By Pavan The Snowy Mountains is more than one mountain — it’s a whole alpine region of national park, ski villages and old gold-and-hydro towns. Here are ten real, verifiable attractions worth building a trip around, with the practical details (fees, hours, distances) checked against NSW National Parks, Snowy Hydro and each resort’s own published figures (correct at the time of writing, July 2026). Already have a route in mind? See our 2-day Snowy Mountains itinerary from Sydney for a ready-made plan built around several of these.
How we researched this: every fee, opening hour and distance below is cross-checked directly against NSW National Parks, Snowy Hydro and the relevant resort’s own published information (linked throughout) rather than copied from other travel sites — we update this guide when those figures change.
1. Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk
Australia’s highest point at 2,228m, and one of the easiest “highest peak in the country” walks in the world. From the top of the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift in Thredbo, it’s a 13km return walk on a raised metal walkway and gravel track — 4 to 5 hours at a comfortable pace, crossing the headwaters of the Snowy River on the way. The walkway itself is elevated steel mesh, laid specifically to protect the fragile alpine vegetation underneath from foot traffic. Just after the chairlift, Eagles Nest sits at 1,937m — Australia’s highest restaurant — a good spot for an early lunch before or after the walk.
2. Blue Lake and the Main Range Track
For a longer, more scenic alternative to the standard summit walk, the Main Range loop from Charlotte Pass is about 22km and takes in Blue Lake, Club Lake and Lake Albina — glacial lakes that are the main reason serious walkers choose this route over the Thredbo track.
3. Charlotte Pass
At 1,760m, Charlotte Pass is the highest village in Australia and the alternative starting point for the Main Range walks. The lookout itself, a short stroll from the car park, gives one of the best accessible views of the Main Range without needing to walk the full track.
4. Lake Jindabyne
Jindabyne is the practical base for the whole region — it has supermarkets, fuel and NPWS park-pass sales that Thredbo lacks. The lake itself (actually a reservoir, formed when the original township was flooded for the Snowy Hydro Scheme) has an easy foreshore walking track and is popular for kayaking and trout fishing in the warmer months.
5. Thredbo Village
Thredbo is the base for the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift and Australia’s longest ski runs in winter. In summer it switches to mountain biking and walking, with the chairlift running as a scenic lift and the Thredbo Valley Track and Cascade Trail both starting from the village. For a shorter option, the Merritts Nature Track is a 4km, grade 3 loop (2–3 hours) through snow gum woodland, starting right from the village without needing the chairlift.
6. Perisher
Perisher is the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, made up of four linked villages (Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega) spread across roughly 1,245 hectares, served by 47 lifts and 119 runs. It’s about 33km from Jindabyne via Kosciuszko Road (25–30 minutes), or reachable via the Skitube Alpine Railway from Bullocks Flat Terminal, about 20 minutes from Jindabyne. Selwyn Snow Resort, a smaller and quieter alpine field, sits further north near Adaminaby.
7. Yarrangobilly Caves
A system of limestone caves in the northern part of the park, open year-round. Self-guided tours of South Glory Cave run from 9:30am to 4pm, with guided tours of Jersey Cave and the wheelchair-accessible Jillabenan Cave running several times daily. General vehicle entry is $4/day if you haven’t already paid Kosciuszko National Park entry elsewhere, with guided tours priced separately (around $22 per person). There’s also a naturally warm thermal pool near the caves car park, fed by a spring at a constant 27°C year-round.
8. Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre, Cooma
Cooma is the gateway town to the Snowy Mountains and the historic base of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. The Discovery Centre on the Monaro Highway has free entry, interactive exhibits and a theatre on the engineering history of the Scheme — open 8am–5pm weekdays and 9am–2pm weekends and public holidays.
9. The Alpine Way
The scenic drive connecting Jindabyne, Thredbo and (further west) Khancoban, winding through open snow-gum country and past several lookouts. It’s a worthwhile drive in its own right if you have a spare afternoon, though sections can require snow chains for 2WD vehicles in winter.
10. Snowy Mountains High Country
Beyond the named sights, the high country itself — the open snow gums, granite tors and grassy plains above the treeline — is the attraction. December to March is best for walking without snow underfoot; June to October brings the ski season, when 2WD vehicles need snow chains to enter the park.
Planning to string a few of these together? Our 2-day Snowy Mountains itinerary from Sydney covers Jindabyne, the Kosciuszko summit walk and the drive home with a timed, hour-by-hour schedule.
