ACT Snowy Mountains
5
Day Itinerary •
Australia
Five days in the ACT and the Snowy Mountains give you the full extraordinary depth of Australia's capital region, from Canberra's world-class free national institutions to the extraordinary Tidbinbilla wildlife sanctuary, the summit of Mount Kosciuszko via the remarkable alpine meadows and glacial lakes of Kosciuszko National Park, and the extraordinary Snowy Valley and Yarrangobilly Caves on the return. This route covers the complete ACT and Snowy Mountains experience. The Australian War Memorial, Parliament House and National Gallery, Tidbinbilla and Namadgi wilderness, the Kosciuszko summit walk from Thredbo, the extraordinary Main Range alpine track, the remarkable Yarrangobilly limestone caves and the Snowy Valley on the return to Canberra.
Best Time To Visit
Oct to Apr for Kosciuszko. Jun to Sep for skiing. Autumn colour Apr to May.
Getting There
Fly to Canberra Airport from Sydney or Melbourne. 1 hour each.
Getting Around
Car essential. All Canberra institutions are free. Snowy Mountains 2 hours south.
Budget Per Day
Approx A$180 to A$400 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate. Kosciuszko summit walk 13km return, moderate.
DAY 1
CANBERRA CITY
MORNING
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL AND ANZAC PARADE
The Australian War Memorial is the most extraordinary museum in Australia, its remarkable collection spanning every conflict from the Boer War to Afghanistan and the extraordinary Hall of Memory with the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier giving the finest single memorial in the Southern Hemisphere. The remarkable ANZAC Parade leading from the memorial toward Parliament House and the fine aircraft and naval galleries are outstanding. Entry entirely free. Travel: 10 min drive
MIDDAY
PARLIAMENT HOUSE AND CAPITAL HILL
Parliament House on Capital Hill is the most extraordinary public building in Australia, the remarkable 1988 building with its extraordinary grass roof lawn giving the finest single viewpoint over Lake Burley Griffin and the parliamentary axis. The remarkable Great Hall with Arthur Boyd's tapestry, the fine Members Hall with its extraordinary marble columns and the free guided tours departing hourly are outstanding. Book roof lawn tour at aph.gov.au. Travel: 10 min drive
AFTERNOON
LAKE BURLEY GRIFFIN AND THE FORESHORE
Lake Burley Griffin at the heart of Canberra gives the most extraordinary artificial lake setting of any world capital, the remarkable Captain Cook Memorial Water Jet shooting water 147 metres into the air and the fine National Carillon on Aspen Island giving the finest lakefront experience in Australia. The extraordinary Reconciliation Place and the remarkable Questacon science centre beside the lake are outstanding. Lake walk free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Old Parliament House and the Museum of Australian Democracy give the most extraordinary insight into Australia's political history, the remarkable building where parliament sat from 1927 to 1988 now housing the finest democracy museum in Australia. Entry approx A$10. The finest hidden political history experience in Canberra.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Canberra city Coffee before the Australian War Memorial. | Lunch: Restaurant in the Parliamentary Triangle Outstanding Canberra dining near the national institutions. | Dinner: Temporada, Canberra Outstanding modern Australian restaurant. Local ACT lamb and regional wine.
DAY 2
WAR MEMORIAL
MORNING
NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA
The National Gallery of Australia holds the finest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in the world, the remarkable Aboriginal Memorial of 200 hollow log coffins in the entrance hall and the extraordinary collection of bark paintings, dot paintings and sculpture giving the finest single encounter with Indigenous Australian art available. The remarkable international collection and the fine Sidney Nolan Ned Kelly series are outstanding. Entry free. Travel: 10 min drive
MIDDAY
NATIONAL ARBORETUM CANBERRA
The National Arboretum on a hill above Canberra is the most extraordinary tree collection in Australia, 94 forests of rare, threatened and symbolic trees from around the world planted across 250 hectares giving the finest single garden experience in the ACT. The remarkable Pod Playground, the extraordinary panorama over Canberra and the fine Village Centre cafe are outstanding. Entry entirely free. Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
QUESTACON AND THE NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM
Questacon on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin is the most extraordinary interactive science museum in Australia, its remarkable hands-on exhibits including the extraordinary free-fall slide, the fine earthquake simulator and the remarkable tsunami wave tank giving the finest family science experience in the country. The extraordinary building designed by Juhani Pallasmaa and the fine discovery spaces are outstanding. Entry approx A$23.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Canberra Museum and Gallery in the city is the most extraordinary free local history museum in Australia, its remarkable collection of Canberra history and the fine Sidney Nolan works giving the finest local cultural experience in the capital. Entirely free. The finest hidden cultural attraction in central Canberra.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast Before the National Gallery. | Lunch: NGA Cafe or Garden Restaurant Outstanding lakeside cafe at the National Gallery. | Dinner: Aubergine, Canberra Outstanding Canberra fine dining restaurant. Local seasonal produce.
DAY 3
TIDBINBILLA
MORNING
TIDBINBILLA NATURE RESERVE DAWN WALK
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve 40 minutes from Canberra is the most extraordinary free wildlife encounter accessible from any Australian capital, its remarkable dawn wildlife walk through the extraordinary Sanctuary giving close encounters with eastern grey kangaroos, wallabies, koalas in the trees and the remarkable platypus viewing platform at dawn. The extraordinary bettong and emu populations and the fine wetland boardwalk are outstanding. Reserve free. Sanctuary approx A$15. Travel: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK AND YANKEE HAT
Namadgi National Park covers 46 percent of the ACT and contains the most extraordinary Aboriginal rock art accessible from Canberra, the remarkable Yankee Hat site with its extraordinary stencilled hands and animal paintings dating back over 1,000 years giving the finest Indigenous cultural encounter in the ACT. The remarkable 3-hour return walk through extraordinary sub-alpine landscape is outstanding. Park entry free. Travel: 30 min drive back
AFTERNOON
CANBERRA DISTRICT WINE REGION
The Canberra District wine region surrounding the capital is the most underrated cool-climate wine region in Australia, its remarkable Shiraz, Riesling and Sangiovese from producers including Clonakilla, Helm and Lark Hill giving the finest wine experience accessible from any Australian capital. The extraordinary Clonakilla estate at Murrumbateman is the finest shiraz producer in Australia. Most tastings free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Gudgenby River walk in Namadgi National Park is the most extraordinary remote valley walk in the ACT, a remarkable half-day return walk through extraordinary sub-alpine wilderness with no other visitors and the finest solitude near Canberra. Entirely free with park entry. The finest undiscovered walk in the ACT.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Canberra Very early departure for Tidbinbilla dawn walk. | Lunch: Cafe near Tharwa village Outstanding rural ACT cafe near Namadgi National Park. | Dinner: Clonakilla cellar door or Canberra restaurant Outstanding Canberra District wine dinner.
DAY 4
KOSCIUSZKO
MORNING
DRIVE TO THREDBO VIA COOMA
The drive from Canberra to Thredbo via Cooma gives the most extraordinary approach to the Australian Alps, the remarkable Monaro Tableland with its extraordinary high-country station landscape and the fine Cooma, gateway to the Snowy Mountains, giving the finest rural drive in southern NSW. The remarkable Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma tells the extraordinary story of Australia's greatest engineering project. Centre entry free. Travel: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
MOUNT KOSCIUSZKO SUMMIT WALK
The Kosciuszko summit walk from Thredbo Top Station is the most extraordinary alpine walk in Australia, the remarkable 13km return route across extraordinary alpine meadows, past the brilliant blue Lake Cootapatamba and along the Main Range ridge to the 2,228-metre summit of Australia's highest peak. The extraordinary wildflowers in January and February, the remarkable glacial lake views and the fine summit panorama over the entire Australian Alps are outstanding. Chairlift approx A$50. Travel: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
LAKE CRACKENBACK AND THE ALPINE VALLEY
Lake Crackenback near Jindabyne is the most extraordinary alpine lake in the Snowy Mountains, its remarkable mountain reflection and the extraordinary Crackenback resort giving the finest lodge experience in Kosciuszko National Park. The remarkable sunset over the Kosciuszko massif from the lake shore and the fine wombat and kangaroo sightings at dusk are outstanding. Lake walk free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Blue Lake circuit walk from Charlotte Pass in Kosciuszko National Park is the most extraordinary alpine walk in Australia away from the main Kosciuszko track, its remarkable glacial lake and the extraordinary Main Range views giving the finest undiscovered alpine experience. Free with national park entry. Allow 4 hours return.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before departure Early start for the Kosciuszko drive. | Lunch: Cafe at Thredbo Village Outstanding alpine village cafe. Snowy Mountains trout and local produce. | Dinner: Restaurant in Thredbo or Jindabyne Outstanding alpine dinner after the Kosciuszko summit.
DAY 5
SNOWY VALLEY
MORNING
YARRANGOBILLY CAVES AND THERMAL POOL
Yarrangobilly Caves in Kosciuszko National Park are the most extraordinary limestone caves in the Snowy Mountains, their remarkable stalactite and stalagmite formations and the extraordinary constant temperature of 8.6 degrees giving the finest cave experience in NSW. The remarkable thermal pool fed by naturally warm spring water at 27 degrees year-round and accessible for swimming is the finest hidden attraction in the Snowy Mountains. Cave tour approx A$20. Pool free. Travel: 1 hour drive
MIDDAY
SNOWY MOUNTAINS HIGHWAY AND TUMUT VALLEY
The Snowy Mountains Highway through the Tumut Valley gives the most extraordinary valley scenery on the return from Kosciuszko to Canberra, the remarkable Blowering Reservoir and the fine Tumut township with its extraordinary autumn poplar colour giving the finest rural NSW landscape on the return. The remarkable Long Plain Road through the extraordinary sub-alpine Fiery Range gives an alternative return with the finest high-country grazing scenery. Travel: 1.5 hour drive to Canberra
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO CANBERRA AND FAREWELL
The return to Canberra via the remarkable Brindabella Road gives the most extraordinary bush approach to the capital, the extraordinary Brindabella Ranges and the fine Cotter Reservoir visible on the descent into the ACT. The remarkable Cotter Reserve at the Cotter Dam gives the finest swimming hole near Canberra. The extraordinary Canberra city arrival via the Tuggeranong Parkway gives the finest view of the parliamentary triangle from the south.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Peppercorn Cafe at Adelong on the Snowy Mountains Highway return is the most extraordinary hidden cafe in rural NSW, a remarkable heritage building in the extraordinary gold rush village of Adelong giving the finest unexpected lunch stop on the return from the Snowy Mountains. The finest hidden stop between the Snowies and Canberra.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast in Jindabyne Before the Yarrangobilly drive. | Lunch: Cafe in Tumut or Adelong Outstanding Snowy Mountains valley town cafe. | Dinner: Restaurant in Canberra Outstanding farewell ACT dinner. Local lamb and Canberra District wine.
Where To Stay
Canberra, Nights 1 to 3 Hotel Realm or QT Canberra. City centre. Approx A$180 to A$380. Thredbo, Night 4 Thredbo Alpine Hotel or Cookhouse. Village centre. Approx A$150 to A$350. Jindabyne, Night 5 Snowy Mountains Backpackers or Rydges. Lake views. Approx A$100 to A$280.
Top Tips
1. All Canberra's major national institutions are completely free. Allow a full day for the War Memorial alone.
2. Tidbinbilla dawn walk is the finest free wildlife experience near Canberra. Platypus are seen at dawn.
3. Book Thredbo chairlift in advance in summer. The summit walk is 13km return and takes 4 to 5 hours.
4. Yarrangobilly Caves tour bookings are essential. Only 2 to 3 tours run daily. Book at npws.nsw.gov.au.
5. Kosciuszko National Park entry is required year-round. Pay at park gates or online in advance.
6. The Canberra National Arboretum is extraordinary in autumn. The maple and oak forests peak April to May.
Total Budget
Approx A$180 to A$400 per person per day