Make a self catering apartment or holiday rental in the Snowy Mountains, Australia your home away from home

Snowsports and skiing are not commonly thought of as typically Australian pursuits but Australia's magnificent Snowy Mountains in the southeastern area of New South Wales offer spectacular hiking scenery and excellent skiing in the winter.

Things to Do in the Snowy Mountains, NSW

From September, when the snow has melted, this alpine area is popular with hikers and hill walkers. Take a guided trek or even a Segway tour at Lake Crackenback! The glacial lakes such as Lake Albina, Lake Cootapatamba, Club Lake and Headley Tarn are ideal for sailing, kayaking, waterskiing and fishing in magnificent surroundings. The cooler months of June through August are the season for skiing, snowboarding and other exciting winter sports. There are ski resorts at Thredbo and Perisher Blue with excellent amenities including ski schools, chair lifts and luxury Snowy Mountains accommodation.

Places to Visit Around the Snowy Mountains, NSW

Mount Kosciuszko is the tallest peak in Australia at 2,228 metres high. Together with four other peaks it makes up the Australian Alps and Great Dividing Range, a popular area for visitors. The Kosciuszko National Park is worth a visit as it is a huge area of forested wilderness stretching for 160km towards the border with Victoria. For natural beauty, visit Blue Lake, the largest of the glacial lakes. Jinabyne is situated on a scenic lake and has excellent shopping. Khancoban is a delightfully township reached along winding mountain roads. It is a particularly lovely drive in the autumn with the red, gold and orange leaves. Berridale is another popular place to visit from Snowy Mountains holiday cabins. It has an excellent winery offering tours and tastings.

Weather in the Snowy Mountains, NSW

Holiday rentals in the Snowy Mountains enjoy an alpine climate with cool crisp air and chilly nighttime temperatures at any time of year. Temperatures average -6°C (21°F) in July and 21°C (70°F) in January. The area has four distinct seasons but the weather can be unpredictable and walkers should be prepared for all conditions. It has been known to snow in the Snowy Mountains even in mid-summer! From June to October many minor roads are likely to be closed with snow and drivers of two-wheel-drive vehicles must carry snow chains in winter.

Travel to the Snowy Mountains, NSW

Visitors staying at holiday rentals in the Snowy Mountains will find the nearest main airport is Canberra International (CBR) Airport which has both domestic and international flights daily. It is served by Qantas, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways among others. Car rental facilities are available at the airport making the 2Â½ hour drive to the Snowy Mountains very easy. In winter there are coach transfers to various ski resorts from the airport with local coach companies such as Greyhound and Transborder. Another option is to fly from Sydney airport to the Snowy Mountains local airport at Cooma (OOM) with Aeropelican.