display as well
as films of the Snowy Scheme and Kosciuszko National park at the Khancoban
Visitors centre. Also located only a couple of minutes from the centre of Khancoban
are the Khancoban Dam release gates where the water from the Scheme is released
into the Swampy Plains River and then into the Murray River for irrigation.
An impressive location that is well worth a look.
5 km KOSCIUSZKO
NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY.
Welcome to Kosciuszko National Park, through which you will travel for the
next 83kms. You will be able to see many signs of regeneration from the January
2002 bushfires. Drive according to road conditions, read & heed advisory
road signs and enjoy your visit. One of Australia's largest netting projects
as a rock control measure, can be seen through the cuttings in the next 20
kilometres. You will see the grass trees on the slopes to the right are flourishing
since the fires. Caution for rock debris & ice/snow on road on wet or wintry
days in the next 20kms, do not stop in cuttings.
7 km MURRAY
II PONDAGE
On your left, the pondage is situated at the junction of Back Creek and Broken
Back Creek, and forms the reservoir for hydro functions of Murray II Power
Station.
9 km MURRAY_POWER
STATION VIEWING AREA
The white pipes carry water through the mountains for the Snowy Hydro Electric
Scheme.
10 km MURRAY
1 POWER STATION & VISITOR CENTRE
Visitors centre explaining the Snowy Mountains Scheme. Interactive displays
and cafe Closed weekends from May to September. The Alpine Way continues through
forests of acacias (wattles) and peppermint gums.
17 km - CLEWS
RIDGE
The ridge was so named by the Snowy Mountains Authority in recognition of the
outstanding survey work carried out for the scheme by the late Major Clews.
The ridge is covered with an impressive stand of Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis).(Scammells
Ridge is to the left).
19 km GEEHI
WALLS
In the distance to the right you will see the famed Geehi walls and behind
them, the Indi Range. The original route to Tom Groggin was over the Geehi
Walls.
20 km SCAMMELL'S
SPUR LOOKOUT
Here is provided a spectacular panorama of the
western face of the Main Range. Mt. Kosciuszko (2228m) hides behind
the second peak from the right. You are looking from the bottom
of Australia to the top - all in one view! Notice the changes in
vegetation with altitude from the valley floor. at Scammels you
will find good BBQ facilities and toilets.
27km BOGONG CREEK
This moist environment provides excellent reptile habitat.
29 km Turn
off to OLSEN'S LOOKOUT
(9.6kms) & GEEHI DAM (25kms) This road is closed to Geehi Dam in the snow
season and may be closed due to other conditions (check the current status
at the Khancoban Information Centre).
32 km GEEHI
Swampy Plains River Take some time to read the information displays in the
area. Enjoy: the wheelchair access walking track (only a short walk) and
the wildlife. The historic cattleman's at the far end of the camping hut
underwent major repairs after the January 2003 bushfires. In the next 20
kms marvel at nature at its best, regenerating the bush after wild fire.
47km TOM
GROGGIN CATTLE STATION
(Victoria) on the right. The NSW & VIC border runs between the road and
the cattle station. Watch for kangaroos & emus
50km TOM
GROGGIN CAMPING AREA
Derived from the aboriginal word "tom groggin" (meaning water spider).
You are on the bank of the Murray River (as close as you can get to the headwaters
in a standard vehicle). Here at the camping ground there is BBQ and oilet facilities
Leaving Tom Groggin you begin the climb to Thredbo, Sections of steep, narrow,
winding road for next 14kms. 2WD vehicles must carry chains in winter
- - -
58km LEATHERBARREL CREEK CAMPING
AREA
A cool & shady spot. White & Purple Veronica grows in the damp & shaded
areas, ti-tree along the creek. The mixed eucalypt forest shows examples of
Mountain Gum, Candlebark & Eurabbie. Caution for ice/frost/snow ahead on
wintry days.
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63km PILOT
LOOKOUT
The exceptional view is dominated by the Pilot (1828) and the Cobberas (1883)
in the south The NSW/VIC border runs between the two mountains. The stands
of tall trees with rough brown bark are Alpine Ash (a fire sensitive eucalypt).
Travel slowly in winter conditions and avoid stopping.
68km DEAD
HORSE GAP
The highest point on the road (1580m). "Brumbies" (wild horses live
in this area. Unexpected snowfalls in the past have trapped them, causing numbers
to perish. The gap is the divide between the Snowy & Murray river systems.
The road leading from Dead Horse Gap to Thredbo Village follows the ancient
track used by the aborigine’s of the Ngarigo tribe which inhabited the
Monaro Plains and the mountains east of the Great Divide. During summer months
members would make the annual pilgrimage to the higher ranges to, feast upon
the Bogong Moths, a tasty & nourishing delicacy.
69km CASCADES
TRAIL
The trail is open to Bob's Ridge for those who are suitably equipped & experienced
in back country skiing' & trekking. Let someone know where you are going & be
prepared for sudden extremes in weather.
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73km THREDBO
VILLAGE
Australia's premier Alpine Resort is nestled in this beautiful valley. Thredbo
is an all year round resort, no matter what time of year the chairlift operates
daily for sightseeing. The chairlift is your entry point to walk to the top
of Australia's highest mountain and one of the Seven Summits, Mt Kosciuszko.
Weather conditions in the mountains are extremely
changeable so please BE PREPARED!! Take warm, waterproof clothing
if you venture out for the walk to Mt Kosciuszko. Accommodation,
shops, and, Institute of Sport, Thredbo Golf Course ( nine holes
) , tennis bobsled. Walking tracks in summer and skiing in winter.
Park Passes are available at the newsagency.
82km NGARIGO
CAMPING AREA
On your left can be seen the Lubra rocks, a conspicuous granite outcrop. Note
the line of demarcation between the upper "snow gum zone" & the
lower forest of Mountain Gum & White Sally. This line would be at a level
of approximately 1400m.
86km THREDBO DIGGINGS
CAMPING AREA
Beside Thredbo River, Bullocks Track starts & finishes here, you have a
choice of 3.3 or a 5km walk to Bullocks Hut.
87km ALPINE
WAY VISITOR ENTRY STATION BULLOCKS FLAT
Day & Annual
season tickets are available here. Over the past 2
years there has been a number of emus in the area, keep a look out as they
are not too far away.
87km SKITUBE
T Bullocks Flat terminal.
This rail link through the mountain offers rapid transport to the Perisher
Blue ski fields. Australia's highest railway. Unfortunately the Skitube is
now closed in the summer season.
88km KOSCIUSZKO
NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY
We hope you have enjoyed your visit
THE SADDLE
As you cross the saddle the gently undulating plains of southern Monaro stretch
before you. The saddle formed as a result of step faulting during the Kosciuszko
uplift at the end of the Miocene period approximately 30 million years ago.
EARLY HOMESTEADS
Early in the 1830's this area was settled by the Pendergast family, the first
white settlers in the southern Monaro. Several old pioneer type buildings
can still be seen on either side of the road.
105km THE
ALPINE WAY ENDS
On the shores of Lake Jindabyne, renowned for its yachting, boating & trout
fishing. Turn right for Jindabyne & Cooma OR left for Sawpit Creek, Smiggins,
Perisher & Charlotte Pass. During winter access from Perisher to Charlotte
Pass is by over-snow transport only.
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