Scenic Drives in Jindabyne: Day Trips & Routes from the Snowies

Few towns in Australia are as well-placed for a road trip as Jindabyne. Sitting at the crossroads of the Snowy Mountains, it is where the Kosciuszko Alpine Way, the Snowy Mountains Highway, and Kosciuszko Road all converge – giving drivers a genuine choice of landscapes from a single base. Depending on the direction you point the car, you could be winding through tall mountain forests toward the Victorian border, crossing the Monaro plains to the Snowy River, or threading brown mountain rainforest down to the Sapphire Coast, all within a day’s return drive.

Most of these routes are open year-round. A handful, including Charlotte’s Pass and the upper Guthega road, are summer – only due to seasonal road closures within Kosciuszko National Park. 

This guide covers everything from quick half-day loops to full-day adventures, with distances, driving times, and the stops that make each route worth slowing down for.

The Two Main Scenic Routes from Jindabyne

The region’s two great driving corridors give you a framework for planning everything else. Understanding where each one goes – and what it costs to enter the national park – saves time before you leave town.

The Kosciuszko Alpine Way

The Kosciuszko Alpine Way is the signature drive of the southern Snowy Mountains. Opened in 1956, it runs 108 km one-way from Jindabyne to Khancoban near the Victorian border, climbing through tall mountain ash forest before cresting Dead Horse Gap and descending past the spectacular western fall of the Main Range. The views from Scammell’s Lookout, sitting 1,000 m above sea level, stretch across ridges that drop 1,600 m to the Geehi Plains below.

The Alpine Way is open year-round, but the section between Khancoban and Thredbo is steep, narrow, and winding, and subject to rockfalls after rain. It is not recommended for vehicles towing large caravans. Always check NPWS current alerts before you travel.

Park entry fees apply on the Alpine Way and Kosciuszko Road. As of June 2026, the rates are $17 per vehicle per day (rest of year) and $29 per vehicle per day during winter (June to October long weekends). Motorcycles pay $7 and $12 respectively. Passes can be purchased via the Park’nPay app, at NPWS visitor centres, or at the Jindabyne Snowy Region Visitor Centre at 49 Kosciuszko Road. Annual All Parks passes are also available online.

For conditions specific to snow season travel, the Alpine Country Holidays Winter Driving Guide covers chains, road closures, and alpine driving in detail.

The Snowy Mountains Highway

The Snowy Mountains Highway runs north-west from Cooma through the high-country heartland toward Tumut and is open year-round. From Jindabyne, you reach it via Berridale or Cooma, and it passes through some of the most varied country in the region: the rolling plains of the Monaro, the old gold fields at Kiandra, the limestone caverns at Yarrangobilly, and the ski slopes at Mt Selwyn. 

Because it stays lower than the Kosciuszko Road routes, it remains accessible when higher roads are closed, making it a solid option for winter and shoulder-season visitors who want to cover ground comfortably.

Scenic Drives by Duration – How to Plan Your Time

Matching your available time to the right route makes the difference between a relaxed day and a rushed one. Here is a practical overview.

For a first visit, the Dalgety–Berridale loop is the easiest introduction: all-year access, good roads, a country pub, and a winery. For a full alpine experience, the Alpine Way to Khancoban rewards an early start and a full day. If you have children or dogs along, the Gaden Hatchery run is easy and genuinely enjoyable for everyone.

See the Alpine Country Holidays Local Area Guidebook for more detail on activities, distances, and what to expect in each area of the Snowy Mountains.

The Best Scenic Drives Near Jindabyne, Route by Route

Jindabyne to Gaden Trout Hatchery

Distance: 20 km round trip | Driving time: 10 minutes each way | Best season: All year

The Gaden Trout Hatchery is the quickest worthwhile drive from Jindabyne and one of the best for families. Situated on the banks of the Thredbo River in a park-like setting, it offers educational guided tours of the hatchery, BBQ facilities, and a peaceful spot for a picnic lunch on the grass. Entry is free.

From the hatchery, the Thredbo Valley Track continues 34 km one-way toward Thredbo Village, following the river through mountain forest. Cyclists and walkers with a full day can ride the whole track. For hikers, more trail options are detailed in the Alpine Country Holidays Hiking Guide.

Jindabyne to Charlotte’s Pass (Summer Only)

Distance: 80 km round trip | Driving time: approx. 1.5 hours driving | Best season: Summer only

Kosciuszko Road between Perisher and Charlotte’s Pass is closed in winter (June to October long weekends), so this route belongs to the warmer months. The drive climbs from Jindabyne through the Perisher ski area, past Sawpit Creek picnic area, and up to Charlotte’s Pass Village at 1,765 m, Australia’s highest ski resort.

Stop at Sponars Chalet, built as staff quarters for the old Kosciuszko Hotel that burnt down in 1951. Just past the bridge, look for the cross of wildflowers on the left, planted by a grieving owner after the fire, which blooms faithfully each spring. At Charlotte’s Pass, walk to the end of the boardwalk lookout to see the Snowy River stretching south toward Guthega. In summer, Charlotte’s Pass is the starting point for the Main Range walk and the Mt Kosciuszko Summit walk to Australia’s highest mountain.

Jindabyne to Guthega

Distance: 140 km round trip | Driving time: half day to full day | Best season: Summer preferred, partial winter access

This route branches off Kosciuszko Road about 40 km from Jindabyne, following the Snowy River valley past the ghost town of Island Bend, where driveways and old lawns remain but the buildings are long gone. Guthega itself is a compact alpine resort forming part of the Perisher Valley Ski Resort, with the Guthega Power Station, the first built under the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, a short walk from the village.

Stop for a meal at Basecamp Cafe or a drink at Guthega Inn before continuing. The Schlink Hut Walking Track begins here and offers views down the Perisher Valley on a clear day. On the return, the Smiggins Link dirt road offers a different perspective before rejoining Kosciuszko Road back to Jindabyne.

The Full Alpine Way: Jindabyne to Khancoban

Distance: 280 km round trip | Driving time: full day (start by 8 am) | Best season: Summer recommended; year-round access but conditions vary

This is the drive that stays with you. Pack the mountain bikes, hiking boots, a fly rod, and enough food for a day, because roadside options between Thredbo and Khancoban are limited.

Leave Jindabyne heading west on the Alpine Way. The first stop is the Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery at Crackenback, Australia’s highest distillery, which produces schnapps, gins, and vodkas alongside a raspberry farm, sculpture gardens, and a cafe. Continue through Thredbo Village, then climb to Dead Horse Gap, named after wild brumby skeletons found here by early drovers. From the gap, the road drops sharply through Murray Gorge and Murray Gates, where the river runs fast and white-water rafting is available in season.

At Geehi junction, a dirt road leads to Olsen’s Lookout, a worthwhile detour for close views of the Main Range. A few kilometres further north, Scammell’s Lookout sits at 1,000 m and looks out across the rugged western fall. It has a picnic table and enough space to spread out a proper lunch. The drive ends at Khancoban, the construction town for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, where the Murray One Power Station and Visitors Station explain one of the great feats of 20th-century engineering. The rose gardens and Khancoban Pondage are a calm place to rest before the return drive.

Note: The Alpine Way now has EV charging options at various points along the route. Confirm current station locations via Tourism Snowy Mountains or your EV provider’s app before departing, as availability can change.

Road conditions vary. The section between Khancoban and Thredbo is steep, narrow, and subject to rockfalls after rain. Not recommended for vehicles towing large caravans. Check NPWS current alerts before travelling.

Jindabyne–Dalgety–Berridale Loop

Distance: 85 km round trip | Driving time: approx. 1.5 hours driving, best enjoyed as a full relaxed day | Best season: All year

Head out of Jindabyne on the Snowy River Way toward Dalgety, the riverside hamlet that narrowly missed becoming Australia’s national capital in 1903. Cross the Snowy River at Dalgety’s historic bridge and stop for lunch at Buckley’s Crossing Hotel, which has been serving travellers since the 1880s. The Iona Gardens Cafe and Nursery supplies a self-guided historic town walk map covering 26 sites of interest. Keep an eye on the river for platypus.

From Dalgety, the route continues to the Snowy Vineyard and Microbrewery on the banks of the Snowy River, one of the few cold-climate wine producers in the mountains. Drive west through the open, treeless Monaro plains to Berridale, where towering poplars line the main street. Browse the old school house, shops, and galleries before picking up the road back to Jindabyne. On the return, the award-winning Shut the Gate Winery on the outskirts of Berridale is a strong case for finishing the day with a cellar door tasting.

Jindabyne to Yarrangobilly Caves and Thermal Pool

Distance: 240 km round trip | Driving time: full day | Best season: All year (Long Plain Road brumby extension best in summer)

Head north from Jindabyne on the Snowy Mountains Highway through the ruins of Kiandra, a gold rush settlement at 1,395 m that was once the highest town in Australia. Continue to Yarrangobilly Caves, a series of limestone caverns in the Yarrangobilly River Valley that date back approximately 440 million years. Guided cave tours include stalagmites, stalactites, and an Aboriginal heritage component covering the cultural significance of this landscape to the Ngarigo people. The tours end with a river walk to a thermal pool fed by underground hot springs, which sits at a constant 27°C year-round.

A few hundred metres north of the caves, Long Plain Road is an unsealed dirt road into Wild Brumby territory. In summer mornings, it is one of the more reliable places near Jindabyne to observe brumbies at close range. On the return south, stop at the Adaminaby Bakery for a country feed and grab a photo with the Big Trout at Adaminaby.

Tour availability at Yarrangobilly Caves is managed by NSW National Parks. Confirm current tour schedules and booking requirements via the NPWS website before visiting.

Jindabyne to Merimbula and the Sapphire Coast

Distance: 350 km round trip | Driving time: full day | Best season: All year (whale watching August to November)

This is the drive that surprises visitors most: in two hours, you can go from snow gum country to the coast. Head east from Jindabyne through the Monaro plains, stopping at Nimmitabel for the historic flour mill and the bakery on the main street. Continue south-east through the rainforested descent on Brown Mountain, one of the more dramatic sections of road in the region, before dropping into the Bega Valley. The Bega Cheese Factory at Bega offers tastings and milkshakes overlooking the Bega River and suits families well.

Merimbula is the destination. It sits on a tidal estuary at the heart of the Sapphire Coast, known for Pambula and Merimbula oysters served fresh at waterfront restaurants. Humpback whales pass on their northward migration from August through November, and whale watching from Merimbula’s headlands is a genuine highlight of that window. Walk the boardwalk along the estuary, browse the shops, or book a round of golf before the drive home.

Lower Snowy Drive: Jindabyne to the Victorian Border (Barry Way)

Distance: 74 km one-way from park entry at Ingebyra (34 km south of Jindabyne) | Driving time: 2+ hours one-way with stops | Best season: All year

No park entry fee applies in the Lower Snowy River area. That detail, combined with the wild and largely uncrowded character of this route, makes it one of the best-value drives in the Snowy Mountains.

From Ingebyra, the road drops into the steep-sided Snowy River gorge. The first stop is Wallace Craigie Lookout, which looks across the surrounding ranges and is reliable for birdwatching, particularly for wedge-tailed eagles. From here the route follows the river through a series of campgrounds and picnic areas with direct river access. Jacobs River Campground is an excellent spot for a riverside lunch. After Pinch Campground, the road climbs to Jacks Lookout, where you can look back over the gorge and the way you have come.

The unsealed Barry Way continues to the Victorian border and beyond, but that section is better suited to 4WD vehicles. For a 2WD car, Jacks Lookout and back is a comfortable day from Jindabyne. Bring a NSW fishing licence if you plan to fish the Snowy River, and do not expect mobile coverage along most of the route.

For those who want to extend the adventure, the Alpine Country Holidays Backcountry Guide covers more remote terrain around the southern Kosciuszko region.

Practical Tips for Scenic Driving Around Jindabyne

These points cover the questions the Alpine Country Holidays team hears most often from guests planning a day on the road.

• Park entry fees: $17 per vehicle per day (rest of year) and $29 per vehicle per day during winter (June to October long weekends) on the Alpine Way and Kosciuszko Road. Motorcycles pay $7 (rest of year) and $12 (winter). No fees apply on the Lower Snowy Drive (Barry Way). Purchase via the Park’nPay app, at NPWS visitor centres, or at the Jindabyne Snowy Region Visitor Centre, 49 Kosciuszko Road (open daily 8:30 am to 5 pm, closed Christmas Day). A Short Breaks Pass ($68 for 5 days at the price of 4, not valid in winter) is available at local NPWS visitor centres. Annual passes are available online at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au.
• Road conditions: The Alpine Way between Khancoban and Thredbo is steep, narrow, and subject to rockfalls after rain. Kosciuszko Road between Perisher and Charlotte’s Pass is closed in winter (June to October long weekends). Always check NPWS current alerts at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au and Transport for NSW at livetraffic.com before setting out. For snow-season driving advice, see the Winter Driving in the Alpine Areas guide.
• Fuel: Fill up in Jindabyne before heading west on the Alpine Way. There are no fuel stops between Thredbo and Khancoban.
• Food and water: Pack a lunch for any full-day drive. The Dalgety loop, coast run, and Yarrangobilly routes have good food stops along the way, but the Alpine Way west of Thredbo does not.
• EV charging: EV charging points are available at various locations along the Alpine Way corridor. Confirm current station availability via Tourism Snowy Mountains or your EV provider before departing.
• Wildlife: Brumbies are most visible around Dead Horse Gap and the Long Plain Road, particularly on summer mornings. Wildflowers peak from September to November around Charlotte’s Pass and Scammell’s Lookout. Platypus sightings are possible at the Snowy River in Dalgety, particularly early morning or at dusk.
• Layers: Temperatures at altitude can drop sharply even in summer. Bring a light jacket regardless of how warm it feels in Jindabyne at departure.

Plan Your Stay Around the Drives

Jindabyne rewards guests who stay long enough to do more than one route. A long weekend covers the Dalgety loop and the Alpine Way comfortably. A week gives you time to drive south to Merimbula, north to Yarrangobilly, and still have a day on the lake. The drives are part of what makes a stay here different from a hotel-based ski trip.

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Frequently Asked Questions

All Scenic Drives