It may be a long way from the Sunshine State, but the Snowy Mountains have some great routes. Last year we did a trip in Snowy Mountains in the Spring, when the flowers were out, the air was clean, the temperature was cool and crisp, and the views were great.
Our trip started on the Gold Coast, but the ‘great route’ started at Wagga Wagga, after meeting some mates from Albury, Sydney and Canberra. The ride from Wagga Wagga to the Snowy Mountains transverses scenic undulating countryside where the dairy cows graze and the fireplaces blaze. The first town was Tumut on the western boundary of the Snowy Mountains. Tumut was a stop for a break, a stretch and a warm drink at the local cafe.
Snowy Mountain roads - a great route.
From Tumut the windy road heads east up hill on the Snowy Mountains Highway. It was mid-week, so the bike traffic was minimal, but beware of the school bus, trucks, and tourist coaches, particularly on the right hand corners. Your bike might be on the correct side of the road, but watch your head and body. Many corners have double apexes and caution should be exercised. Adjust your speed accordingly.
Although we were in the Kosciusko National Park there were no fees payable during the Spring. Our next stop was Talbingo for a break after the windy road. There were a few very short stops on the way up the mountain to view the scenery including Blowering Dam. Tumut and Talbingo were used as construction towns for the building of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme and are now support towns to the Scheme. Talbingo has a free-entry shop providing indepth information on the scheme, including a three dimension model of the scheme. We anticipated a visit to the Tumut 3 power station at Talbingo, which is underground, however, it was closed due to the fear of terrorism.
Your bike might be on the correct side of the road, but watch your head and body.
Leaving Talbingo we climbed higher into the Snowy Mountains. Again the road is exhilarating, but watch for oncoming vehicles, especially on the right hand corners. Again plenty of places to stop and admire the view, take in some fresh air and watch the wildlife. The map showed a place called Kiandra. We were looking for a town, but it was just an area so it was onto Mount Selwyn. A very popular skiing place in the winter, but a ghost area in the spring. A deserted cafe, chair lifts and a few other buildings.
We turned south towards Cabramurra. The road was narrower, so it required care, but there was little traffic, just a few tourists. It has down hills, but mostly up hill, because Cabramurra is the highest town in Australia. The lookout at Cabramurra, overlooking the township is nearly 1.5 kilometers above sea level. Cabramurra was also a township used during the construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme. At the lookout you can see the old streets and signs indicate where the school and other buildings were situated. From the lookout Mount Kosciusko (highest mountain in Australia) could be seen in the distance. Also from the lookout we could see the devastation caused during the 2003 bush fires that struck the Snowy Mountains and Victorian Alps. The trees have not recovered due to the intense heat and the furious fire. Cabramurra was a lunch stop. A nice warm meal and a hot drink. If needed, fuel was available too - at a price.
Although it was spring, the temperature was not the same as sunny Queensland, so we were rugged up while outside. Inside heaters made life very comfortable. It gets that cold in the winter, the Cabramurra male toilet is heated by an oil heater. Maybe it is used to warm your hands!! At Cabramurra we met a group of bikers doing a regular yearly ride in the Snowys. We understood why they keep coming back - it’s a great place for a ride.
After lunch it was down hill from Cabramurra, crossing Tumut Pond Dam and onto Khancoban. The Tumut Pond Dam is quite a sight in the valley of the hills. The road winds its way down the hill side and goes across the dam wall, where a small parking area allows a look at the dam wall. The road was narrow, windy, however at times the countryside opened up and the road was straight for a short distance. Again beware of the oncoming traffic, we met a car and caravan on the windy road. The road was not really suitable for caravans.
Caution is to be exercised on the Snowy Mountain roads, because some parts of the road surface, particularly in the shadows could be wet and if the morning was very cold, black ice could be on the road. Rocks from minor rock slides can cause some potential anguish too.
Take plenty of breaks, there is heaps of places to pull up and have a rest.
Khancoban is a little township, but our purpose in that area was to visit Murray 1 and Murray 2 power stations. They are above ground. Murray 1 has a kiosk for a hot drink and something to eat and also has a very comprehensive information area. It is free and well worth a visit to appreciate the hard work done by the planners and workers who put the Snowy Mountain Scheme together. Platypus live in the pond outside the kiosk.
From Murray 1 power station we headed north west to Tooma. The road has a good surface and the oncoming traffic on corners was more visible. The country side is open and used for diary cows. We stopped along the road at a scenic lookout to admire the highest mountains in Australia. The road from Khancoban comes within a few kilometres of Victoria, however we headed to Tooma, onto Tumbarumba for a break, pit stop and a stretch. It was then back to Wagga Wagga.
It was a big day, but a great ride, exhilarating with the windy roads, spectacular views, cool climate, fresh mountain air and clean rest stops. We took plenty of breaks, there is heaps of places to pull up and have a rest. Over the next few days we made our way through Victoria, including a trip along the Great Alpine Way in the Victorian Alps. That is another story.
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