BERRIDALE, CRACKENBACK, DALGETY, JINDABYNE, THREDBO VALLEY
Scroll beyond the links below for town information
Berridale, Crackenback, Dalgety, Jindabyne and the Thredbo Valley are between 150-190kms south-west of Canberra and around 450kms south-west of Sydney. They are on the western side of the Monaro Plains (pronounced “Monairo”) and south-east of Kosciuszko National Park.
A variety of landscapes throughout this district wait to be explored, from majestic High Country lakes, open plains dotted with granite boulders and autumn colours, picturesque towns and world class alpine resorts. A memorable 50km scenic drive is to travel from Berridale to Dalgety and on to Jindabyne (in either direction) and a further 5 minute drive west of Jindabyne is the Thredbo Valley which includes the area of Crackenback.
Berridale has a population of around 1200 and lies at 860 metres altitude. It’s about 30kms south-west of Cooma via Kosciuszko Road, en route to Jindabyne, (28kms west of Berridale) and the Perisher and Thredbo Alpine Resorts. Dalgety is only 18kms south of Berridale. The Snowy Mountains Airport is 16kms north-east of Berridale and 46kms north-east of Jindabyne on Kosciuszko Road and is serviced by Regional Express.
Berridale was established in the 1860’s and was often a stopover for prospectors heading to the goldfields of Kiandra, to the north. Around 100 years later, the town accommodated workers from the Snowy Hydro Electric Scheme. In the 1930’s, local children planted the impressive stands of poplars that line the main road through the town. In Autumn, these poplars and many others across the Monaro Plains, attract visitors from afar, seeking a different sort of gold to that of the pioneers.
Coolamatong Golf Club is just outside Berridale on the way to Jindabyne and has 18 holes with grass greens. Berridale offers accommodation options, a pub, café, ski hire, retail stores, fuel and other services. There’s also a centrally located park with bbq facilities, play equipment and skate park.
Historical signage in the park in Berridale gives a detailed insight into the early days of the town and surrounding district and includes the origins of the town’s name. Berridale is said to have been named after Berriedale in Scotland, the home town of one of the early European pioneers, William Oliver. Berriedale is derived from ‘Bearghdal’, from the ‘Norse’ language (Scandinavian) and means ‘stony glen’, which is most appropriate, considering the landscape surrounding Berridale features thousands of granite boulders. A glen is a Scottish term for a mountain valley.
Berridale is proud of its past and today we can enjoy some original buildings that have been a big part of the history of the town. In Myack Street the 1881 built former police station and post office can be found and informative signage provides us with the history of this beautiful old building.
Aitchison Cottage, in Berridale’s park, is not to be missed. Built in 1836, this historic treasure is one of the oldest buildings in the NSW High Country and is currently being restored by a dedicated group of volunteers. Once it’s open to the public we’ll provide all the details here so it can be enjoyed, as it has a fascinating history.
Events across this district attract visitors in all seasons, including L’Etape Australia, a one day cycling event operated by the Tour de France, on closed roads between Jindabyne, Dalgety, Berridale, Perisher and Crackenback in the Thredbo Valley. Other popular events include the Snowy Mountains Trout Festival and the busy year round calendar of events in the nearby alpine resorts.
Dalgety sits alongside the famous Snowy River, in a pretty valley that is a highlight of this part of the High Country. Driving 18kms south of Berridale down to Dalgety is one of the most scenic short drives in the High Country, with granite boulders seemingly scattered across the landscape like thousands of marbles. Sunrise and sunset light on the granite create memorable moments that are made to be photographed.
Dalgety is a small town with a population of around 200 offering a country pub, café, restaurant and caravan park. The setting, on the banks of the Snowy River, is picturesque and peaceful. The self-guided historic walk is well worth following, to discover the history of the town. Dalgety was originally called ‘Buckley’s Crossing’ after early pioneer, Edward Buckley, as this part of the river was being used as a crossing point for sheep and cattle. Crossing the river became easier in 1888, when the magnificent bridge was opened, that we still use today.
The capital city of Australia was at one point, going to be the town of Dalgety, during the search for a location, but in the end Canberra was chosen. Following the Snowy River Way west of Dalgety to Jindabyne, a little over 30kms away, takes you through an undulating landscape of granite boulders, stunning deciduous trees showing off in Autumn and the pretty Monaro Plains.
Jindabyne, affectionately known as ‘Jindy’, has a population of just over 2500 and sits on the southern shore of Lake Jindabyne, which was built as part of the Snowy Hydro Electric Scheme. This was another town that moved in order to make way for the lake to be constructed. The original town was established in the 1860’s and is now submerged by the lake. The current town was established around 100 years later.
Lake Jindabyne and the surrounding mountains provide a stunning backdrop to the town of Jindabyne that has created a completely unique mountain village atmosphere that must be experienced. At an altitude of 915 metres, Jindabyne is also on the doorstep of the alpine region of this part of the High Country.
Jindabyne has a large shopping centre with many retail stores and dining/cafe options, a supermarket, ski hires, outdoor sports stores and services, including 2 medical centres. There are a variety of shops centrally located in the CBD, in what has to be one of the most beautiful locations for a town, in all of the High Country. Accommodation ranges from holiday parks, motels, self-contained apartments, holiday houses and hotels. East Jindabyne is only 10kms north-east of Jindabyne and is a lakeside residential area and has accommodation, fuel, ski hire and is located just off Kosciuszko Road.
The Snowy Region Visitor Centre is located on the eastern side of Nuggets Crossing Shopping Centre. This is an outstanding Visitor Centre with fantastic displays, including one for the Critically Endangered Corroboree Frog, art exhibitions, theatre, café, toilets, an extensive range of souvenirs, books and High Country orientated merchandise.
Mountain biking, bushwalking, fishing, boating and horse trail riding are some of the outdoor activities that keep attracting visitors to Jindabyne. There’s also a scenic lakeside walking and cycling trail with fitness stations and superb lake and mountain views. An interactive map and detailed information on the variety of mountain bike trails in and around Jindabyne can be found here
The Thredbo Valley is found only a few minutes west of Jindabyne and is home to the Thredbo Alpine Resort and the small rural area of Crackenback. Several accommodation options and activities and attractions are located around Crackenback. Between the Thredbo Alpine Resort and Jindabyne the Thredbo River, a trout fishing favourite, wanders down the valley, eventually flowing into Lake Jindabyne.
One of the most popular, well designed and maintained walking and mountain bike tracks for visitors to Kosciuszko National Park, is the Thredbo Valley Track. This 16.7km (one way) track is generally flat and of an easy standard and has suspension bridges over the Thredbo River and passes through beautiful scenery between Bullocks Hut and Thredbo Alpine Resort.
The trail is shared (with bike riders being requested to give way to walkers) and can be enjoyed in stages by entering or finishing at various points along the way, including the Thredbo Diggings Campground or Ngarigo Campground. If you park at the eastern end of the trail near Lake Crackenback, to start the trail at Bullocks Hut, you don’t need to pay the Kosciuszko National Park entry fee. If you park further along the Thredbo Valley or at the campgrounds you will need to pay the entry fee. Further information on the Thredbo Valley Track, entry fees and road and track closures in the area are all outlined here
The 2 campgrounds along the Thredbo Valley are beside the delightful Thredbo River, having excellent facilities, ample space and one of the most picturesque settings in the High Country.
A Park Entry Fee needs to be paid upon entering Kosciuszko National Park, year-round, if going to Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, Perisher or the surrounding alpine areas. If travelling between Jindabyne and Khancoban, in either direction, without stopping to use the resort or National Park, there’s no charge. There’s also no charge for entering Kosciuszko National Park from the North, via the Snowy Mountains Highway. Follow this link to further information about entering Kosciuszko National Park
This whole region offers so much to visitors, with the Monaro Plains covering a huge area in each direction, stretching over 100kms from north to south. The Monaro is a haven of High Country history and a photographer’s dream with old houses, rustic shearing sheds and relics of the High Country pioneers. When touring these undulating high plains, each time you reach the end of the stretch of the road you’re on, the landscape invites you to keep exploring what’s over the next hill or round the next bend. The first and last rays of sun across this region, transform ancient trees and granite boulders into stunning scenes.
