towing caravan to snowy mountains from Brisbane
Submitted: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 13:28
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calliope55
Hi,
I would really appreciate some advice. We want to take our grandkids on a trip to the snow. Plan to leave
Brisbane on 20 June. Is it safe to tow a van on the
Snowy Mountains Highway, particularly between Tumut and
Adaminaby in winter? We are towing an 18ft6in van with a Ford
Ranger 4x4. Any ideas on suitable caravan parks in the Snowies and best snowfields for kids (10 and 5 years). We have never been to the snow so know nothing.
Thanks,
Nerida
Reply By: GT Campers - Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 14:41
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 14:41
No. Tumut to Adamidaby is one of the steepest climbs in Australia. you WILL overheat your transmission and encounter black ice and there is - of course - the risk of snow that will leave yiu stranded. So forget coming in via Tumut. Stay off the Snowy Mtns Highway altogether. TBH I think there are restrictions on some vehicle such as c'vans and laregr trucks.
.
Plan your route of
Canberra,
Cooma,
Jindabyne then the resort towns of Thredbo and/or Perisher. Much betterer drive!
There are two parks and all shops/servoces/pubs etc
Jindabyne. There is one at
Sawpit Creek on the access road to Perisher. (very nice bushy sites).
I doubt you will be permitted to take the van beyond there due to the risks and restrictions.
Call Nat Parks for advice and restrictions - towing, chains, permits etc.
I have towed/camped all over the snowies in summer, I ski in winter and due to risks mentuioned above there is no way I would take a van there in winter. Sorry.
HTH
AnswerID:
487168
Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 16:29
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 16:29
I don't consider any of the gradients on the Snowy Mtns Hwy any worse than those over the range west of
Brisbane. However in saying that the road between
Kiandra and
Adaminaby does get cut for a few days in some years as the result of snow falls. There could be icy conditions on that stretch at other times, particularly if you travel early in the day. There is also requirements to carry snow chains along the area under some conditions -
Site Link - those are the reasons I would give for not using that road in winter, not because of its gradients.
If you are coming in that direction you may consider using the
Selwin Snowfields. If so then camping in Tumut or Talbingo would be suitable.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: rags - Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 15:29
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 15:29
Also consider
Adaminaby near
cooma and take the kids to the Mt Selwyn ski fields, much cheaper for families than some of the fancy ski fields but sometimes snow cover can be a bit lite.
As for travelling the snowy hwy again it depends on snow and ice conditions,on a good day no problems,RTA and national parks have warning advice re chains or restrictions which can be checked at Tumut. This route is a great drive,a drive we do often from Talbingo up to Selwyn for a Ski.
check link
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/southern/Kosciuszko_National_Park/3KosiGuide2012Drives.pdf
Kids will have a ball with a simple tabogan run which are cheap to hire
As also stated elsewhere
Jindabyne is a good base to stop also .
Also it is worth doing a snowy hydro tour at one of the power stations, Talbingo and
Khancoban are goodones
AnswerID:
487175
Reply By: Erad - Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 15:50
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 15:50
Agree in part with the comments above. The climb up from Talbingo to the top is very steep. Log trucks use it all the time. As for gradient, it is a bit steeper than the run up to
Toowoomba and not as steep as the run up to the Bunyah Mountains. Onve you leave Talbingo, there are no facilities until you get to
Adaminaby. Unless you are going early in the morning, black ice is unlikely to be there, but be aware that it can happen at any time. It is worst early in the morning.
It all depends on the weather. If it fine and sunny, you should have no problems with driving on ice. If it turns nasty, forget even thinking about towing a caravan on the ice. I live in the area and there is no way I will tow my van or trailer on icy roads if I have a choice. The choice is to go via
Canberra,
Cooma and then to
Adaminaby or Jundabyne.
Mt Selwyn is perfect for the first timers. They even have a free rope tow! Lots of families take a BBQ and
cook sausages and onions in the
carpark whilst I have to resort to eating cold sandwiches. Miserable buggers... The facilities at Selwyn are not 5 or 6 star standard, but Selwyn is much cheaper and more family oriented than the others. If you want to do the whole thing and go up the chairlift to the restaurant at the top, then go to Thredbo, but there you have to park in the
carpark well away from the snow, and walk around the village etc. It all depends on what you want to do. Selwyn is underrated by the snobs. It doesn't get as much snow as the other resorts and is thus snubbed by the snobs. And no - I don't have any affiliation with any ski resorts. I don't even go skiiing any more, even though we virtually live in it (cries a bit).
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Greg P4 - Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 23:33
Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 23:33
I would go through
Canberra then
Cooma and if staying in the van
Adaminaby at the park there. Mt Selwyn is better for families by all the feed back i get. Or you can stay at Buckenderra Holiday Village and have the best of both Jindi and Sewlyn as it is about 40min either way see web site, (and yes i have an interest here) either way the children will love it.
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Reply By: Bega Photographer - Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 18:00
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 18:00
Do keep in mind that' it's a bit cooler down that way than up in QLD. Could be a bit nippy overnight. Expect frosts down to -5 or even -9 if you
camp in the
Snowy Mountains.
I'd think the Talbingo option for camping and Selwyn for the snow fun.
Otherwise stay at
Cooma. A good bit colder than Talbingo but not as high as
Jindabyne or Adaminby.
As others have said, you need to
check the National Parks website to find out for sure, but I think you're not allowed to tow a van or trailor anywhere in the Kosciuskio National Park in the snow season, from the June long weekend till the October weekend.
As for the steepness, caravans are completely banned between
Cabramurra and
Khancoban, but you won't need to go that way.
At the end of the day, I wouldn't be camping up there in a caravan in the snow season. I'd stay down on the flat country.
Best wishes.
AnswerID:
487188
Reply By: Bazooka - Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 00:14
Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 00:14
Nerida
Agree
Canberra -
Cooma is the way to go. Depending on the weather the access from Tumut might be nil, difficult, or okay.
Jindabyne is the hub and most lively town if you can get in to the park there.
It so happens that ALDI has a snow gear sale on from tomorrow if you live anywhere near a store. Prices are about 30% more than you'll pay for hire gear (boots, pants and jacket - buy the gloves). If you stop over in
Canberra for a look it will probably be so cold they'll want to wear ski gear anyway.
Selwyn is certainly the most cost effective field (less snow usually, gentler terrain, more trees, less facilities) but for the full experience ($$$) getting the Skitube train up the mountain tunnel to Perisher or Blue Cow will really knock their socks off so to speak. The car park/terminal is up the Thredbo road not far from
Jindabyne (no chains need to be carried iirc). If you are that way inclined you can buy combined NP entry and tube tickets. Google away and be prepared for a hit to the wallet.
Blue Cow info
AnswerID:
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Reply By: TheMightyMoose - Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 13:40
Thursday, May 31, 2012 at 13:40
G'day Nerida
A couple of years ago my wife, daughter and another couple went to the snow for the first time. I am over 50, daughter was late teens, other couple older than me. We rented a cabin between
Adaminaby and Selwyn. The cabin was great and not that expensive (found via Google) and there was heaps of snow at Selwyn and most of the way from near the cabin all the way to the field. Even had a light sprinkle of snow at the cabin. Loved it. Sure you guys will too.
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