A family that rides together, stays together. That’s why we have great family cycling options in the Snowy Valleys, and we are building even more.
View ListingsCycling & Walking
There’s no better way to see a town or area than on a bike. It’s even better when you can do it as a family. Our towns and villages include some great rides around town, rides to explore natural attractions and places to build your skills, like pump tracks and skate parks.
Here are some great options that the whole family can get out on in our region:
Tumut River Walk
The Tumut River Walk is open to both walkers and recreational bike riders as it meanders through Tumut’s parks alongside the river. There are several access points to the walk so you can make it as long or as short as you like. The walk connects to The Tumut Wetlands, home to many species of bird. The Stockwell Gardens Park Walk offers one of the most picturesque parks in Tumut. The pathways wind through beautiful gardens with a stunning array of flower beds, Elms, Oaks, Maple and Pine trees.
Check out the River Walk (North) and River Walk (South) maps here.
Tumut Community Labyrinth for Peace
The Tumut Community Labyrinth for Peace is a place of contemplation and reflection that can be used by young and old, together or alone.
The path is wide enough to enable two people to walk together, and facilitates access by wheelchair or motorised scooters. The way-stations provide places on the journey for rest and further reflection. Local stories of Indigenous and European settlement, revealed on test panels in the way-stations, also facilitate group use such as by schools or community groups.
Tumbarumba Town Trails and Pump Track
Tumbarumba boasts a healthy network of walking and bike paths right across the town, including alongside the creek, around the sporting fields, to the showgrounds and the shops.
Tumbarumba’s Pump Track provides a great opportunity to develop kid’s bike skills on a professionally designed track featuring rollers, jumps and sweeping turns. Since its opening in late 2018, the pump track has been a big hit with local and visiting kids alike. For the kids that love a bit of BMX action, the Tumbarumba skate park also often hosts local kids practicing their jumps and tricks in the bowls on scooters or BMX bikes.
For a longer walk, take the Hume and Hovell Track from Henry Angel Trackhead south along Burra Creek. This walk allows you to view remnants of the area’s gold mining history, including the channel with vertical rock walls – the result of the controlled use of dynamite. About 4kms from Henry Angel Trackhead, just north of the junction of Burra Creek and Tumbarumba Creek, the falls described by Hovell almost 200 years ago are reached.
Adelong Falls Walk
The Adelong Falls Walk is also open to walkers and recreational bike riders. The track is an easy ride or walk for the whole family as it follows Adelong Creek from town to the Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins. Once there, you can explore the ruins, learning the region’s history from interpretive signage; pan for gold; picnic at one of the sheltered tables (or find your own special spot); or in the warmer months, enjoy swimming in the crystal clear waters.
Swimming Pools
The Snowy Valleys has public swimming pools in Adelong, Batlow, Khancoban, Tumbarumba and Tumut. These are only open in the warmer months, and opening times and facilities vary depending on location. For details see http://www.svc.nsw.gov.au/Community/Venues-Parks-Recreation/Public-Swimming-Pools. Adelong, Khancoban and Tumut pools feature an accessible ramp into the pool. All five pools offer free entry as part of a program to encourage active lifestyles.
Exploring Yarrangobilly Caves
Yarrangobilly Caves at the northern end of Kosciuszko National Park is not to be missed. Take a guided tour of the stunning caves, or relax in the thermal pool – even in the depths of winter it’s a constant 27°C. The walking tracks around the caves vary in intensity, but some suitable for young families. During school holidays, weekends, and other peak times of year, NSW National Parks runs a discovery program for children at the caves. These adventures differ depending on the time of year, and can include WilderQuest Little caves for little kids, WilderQuest Bake and bushcraft at Yarrangobilly, and WilderQuest Bug hunt. Other adventures, suitable for the whole family, include Discover geology at Yarrangobilly Caves, and Adventure Caving Tours – these don’t run year round, have limited places, and can be very popular, so pre-booking is required. Call 02 6454 9597 to book.
Fishing
Although the waters of the Snowy Valleys attract many an experienced angler, opportunities also exist for families wanting to relax and through a line in. Geehi Dam, Happy Jacks Pondage, Khancoban Pondage, Murray 2 Pondage, Tooma Dam, and Tumut 2 Pondage (all at Khancoban), along with Jounama Pondage (Talbingo), Paddy’s River Dam (Tumbarumba), and Talbingo Dam (Talbingo), and Blowering Dam (between Tumut and Talbingo) are open to fishing all year round. Many of the rivers and creeks in the Snowy Valleys are declared General Trout Streams meaning that fishing is only permitted in these streams from the beginning of the October long weekend until the end of the June long weekend each year. A NSW Recreational Fishing Licence is required for all fishing in the waters of the Snowy Valleys. Check out the NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide and the Rules and Regulations Summary to ensure you comply with the current regulations.
Water Sports
The Snowy Valleys offers a vast range of Rivers, Dams and Lakes that offer something for everyone.
Excellent water-skiing is available at Blowering and Talbingo Dams, and at Khancoban Pondage. Kayaking and canoeing are popular family pastimes on the Murray River at Jingellic, at Khancoban Pondage, and at Mannus Lake – all of which offering wonderful family camping spots.
Blowering Dam and Talbingo Dam are also great spots for canoes and kayaks. In total these two dams offer over 70km of water to explore and you’re certain to find a spot of your own. The Tumut River and Goobarragandra River, are particularly suited to canoeing. The Tumut River is fast-flowing and cold and deserves respect but anyone can enjoy its beauty with a little tuition. Between the two rivers there are miles of flat water for those who want a leisurely drift down stream or some more challenging white water for the thrill seekers.
The Tumut Valley Canoe Club can give some pointers and you are welcome to go along to their weekly meets at 5pm on Thursday during Summer months. Contact Chris at Tom’s Outdoors for further information on 02 6947 4062.