Snowy Mountains Highway

[Triton]

Heading to merimbula next January and working out which route to take. ..... has anyone travelled the Snowy Mountain Highway between Tumut and Cooma with van in tow? ....... what is the road like? ......... would you recommend going that way or is through gippsland a better option? ........Any must see's along the way in that area? .......any good free camps/Caravan parks?

 

[cruza driver]

I've done most of the highways through there with my Expanda on except that section, I cant see it being a problem and it will be cooler up there for better towing temperatures. I've done the 1st 30km from Tumut towards Cooma though and its very scenic.

You could go to Canberra and across for another option to I guess.

 

[Bushman]

I've done the 1st 30km from Tumut towards Cooma though and its very scenic.

You could go to Canberra and across for another option to I guess.

Likewise, However in January will also be looking for a route back to the coast from Tumut as we'll be spenting a few days there before go to Batemans Bay, Google suggests via Canberra for there, but Merimbula is much further down, so Snowy Mtn Hwy might be worth the a try.
Last time in Tumut (April) I noted a back road to Canberra but from memory I think about 40ks was dirt, but thats not an issue, we might try that instead of back tracking.

 

[Triton]

Thanks for the info guys......really keen to hear from anyone who has travelled this route between Tumut and Cooma. Just returned from Mt Hotham over the weekend and don't think I would be too keen to attempt a climb like that if I had a van on

 

[chartrock]

We pulled our 14' up from Bright over Mt Hotham with no problems after the Vic high country meet last year. It was a slow climb because the scenery was just so fantastic. I'm sure at least one member did it both ways (I think it was jdonly1, I'm sure he will correct me if I'm wrong ).

 

[jdonly1]

Thanks for the info guys......really keen to hear from anyone who has travelled this route between Tumut and Cooma. Just returned from Mt Hotham over the weekend and don't think I would be too keen to attempt a climb like that if I had a van on

Hotham is easy in a van,just take your time Have also done the route that you have listed,not with the van though.

 

[Triton]

Road to Hotham was covered in snow and ice and visibility was quite low......think taking a van over that way would be much more enjoyable through the warmer months ........jdonly1 is the Tumut -Cooma drive easier than the Hotham pass? Anything to look out for?.......any good free camps or must see's through that area?

 

[jdonly1]

Road to Hotham was covered in snow and ice and visibility was quite low......think taking a van over that way would be much more enjoyable through the warmer months ........jdonly1 is the Tumut -Cooma drive easier than the Hotham pass? Anything to look out for?.......any good free camps or must see's through that area?

I done it on a motor bike so wasnt looking at to much scenery,I do remember it being pretty narrow in parts and a lot of traffic cutting corners It s similar to the Hotham rd and does have quite a few tight sections.I would do it in the warmer months

 

[AdJo]

Hello Triton. We went from Albury to Jindabyne via Alpine Way in march 2011 towing a Flamingo with a falcon then on to Merimbula via Dalgety, Maffra then a short section of dirt road to Nimmitabel then on to Merimbula. This is still my most memorable trip for scenery we've done (especially the Monaro High Plains) and there was a very good bush camp site at Geehi,but I did have to have the falcon in 2nd to help the brakes so i'm not sure how an expanda would go with a Triton?

 

[collinandkerry]

Hi Triton
We went to Merimbula from Ballarat at Easter via Gippsland, not a bad road but can be boring.
We then returned to ballarat via Jindabyne, and then to Albury, on the Snowy Mt Highway. We were towing a 17.56 expanda with a current model challenger. It is a very scenic route, and over all a pretty enjoyable way to go. However there are some very sharp and steep inclines and declines, we had no trouble with this and just took our time, the road is very narrow at points and you will not get 2 vans side by side on it. We found, that travelling earlier in the morinig was best as the amount of traffic was very low. we also found that most people were happy and all you had to do was work in with each other when passing and allow time. It took us approx 3 hours to travel approx 130km but yes we did it.. Also you will need a Park Pass to travel the roads, or just a pass through pass which allows you approx 2-3 hours to travel the road through the park BUT you Cant stop or you risk being fined.

 

[hmobbl]

Hi triton
did you decide which way you are going to merimbula, heading there in Xmas holidays myself

 

[Triton]

Probably head up to Tumut or Canberra........which way you going hmobbl?......how does the Prado go towing your 17 footer?

 

[hmobbl]

Probably head up to Tumut or Canberra........which way you going hmobbl?......how does the Prado go towing your 17 footer?

Going the Gippsland way, Prado is the best tow vehicle you should get one or Landcruiser, are still looking at 17 footer?

 

[achjimmy]

Heading to merimbula next January and working out which route to take. ..... has anyone travelled the Snowy Mountain Highway between Tumut and Cooma with van in tow? ....... what is the road like? ......... would you recommend going that way or is through gippsland a better option? ........Any must see's along the way in that area? .......any good free camps/Caravan parks?

Triton have done most of the highways around there towing including nearly all of the Snowy Mountain highway. Have towed from Kiandra to Cooma and Tumut out toward Blowering Dam. I would have no worries towing through there and and it's great countryside. Just remember the distances down there are deceiving and it takes longer than generally expected.

 

[Triton]

Thanks Jim.......nice to know.......sounds like a good drive through there. Are there any good parks or camps you would recommend?

 

[achjimmy]

Hi Mate

Yeah it is great drive. Tumut park looks nice, although I havnt stayed there. There is some good free camps alongside Blowering, although you need to work at leveling the van :glee:

 

[cruza driver]

Hi Mate

Yeah it is great drive. Tumut park looks nice, although I havnt stayed there. There is some good free camps alongside Blowering, although you need to work at leveling the van :glee:

I've stayed a night at the Tumut CP earlier this year, nice spot right on the river. And as achjimmy mentioned Blowering Dam is on the side of a hill that's why we back tracked to Tumut :juggle:

 

[Bushman]

Thanks Jim.......nice to know.......sounds like a good drive through there. Are there any good parks or camps you would recommend?

Also stayed at the park in Tumut back in April, large park with two amenities 1 large and 1 smaller down the bottom end also some ensuite sites, a very shady park with massive (maple trees) i think, which dump everywhere in Autum, best spots for sun are along the river front, fires allowed it drums (subject to fire bans), Its easy walk town town via the main rd or path along the river front. Oh and beware of river with little ones It's fairly fast moving, or was in April.

There's also another park out of down heading towards the dam, have heard it pretty average.