About 114 km south of Canberra on the Monaro Highway, you’ll come to a regular stop off for us – Cooma, New South Wales. It’s a great base for groceries, shopping and a top museum.
The Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre was hands on fun for our whole family. We really recommend visiting her before you explore the Snowy Mountains – as it gives you perspective on just how hydro power works. Displays really demonstrate the water flow, as well as the sheer scale of the project.
Construction took a whopping 25 years to complete, from 1949-1974, and over 100,000 workers involved – from all over the world. The incredible scheme is Heritage listed alongside other Australian icons like the Sydney Opera House and the Great Barrier Reef.
Plus you can see:
- virtual flight in our state-of-the art immersive theatre, with its 14m-wide screen and floor projections
- expansion mega project, Snowy 2.0 for renewable energy
- life on the Snowy – the history 1949-1974 from the worker’s point of view
- shop and cafe
You can also visit the Lake Eucumbene, Lake Jindabyne, Khancoban Pondage and Jounama Pondage – with picnic areas and toilets available. And in winter – the snowy Snowy Mountains aren’t far away!
Foreshore camping is not allowed but there are plenty of caravan parks – see the CAMPS AUSTRALIA WIDE App and guides. You can camp at the pet friendly Cooma Snowy Mountains Tourist Park.
I like to visit another Cooma gem, Birdsnest. This Aussie fashion house has their operations centre here, a nice stop for the ladies. Fellas, there are bakeries and pubs down the road.
Also a surprise was my delicious lunch – yummy Pha’s Thai food. I hope it is still there when we are back, next time!
Your kids can spot the snowmen in the main street.
There is also a Distillery, Hatchery, Visitor Centre, lovely town park and retail precinct.
If you would like order your own CAMPS Pendium, here is a special coupon code for you:
…and you’ll receive $20 off! Add the code into the checkout!
