15 things to do in Jindabyne (with and without snow)

There are plenty of things to do in Jindabyne, whether it’s snowfall or sunshine outside.

Jindabyne may be at its busiest and most lively when it’s subzero temperatures outside but the alpine town has ample activities up its sleeve for the spring and summer months, too.

Here, we’ve found 15 awesome things to do in Jindabyne (and its surrounds), from bushwalking in the Snowy Mountains to fishing in Lake Jindabyne to yoga and pottery classes in town.

1. Hit the slopes during winter

Name the first thing you think of when visiting the Snowy Mountains? Hitting the slopes. Jindabyne is just a 30-minute drive to Thredbo and Perisher, making it a popular and convenient base camp for snow trips.

Charlotte Pass Snow Resort is also easily accessible from Jindy: the resort has an Oversnow transport shuttle that runs from the Perisher Valley Skitube Terminal to the slopes.

Skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing are available at all resorts, while Perisher is the only resort with dedicated tobogganing areas.

If you’re heading to Thredbo, be sure to take a ride on the newly opened Alpine Coaster, the first in the Southern Hemisphere to operate year-round.

2. Ride the mountain bike trails in summer

Come the warmer months, the Snowy Mountains become a mountain bike playground, with a varied terrain of dense bushland and forest, alpine lakes, giant boulders and breathtaking peaks. Thredbo has the country’s only lift-accessed mountain bike trails, offering 40-plus kilometres throughout the majestic High Country. If you want to tackle Australia’s highest peak, the Mount Kosciuszko Summit Trail, from Charlotte Pass to the summit (the last 1.4-kilometre section needs to be walked).

Lake Crackenback Resort is a 20-minute drive from Jindabyne and features 18 kilometres of bike trails. While in Jindabyne, the Bungarra Alpine Centre is a purpose-built mountain bike park with 20 kilometres of trails catering to all abilities.

3. Go bushwalking in Kosciuszko National Park

When the snow melts, hundreds of kilometres of walking tracks in the mountains are revealed. From short walks such as the two-hour Thredbo River track from Thredbo Village to the four-day Snowies Alpine Walk that covers 55 kilometres between Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher and Lake Crackenback, including the summit of Mount Kosciuszko.

It traverses valleys of mountain ash, snow gums, wildflowers in spring, the Snowy River and granite outcrops. You can also reach the ‘rooftop of Australia’ on a shorter 13-kilometre-return day walk, starting at the top of the Kosciuszko Express chairlift at Thredbo. You may spot wombats, echidnas and wallabies.

4. Take a walk around Lake Jindabyne

From town, you can stretch your legs along the foreshore of Lake Jindabyne.

The pathway traces the lake for up to 30 kilometres between Banjo Patterson Park in the centre of Jindabyne, extending east to Tyrolean village over the dam wall and west to Hatchery Bay.

The walk along the lake is spectacular at sunrise and at sunset, when you may also spot trout. And it’s also perfect for taking the kids on scooters or bikes.

5. Hire a kayak on Lake Jindabyne

Swap your ski poles for paddles in the summer months and get out on one of the country’s highest lakes. Kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing and sailing are all popular activities on Lake Jindabyne. You can hire water sports equipment from Sacred Ride in town.

6. Take a scenic flight with Snowy Mountains Helicopters

Whether the landscape is blanketed in white or covered in wildflowers, these scenic helicopter flights operate year-round. Take a quick 10-minute flight over Lake Jindabyne to see the sparkling waterway and surrounding towns from a different perspective.

Choose a 30-minute flight to Mt Kosciuszko to see the country’s highest peak up close and view the ski resorts below. Fly deeper into the Snowy Mountains with a 60-minute flight over High Country plains where you’ll likely see wild brumbies. Or take a 90-minute aerial tour of the engineering marvel of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, following rivers, ridgelines and spotting brumbies.

7. Taste locally made schnapps at Wildbrumby Distillery

Located between Jindabyne and Thredbo, Wildbrumby is the highest distillery in Australia and uses pristine alpine water and native mountain botanicals in its award-winning schnapps, gin, vodka and gluhwein.

Schnapps flavours include baked apple, butterscotch and limoncello, perfect heart-warming tipples for apres ski. The distillery door is open daily and there is a cafe on-site from Thursday to Monday, as well as a sculpture garden to wander through.

8. Join a foodie tour with Sip the Snowies

This bespoke culinary tour company takes visitors around the Snowy Mountains, one delicious stop at a time to showcase the local produce and clever providores of the region.

Each tour is slightly different but includes two tastings at a winery (such as Shut The Gate wines), brewery or distillery (such as Jindabyne Brewing) and a grazing platter. Others include a creative workshop, visiting boutique stores in Jindabyne and lunch.

9. Browse local art or catch a flick

Rain day? Rest day off the mountain? Kids to entertain? Whatever your reason, a day at the movies can be just the ticket. Jindabyne Cinema is a small cinema located right in town showing the latest blockbusters. From film to art, Jindabyne Art Gallery is run by local artists in the Jindabyne Memorial Hall. The exhibition includes paintings, photography and sculpture – many of the artists were inspired by the surrounding alpine landscape and mountain culture. The gallery occasionally hosts events and creative workshops, too – check out the Facebook page.

10. Throw in a line at Lake Jindabyne

Rain, snow or shine, fishing at Lake Jindabyne is a popular activity, thanks to its prolific population of trout.

Trolling is the easiest method for catching fish in Lake Jindabyne (AKA dragging a baited line through the water from a boat, not the online kind) but fly-fishing is also possible from the shore and best done at first and last light (when the lake is at its most spectacular, too). Or head out with a local fishing expert with Eucumbene and Jindabyne Fishing Charters, which operates half- and full-day charters from Jindabyne and Eucumbene including all supplies (such as rods, reels, tackle and morning or afternoon tea).

11. Find your zen with a yoga class

Skiing and snowboarding seem to work muscles that you never knew you had. Stretch and unwind at The Jindy Inn, where The Om Collective runs yoga classes daily. There are gentle yoga classes that flow at a more relaxed pace to Hatha-style yoga that focuses on power and lateral poses. The collective occasionally runs yoga and wellness retreats, too, which include accommodation at The Jindy Inn, daily yoga and meals. You can book casual classes or purchase a six-class pack, which is ideal for travellers.

12. Hone your skills at Jindabyne Skate Park

After a whopping 1.5-million-upgrade Jindabyne Skate Park reopened this year to the excitement of local skaters, BMX riders and scooters riders. It boasts a brand-new half-pipe, mini ramp and refurbished bowl, designed for everyone from beginners to pros, young and old alike. It’s located next to the Jindabyne Bowling Club, on the shores of Lake Jindabyne, and has night lights so the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.

13. Try your hand at pottery

Forget a key ring or a tea towel. Take home a hand-made piece of pottery that you crafted yourself as a souvenir from your Snowy Mountains holiday. Feldmark Pottery specialises in functional pieces, with a gallery and studio located in town.

Come by and peruse the ceramic homewares and sculptural pieces by artist Andrei Davidoff or pre-book a Clay and Graze class to make your own. The three-hour experience will teach you how to create simple vessels on a pottery wheel, while grazing on a platter of local produce and sipping on Kosciuszko Wines.

14. Museum hop in Cooma

This largest town in the Snowy Mountains is a 45-minute drive north of Jindabyne and home to three museums. Dedicated to the incredible engineering feat that is the Snowy Hydro Scheme, the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre explains how the state-of-the-art Snowy Hydro works and features a virtual flyover experience of the Snowy Mountains.

The Cooma Monaro Railway Museum is housed in the restored Cooma railway station and allows visitors to step back in time to the golden era of train travel. While the Motor Museum will get the hearts of car enthusiasts revved up, with its exhibition of historical cars, motorbikes and motoring memorabilia, as well as its 1950s American diner.

15. Explore Thredbo Valley by horseback

Explore the magic of the mountains by horseback with a trail ride that will have you channelling your favourite scene from Man from Snowy River.

Located just 15 minutes’ drive from Jindabyne in Crackenback, Thredbo Valley Horse Riding offers short one- and two-hour rides through sub-alpine wilderness and half-day rides that venture further into the valley, through alpine meadows and along snow-fed streams.

Owner Ned Barrass has played an important role locally protecting and supporting wild brumbies that would otherwise be culled from regional Wilderness Areas. He has many brumbies within his mob at the property.

Snowy Wilderness in Jindabyne also offers memorable 2 to 7-day horse treks where you will stay in wilderness campsites in between exploring the snowy mountain terrain.

Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Jindabyne.

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