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| Self Drive Australia Sydney
to Snowy Mountains |
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SNOWY MOUNTAINS & SOUTHERN BEACHES
Sydney ~ Canberra ~ Snowy Mountains ~ Batemans Bay ~ Sydney
This itinerary is not available for travel from June to September
DAY 1 SYDNEY - CANBERRA (300 kms) Pick up your MEDIUM SEDAN rental car at the
Sydney City Depot or Sydney Airport Depot and commence your drive to Canberra.
Join the Eastern Distributor via South Dowling Street in Central Sydney. This
road becomes Southern Cross Drive and continues past the airport to join the M5
travelling west out of Sydney. If you collect your car at the airport, you can
join the M5 via Airport Drive. The M5 becomes the South Western Freeway then
the Hume Highway. Past Goulbourn, veer left onto the Federal Highway which
takes you into Canberra. BERRIMA is just under half way between Sydney and
Canberra and is well worth the 5-minute detour off the highway. There are signs
for easy location and we suggest you take a lunch or coffee break in this
historic township. Berrima is situated in the Southern Highlands and boasts
Australia’s oldest gaol (construction began in 1834), now a minor
offenders’ institution. It housed in it’s time a number of infamous
bushrangers. There are many artists and artisans who live in Berrima, and it is
the arts and crafts that they produce which attracts visitors just as much as
the history of the town. The Berrima District Museum (in Market Street) is well
worth a visit, plus there are antique stores to tempt collectors. CANBERRA is
the Capital of Australia and is situated in the Australian Capital Territory,
in the southern tablelands of New South Wales. Canberra has five sign-posted
Tourist Drives, which take in most of the sights. The best way to gain
appreciation of Canberra is to visit any of the lookouts on the surrounding
hills. Telstra Tower, on Black Mountain, is 195 metres high and has viewing
galleries and a revolving restaurant. On the summit of Mt. Pleasant are
memorials to the Australian Artillery and Armoured Corps, while Red Hill
overlooks Parliament House, southern Canberra and the Woden Valley. From Mt.
Ainslie the visitor can see central Canberra and Lake Burley Griffin. The three
most popular tourist attractions in Canberra are Parliament House, the War
Memorial and the National Library.
Day 2 CANBERRA – SNOWY MOUNTAINS (212 kms) Depart Canberra and travel
south on the Monaro Highway to Cooma. Join the Snowy Mountains Highway at the
roundabout and continue on to Kosciuszko Road through Berridale to Jindabyne
Road. On leaving Jindabyne, take the Alpine Way through to Thredbo Village.
COOMA : Originally settled in 1823, Cooma remained the centre of the Monaro
grazing area until the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority (now Snowy
Hydro) was established in 1949. Cooma today is the largest town in the Snowy
Mountains and remains the headquarters of Snowy Hydro. The Mosaic Time Walk in
Centennial Park depicts life in the Snowy Mountains from its origins through to
the present time. The International Avenue of Flags also located in the park
contains the flags of the nations represented by the men and women who worked
on the Snowy Mountains Scheme. A statue of the famous 'Man from Snowy River'
immortalises Banjo Paterson's immortal mountain man. JINDABYNE: The original
town of Jindabyne and its inhabitants were relocated in the 1960's when the
Snowy River was dammed as part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, with only a
handful of houses being moved to their new location. The remains of the old
town lie submerged under Lake Jindabyne and can occasionally be glimpsed when
lake levels are low. For great views over the lake at any time head for the
Waste Point Lookout on the Kosciuszko Road. In winter Jindabyne is a base for
skiers bound for the major resorts in Kosciuszko National Park and for the rest
of the year it's a great place from which to go bushwalking, mountain biking,
white water rafting and canoeing, horse riding and kayaking. The lake provides
superb opportunities for trout fishing and water sports. THREDBO VILLAGE:
Thredbo, the closest resort to Mount Kosciuszko, is situated beside the Thredbo
River at an altitude of 1370m. The Kosciuszko Express Chairlift operates all
year round and the top station boasts Australia's highest restaurant, Eagles
Nest. Thredbo is famous for its village atmosphere and great restaurants. Open
all year round, Thredbo Village blends a unique mountain environment with
cultural events and activities to suit all ages. Village facilities encompass a
range of shops, a supermarket and various fashion and gift stores. There are
restaurants and bars available to suit all tastes and budgets. The Thredbo
Leisure Centre has a 50m pool, sports hall, gym and squash court.
Day 3 SNOWY MOUNTAINS - BATEMANS BAY (345 kms) This morning retrace your route
to Cooma and join the Snowy Mountains Highway heading east Continue on the
Snowy Mountain Highway to the Princes Highway where you turn left. Continue on
the Princes Highway through the towns of Central Tilba, Tilba Tilba, Narooma,
Mogo and into Batemans Bay. CENTRAL TILBA & TILBA TLIBA: Central Tilba is
now heritage listed by the National Trust-and is a working village where you
can see a wood turner, cobbler, baker and leather-maker at work. Visit the art
and craft shops and taste famous Tilba Club Cheese at the ABC Cheese Factory.
Nearby Foxglove Spire Gardens in Tilba Tilba is a romantic woodland garden,
featuring roses, wisteria and its namesake foxglove. NAROOMA: Built on land
almost completely surrounded by the waters of Wagonga River, its estuary and
the sparkling Pacific Ocean, Narooma's name comes from an aboriginal word
meaning ‘clear, blue water’. These waterways have been the very
reason for Narooma's existence, from its early days as a port for the transport
of local produce and as a ship building centre and through its many years
since, as a popular tourist destination. All types of water sports can be
enjoyed around Narooma and fishing and swimming are the most popular. MOGO: The
uniquely preserved and developed village of Mogo takes the visitor back to the
19th century with its traditional architecture and proliferation of tourist
attractions, cottage industries and handcrafts. There are many galleries of
fine Australian craft and art work including works from some of the very
talented Koori artists on the South Coast. Mogo is also home to the Mogo Zoo
where many exotic species are housed, some as part of the world wide
preservation program for endangered exotic animals. Here you can see tigers,
lions, apes, reptiles and many other interesting creatures from places far and
near. BATEMAN’S BAY: A stunning coastline of beaches, river estuaries and
craggy headlands makes Batemans Bay an ideal holiday destination. Cruise the
pristine Clyde River, the cleanest of all the major rivers on Australia’s
east coast, or explore the region’s many historic villages, where you can
relax in cafés, wander through craft galleries and snap up local
artworks.
Day 4 BATEMANS BAY - SYDNEY (280 kms) Head north on the Princes Highway through
Ulludulla, Nowra, Kiama and onto Wollongong to join the Grand Pacific Drive to
return to Sydney. The Grand Pacific Drive encompasses some of the most
spectacular coastline in New South Wales. Return your vehicle to the Sydney
Airport depot or Sydney city Depot. Order a
brochure/request a price quote
Self Drive Australia
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a division of Lynott
Tours - 205 Mineola Blvd, Suite 1BMineola New York 11501
USA Call 1-800-221-2474 9AM - 5PM 
