Top 8 Attractions of the Australian Alps

It is not only the casinos to visit in Australia. Enter the journey of mountaineering in the Australian Alps from its tallest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko to the beauty of the Namadgi National park and also the gold rush towns to experience that primordial feeling in the Great Alpine Road.

You can find a lot of snow-covered gum trees, character-filled country pubs and also the outdoor pursuits while your visit to Australia. The mountain ranges cover a vast area that expands from New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, to Victoria that covers about 16 national parks and reserves. So even if you enjoy a lot of Australia, you still can’t enjoy all of it in one go.

With the change in seasons comes a change in adventures and thus we have sketched out the perfect adventure plan for you. During the winters, visit the slopes to experience the fun frosty snow activities. During the summers, awaken your mountaineer self and climb the tallest peak in Australia i.e., Mount Kosciuszko, experience the horse rides along the alpine roads, take a stroll through the heritage hut, or ride a mountain bike through the contour trails.

Must Explore

• Mountain biking along the bushwalk in the Namadgi National Park.
• Delicacies with the greatest of the flavors through the Great Alpine Road.
• High slope snowboarding or skiing

How to get there

The routes for getting to the Australian Alps are as follows. Take a 5.5-hour car drive from Sydney to Jindabyne, then to the Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, and Perisher. The Victorian High Country and Wangaratta are three hours away from Melbourne. You can also take a 45-minute drive from Jindabyne to the Snowy Mountains Airport. They already provide services to Sydney. Other transports include bus services from Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne.

Top 8 Attractions of the Australian Alps

1. Climb the Snowy Mountains

Ranging from Canberra in the north to the Victorian border in the south, the Snowy Mountains are home to hundreds of climbers every year. From all around the world people come to climb the tallest peak in Australia- Mount Kosciuszko in a day hike. You get to see a wide range of variety of plants with 20 species at the top of Mount Kosciuszko at a place called the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. During summers walkers will get to see snow daisies, wildflowers, and billy buttons. During the winters ski at Australia’s highest ski slopes at Charlotte Pass. For additional bliss, do witness the show of autumnal leaves with the town around Tumut and celebrate the country’s Festival of the Falling Leaf.

2. An adventurous trip to the Victorian Alps

The Victorian Alps are a hub for mountain biking or four wheels driving. These are mainly encouraged to experience during the winters at Mount Buller. For a geology fanatic, the granite formations might appeal fascinating. The Horn is rich in granite formations. Other adventures include a drive up to Mount McKay for adventures like horse ride, serene mountain top views, or cross-country skiing on Mount Stirling. For all those fishing fanatics out there, Lake Eildon is the perfect place to set camp.

3. Ski through gum trees

The Australian Alps are home to the snow-covered gum trees that run on a downhill ski run which is a rare sight to witness. There is also the longest ski run available in New South Wales at Thredbo and you can also enjoy the quality food that they serve in the restaurants and bars around there after the sunsets. The Perisher has a couple of things to offer as well like access to Guthega and Blue Cow Snowfields. Other things that might fascinate your interest are the ski and snowboarding amenities in Victoria, the family entertaining winter playground and cross country skiing in the Falls Creek. Due to its better experience, the resort is open during the summers only because of the unreal experience of the purpose-built mountain bike tracks and surreal hiking.

4. Explore Australian Capital Territory

The northernmost part of the Australian Alps is surrounded by the Australian Capital Territory which is also home to Australia’s capital Canberra. You can see a diverse version of flora and fauna around here and it also shares some of the Aboriginal histories. Mainly it is an area with a rich heritage. The Booroomba rocks in the Namadgi National Park is a place where you can climb and descent for fun. Other adventures include mountain biking through the fire trails and the walks in the wilds of Bimberi. Here you can witness what Australia’s fauna is famous for – kangaroos with some of the other species such as wallabies and northern corroboree frogs. For a more detailed and deep experience visit the campsites, rock art galleries pieced together by the Ngunnawal people thousand years ago, the ceremonial stone arrangements, etc. Another artifact of about 21000-year-old is placed here which is a rock shelter where the Aborigines used to huddle to harvest the Bogong moths.

5. Visit local fare

The 10 –kilometer wine trail is available from Milawa to Oxley situated in the Australian Alps called the Pedal to Produce Trail. For all the wine addicts out there, Brown Brothers winery offers you the best quality wine in the High Country so do check the place out by borrowing a bike from there. For the ventures and traders, the Great Alpine Road offers you with a cheese tasting experience at the Milawa Cheese Company. You are also provided with a glass of wine at the Sam Miranda Wines at Oxley. Other experiences include the infamous tobacco kilns of Myrtleford and relax at the Bright Brewery. For quintessential Italian dishes, pay a visit to the Alfresco Pizzeria for hunger satisfaction in Italian style. Lastly, do visit the Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery outside Thredbo to taste their amazing drop.

6. Explore the Australian Alps Walking Track

If you are a fitness freak and like to take bushwalks, the stupefying 650-kilometer Australian Alps Walking Track should be a treat for you. The tracks begin at the gold mining town of Walhalla covering areas of High Country of Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and New South Wales. It finishes at Tharwa near Canberra. It takes you through the tranquil peak of Mount Kosciuszko, then at the meadows of Namadgi National Park. Through the journey, you get the chance to row through the Snowy River in the Kosciuszko National Park. During the winters, you can go to the Mount Hotham to Mount Selwyn via skiing. You can shorten the distance by walking through the Baw Baw plateau, Jagungal wilderness, and the Bogong High Plains.

7. Set off on a scenic road trip

The Great Alpine Road sets you on at 340-kilometre trip to Bairnsdale in the mainland of Gippsland, from Wangaratta in the northeast of Victoria. The relaxing natural baths or The Onsen Spa and Retreat does a number on you and oozes all the stress out of your body for good at Mount Hotham. Other tranquil sights to see are Danny’s Lookout and Mount Feathertop’s summit. You get to travel on Australia’s highest sealed road from the mountains to the Gippsland Lakes and Metung. An alternative way for a road trip is the 350-kilometer journey through the Kosciuszko Alpine Way that contains a lot of mountain views and small-town charms through the road. Wild horses can be spotted through the Dead Horse Gap.

8. Visit Mount Kosciuszko National Park

Witnesses the wonders of nature by getting a sneak peek at the stalactites that will ooze out your stress in the heated pools produced by it in the Yarrangobilly Caves. For decent fishing experiences put out your nets/fishing rods around the clear streams of Tumbarumba and Cooma. You can also find some varieties in the Lake Jindabyne. Other adventures include rafting, kayaking, caving, cycling, horse riding, and four-wheeler driving.

Synopsis

If you have any plans to visit Australia, do not forget to visit Australian Alps as it is packed with stunning natural beauty that will give you a memory for a lifetime.