We originally planned a five day trip to Jindabyne which ended up turning in to ten when we realised just how many amazing things there are to do in the area. The lake itself is absolutely beautiful and it’s a gorgeous setting to base yourself in for a Snowys adventure.
If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, you’ll be spoilt for choice with incredible hiking trails, wild swimming spots, and if you’re visiting in summer, the wildflowers are the best we’ve seen anywhere in NSW.
For those looking to relax there are great picnic spots and wildlife watching opportunities, or simply sit sipping gin in the local distillery’s garden. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it in or close to JIndabyne.
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1: Swim in Lake Jindabyne
2:Sample the local gin at the Wildbrumby Distillery
3: Hike to the top of Australia’s highest mountain
4: Spot wild brumbies
5: Have a picnic by the Thredbo River
6: Take a stroll round Lake Crackenback
7: Visit the historic Bullocks Hut
8: Scramble up Porcupine Rocks
9: Catch a sunset at Mount Stilwell
10: Ride the Thredbo Chairlift
11: Sip on the local beer at Jindabyne Brewing
12: Walk to the cute swing bridge
12 Best things to do in Jindabyne
A note on seasons
Although lots of the things to do in Jindabyne are accessible year round, a few things will not be. When it comes to the hiking trails, we linked individual guides on each one which let you know what months of the year it is accessible and if you need any special gear for the colder months.
1. Take a dip in Lake Jindabyne
If you want an invigorating start to the day you can’t go past a dip in Lake Jindabyne. It’s pretty bracing even in the height of summer but you get used to it pretty quickly.
You can bring a lilo if you love the idea of getting out on the water but don’t want to go all in.
There are plenty of secluded spots around the lake where you can enjoy a relaxing swim, one of the prettiest being Rushes Bay.
You could spend the whole day at the lake by combing a dip, with a picnic and a stroll along the foreshore walkway (the total walk is 7km return if you want to do it all). The walk is almost entirely flat and full of birdlife.
We’ve done it a few times and actually like it best at sunset when the whole area is bathed in golden light.
2. Go gin tasting at the Wildbrumby Distillery
A visit to the award winning Wildbrumby Distillery is a must when visiting Jindabyne. We opted to try some gins - which were excellent - but if that’s not your thing you can also taste a variety of schnapps too.
The setting is gorgeous and if you want to extend your visit you can have lunch outside on the terrace, or inside the atmospheric restaurant if the weather isn’t cooperating.
We opted for coffee and cake which were great, and similar pricing to the much more basic cafes around Thredbo. You can then walk it all off in the sculpture garden afterwards.
Note that the cafe and distillery are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
3. Hike up Australia’s highest mountain
Most people visiting the Snowys in the warmer months set their sights on getting to the top of Australia’s highest mountain.
There are quite a few ways you can do it, depending on how far you want to walk. Our preferred option is the spectacular 24.7km Main Range Circuit (3km less if you skip the Blue Lakes side trail) which is one of the best walks we’ve done in Australia and has all the wow factor.
If you want a shorter and easier option you can use the Thredbo chairlift to get you part way up and then walk on the mainly paved trail up to the summit of Kosi which is around 13km return.
You can also walk from Thredbo village using the Merritts Nature Track and then join up with the trail that goes from the top of the chairlift - however if you do this you will be walking around 17km and not so far off the Main Range Circuit distance which is the most beautiful route.
Even if the distance from the top of the chairlift sounds further than you’re used to, don’t be put off. I know people who have young kids and are not hikers, and they managed this walk ok.
Just allow time for lots of breaks to admire the views!
4. Look out for wild brumbies
Whilst it’s true that brumbies are not native to the Snowys and therefore technically a pest, everyone we met (us included) wanted to see them, and when you do spot them, there are always a line of cars stopped to take photos!
You’ll tend to see them in herds and watching them gallop across the alpine landscape is a spectacular sight.
The best spot for viewing them is quite a distance from Jindabyne (near Yarrangobilly Caves) but a reliable place fairly close to Jindabyne is at the start of the Cascades walking track near Dead Horse Gap.
They tend to be in the valleys near the start of the trail, we saw them just two minutes in so you don’t need to walk the whole track (which is a full day’s hike). We met many people who saw them here and in the next valley slightly further along the path too.
5. Have a picnic at Thredbo River
If you’re looking for a quiet spot to have a picnic, the Thredbo River picnic area is a great choice. It’s really peaceful and tranquil, beside the water, and there are picnic tables if you don’t have a rug with you. There are also free BBQs if you want to cook up a storm.
If you decide to opt for an evening picnic you might share the space with the resident wallabies! There were loads when we stopped by in the evening. If you’re really lucky you might even spot a platypus although we tried and failed.
One thing to note is that although this picnic area is before the ticket booths for the national park it does technically come under the fee zone for Kosciuszko National Park and therefore it’s only worth visiting when you have already got a park ticket, or it’s one very expensive picnic spot!
6. Take a stroll around Lake Crackenback
Whilst there is a private resort at Lake Crackenback anyone can come and take a stroll around the lake. It’s a lovely spot to visit when you fancy a relaxing walk, rather than one of the hilly hikes this area is famous for. It’s a really pretty lake and the the well maintained pathway is flat and easy.
If you come in the late afternoon you might spot kangaroos, we saw quite a few here, as well as some giant wombat holes, although not the wombats themselves! We’ve even seen pictures of emus here too, which would be a real treat. There is also a cafe on site which we didn’t try but were told was good.
7. Visit the historic Bullocks Hut
The Snowy Mountains have lots of historic huts scattered throughout the region and Bullocks Hut is probably the easiest of the lot to visit. Built in 1934 as a fishing lodge it now stands empty except when it is being used for weddings!
It has a lovely setting on the Thredbo River and was also a favourite spot for the local kangaroos when we visited. Although you can’t go inside the hut, it’s a nice piece of Snowys history and a good, quiet spot to sit and relax beside the river.
It’s just a 500m walk from the car park, and if you park at the Bullocks Flat Skitube it doesn’t require paying the park entrance fee. We walked the easy 6km Bullocks Track after visiting the hut which was a great circuit walk. We visited on a cool misty day and the scenery reminded us of Tasmania! You can also the cycle the track if you have a bike with you.
8. Go for a scramble on Porcupine Rocks
Porcupine Rocks is a quiet track to a series of rock formations that offer incredible views. If you love scrambling you’ll be in for a treat because there are so many different sets of boulders to climb on.
The most photogenic time to be up there is at sunrise, which is when a local recommended we visit.
We have to admit that on this trip we weren’t really feeling up for very early starts so we headed up there for sunset instead. You can watch the sunset from first area of boulders you come to and if you don’t want an early alarm call, we’d definitely recommend it.
The walk to get up to the rocks is 5.6km return and easy. You do have to walk uphill at points but it’s very gradual and there is a lot of flat track inbetween climbs. Although it’s great scrambling, it’s not necessary to still get those fantastic views.
You can read our full Porcupine Rocks guide for more on the track.
9. Catch a sunset from Mount Stilwell
We watched the sunset as many nights as we could on our trip and Mount Stilwell was definitely our favourite. It’s a 2.8km walk to reach the top of the mountain and although it is uphill, it’s not overly steep and the path is in great condition.
The views from the summit are panoramic and just incredible at sunset. We were lucky enough to get the whole experience to ourselves (it’s another one of those lesser known spots) and it’s something we’ll always remember.
If you don’t want to do the whole walk, you could just go as far as the lookout which is just 900m each way. You’ll still get a gorgeous mountain panorama, including Mount Kosciuszko, and it doesn’t take long to walk up.
Just watch out for the weather, we walked on a day with a perfect forecast, but this being the mountains meant that it quickly changed and a storm rolled in. It was incredibly atmospheric though, and we were very glad we’d brought layers and rain coats!
You can read our full guide to the Mount Stilwell Track here.
10. Ride the Thredbo chairlift
Most people visiting Thredbo will ride the chairlift at some point, whether it’s to go hiking, mountain biking or just to check out the view. The chairlift whizzes you up 560 vertical metres in 15 minutes and you can ride it as many times as you want in a day for $45.
You can walk to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko from here, or just as far as the lookout if you only want a short walk, which is just under 4km return.
You can also grab a bite at the Eagle’s Nest which is the highest restaurant in Australia. To be honest though, when I saw the outside it looked a bit shabby and not what I was expecting so we didn’t go in.
The views would be fantastic though, and we’d love to know how it is if you do decide to eat there!
11. Sip on the local beer at Jindabyne Brewing
Jindabyne Brewing is a popular spot for locals to get together and have a drink so it can get very busy, but if you manage to snag a table it’s a great spot for a beer.
If you’re really lucky there are a couple of tables outside with a good lake view.
I’m a sucker for a Golden Ale, but there are plenty of others you can try that have been brewed on site. Like most breweries, you can try before you buy and then sip on a schooner or even a pint. It’s perfect after a long day exploring! :)
We recommend going to “Jindabyne Brewing” on Nettin Crescent as there are a couple of breweries in Jindabyne with similar names.
12. Walk the cute swing bridge over the Snowy River
As soon as I saw the swing bridge over the stunning blue water of the Snowy River, I knew I had to do the Illawong Walk. It’s a beautiful and easy stroll through some fantastic mountain scenery to reach the bridge and it’s even more picturesque in real life than it looks in photos.
It’s one of those jangly bridges that sways as you walk and can only take one person at a time.
The views are gorgeous and on a sunny day the water was the most incredible blue (which doesn’t really show up in the photos!). It’s another place you can do a bit of wild swimming if you don’t mind the icy water temperature!
The 5.2km return walk to the bridge also passes another of the Snowys historic huts, although this one looks much more modern than Bullocks Hut, with solar panels on the roof!
You can read our full trail guide to the Illawong Walk here.
Bonus if you’re visiting in December!
Check out the best Christmas lights in NSW
We were driving back to our accommodation one evening when we suddenly saw the biggest display of Christmas lights that we’ve ever seen in our lives! Of course we had to pull over for a closer look and then the owner appeared and said you can actually look around the whole display.
It turns out this festive extravaganza is famous in these parts, and people come from far and wide to stroll through the garden full of thousands of lights. There’s everything from giant kangaroos to full size reindeer, complete with sleigh!
If you’re in need of some Christmas cheer I guarantee this will do the trick. It’s the most Christmassy we’ve ever felt in Australia!
The owner has been doing it for decades and the whole thing takes 10 weeks to put up. There’s a donation box before you enter and all funds raise go to the local children’s centre.
The house is on Bent Street and you can’t miss it!
Getting to Jindabyne
Jindabyne is 460km and just over a five hour drive from Sydney. It’s 180km and a two hour drive from Canberra.
The Mount Kosciuszko National Park Fee
Lots of the activities around Jindabyne fall within the park fee zone and even if you have an NSW parks pass, you still need to pay. The fee is $17 per day, and if you buy 4 days you get 1 free. You can buy an annual pass for just this park alone for $190.
The pass lasts for 24 hours, so if you time it right you can go into the park for 2 days on a 1 day pass.
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