Journey forward and over (and over and over), through limestone belts folded, past leaves newly golden… to discover pristine, diverse landscapes. Waiting for you, where they’ve always been, here in the Snowy Valleys.
Whether you’re looking for a scenic stroll, or a challenging hiking adventure, you’ll find it in the Snowy Valleys. Our region is blessed by Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) and abundant NSW State Forests, all with tracks and trails ready to be discovered.
Hiking
When walking in NSW National Parks, it’s important to understand the grading system used for walking tracks, this information is available here. This grading can help you to be prepared for what you might experience on your hike before heading off on your adventure.
The tracks at the northern end of Kosciuszko National Park, towards Tumut, are graded 3 or 4; Landers Falls Lookout walk, Blowering Cliffs walking track, and Old Mountain Road walking track all provide spectacular views. Tracks in the Yarrangobilly area vary in intensity, with options to suit most walkers. In the High Plains area (or Long Plain, as it’s sometimes known), Clarke Gorge and Nichols Gorge walking tracks are suitable for experienced hikers, while the tracks around Mt Selwyn and Kiandra are less intense. Hiking around Khancoban is for the more experienced trekker, with both tracks graded a 5.
The Geehi Walls track provides a good day walk from the Geehi camping area, located 34kms south of Khancoban on the Alpine Way. The huts at Geehi were damaged in the fires of 2003, but have since been restored to their original condition.
For more information contact your nearest National Parks and Wildlife Visitor Centre. Remember that weather in the mountains can change quickly at any time of year. It is essential that you are adequately prepared for all conditions. Vehicles travelling on the Alpine Way will need to carry a Park entry pass, which can be purchased from the National Parks and Wildlife Information Centre in Khancoban.
Details on walks in the Kosciuszko National Park are available from the Tumut Region Visitor Information Centre and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services. NSW NPWS guide to staying safe in Kosciuszko National Park is available here; follow their advice. Maps of Tumut State Forest and Bago State Forest are also available to help you plan your walks.
The Hume and Hovell Track is an epic trail in that traverses rugged and beautiful countryside following a mix of public roads, fire trails, purpose built single track and over 100 footbridges. It follows Hamilton Hume and William Hovell’s 1824 expedition to find new grazing land in the south of the colony, and also to find an answer to the mystery of where New South Wales’s western rivers flowed.
The track stretches 426km and passes through the towns of Yass, Wee Jasper and Albury and nearby the towns of Tumut, Talbingo and Tumbarumba offering a variety of topographies, vegetation types and land uses, as well as numerous points of historic interest. Along the way, there are 17 campsites, picnic facilities, numerous boardwalks and three major bridges over significant rivers. Some attempt the track and as end-to-end adventure, but most are content with shorter day or multi-day hikes. The main access points for the track in the Snowy Valleys are Thomas Boyd Trackhead near Tumut, and Henry Angel Trackhead, not far from Tumbarumba. The 22km journey from Henry Angel to Mannus Lake is a popular day walk. Ask the Tumbarumba Visitors Centre about pick up and drop off options for your hike.
Please note that it is very important to check the current fire rating before setting off on the Hume and Hovell Track, and that the Track is CLOSED on total fire ban days.
One of the highlights of the Hume and Hovell Track is Buddong Falls. Located approximately an hour’s drive from Tumbarumba, and about the same from Talbingo, all roads into Buddong Falls are unsuitable for two wheel drive vehicles.
When hiking in the Snowy Valleys, plan ahead. Think about weather, equipment & safety. Know where you are going. If leaving marked trails take a topographic map and compass and make sure you know how to use them. Ensure that you have plenty of food and water. Consider hiring a PLB (Personal Locater Beacon) from the Tumut Region Visitor Centre.
Shorter Walks and Strolls
The Sugar Pine Walk – Bago State Forest, can be found at Laurel Hill, between Batlow and Tumbarumba. This short walk is a beautiful spot at any time of year and has become a popular location for travellers, photographers and Instagrammers. Setting foot amongst the sugar pines is like walking into a natural cathedral. Pine needles carpet the ground and soften every footfall. Interpretive signage on this impressive stand of pines is provided by Forestry Corporation of NSW, who own and manage this site.
The Tumut River Walk 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.
Download the Tumut Wetlands and River Walk map here.
Tumbarumba boasts a healthy network of walking paths right across the town, including alongside the creek, around the sporting fields, to the showgrounds and the shops. 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.
The Adelong Creek Walk is an easy 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.
The Lakeside Walk at Khancoban starts at the dam wall, with its massive spillway gates, and follows the foreshore of Khancoban Pondage for about 2 kilometres around to the Boat Ramp and Picnic Area. The crystal clear water reflects the high mountains of the main range and Mt Kosciuszko above.