Perched on an attractive lakeside on the edge of Kosciuszko National Park, Jindabyne acts as a gateway to winter resorts Perisher and Thredbo. Non-Australians are always surprised to hear that you can ski in Australia, but from June to August, Jindabyne is packed with snowboarders and skiers who base themselves in the town.
It’s not just snow sports that Jindabyne is well-known for. People also come here in summer to enjoy great hiking, cycling, and water sports on Lake Jindabyne.
The lake was created in 1967 after the completion of a dam on the Snowy River, part of the vast Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme. The original town of Jindabyne, which was established in the 1840s, now lies beneath the lake’s surface having been flooded as part of the scheme.
Whether you’re here for snow sports or water sports, you can hire all kinds of equipment in Jindabyne for your adventure holiday. The town also has plenty of accommodation options, from camping and caravanning, to cottages, chalets, apartments, hotels and eco-resorts.
Before the atrocities of British colonialism and European settlement, the Jindabyne region was home to the Ngarigo people. Today the land is still sacred to its displaced Indigenous population, with significant spiritual gatherings regularly taking place on the lands of the high country.
Jindabyne is located close to Australia’s tallest mountain, Mt Kosciuszko, which stands at 2,228 metres tall, and attracts hikers in all seasons. The summit walk is only accessible on foot, which makes for an altogether more satisfying experience and ensures that the area remains a haven for native wildlife. The 18.6km track starts and finishes at Charlotte’s Pass and takes between six and eight hours to complete. The shorter walk is only 9km and is relatively easy.
For more serious and seasoned hikers, there are a number of points near Jindabyne where hikers can join the challenging Australian Alps Walking Track, which stretches across three states – from Walhalla, in Victoria, through the snowy mountains and across to the ACT. This gruelling 655km walk showcases the best of Australia’s magnificent alpine wilderness.
Aside from the usual outdoorsy activities, there’s plenty more going on in town in the form of festivals and shows. In late August, the Snowtunes Music Festival brings the town to life with an extravaganza of music and snow sports. The Man from Snowy River Rodeo in December is also a highlight of Jindabyne’s cultural calendar.
For a unique experience, head to Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery, which is the highest distillery in Australia. Located only 22km from Australia’s highest peak, the distillery utilises pristine Alpine water, organically grown fruit and native mountain botanicals to make its award-winning range of schnapps, gin and vodka. Visitors are given tastings on arrival and can also choose to tour the distillery. Just make sure to have a designated driver!
