Holiday houses in Adaminaby

From dramatic summits to breathtaking ravines, challenging slopes to gentle hills, the Snowy Mountains region of southern New South Wales knows how to dazzle. This is Australia’s highest mountain range, home to its loftiest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, at 2,228 metres. It’s also where you’ll find the state’s three ski resorts accessed via dozens of charming alpine towns, many with significant history.

Amid them is Adaminaby, a lofty hamlet at 1,017 metres that was put on the map back in the late 1940s, when the Eucumbene River was dammed to create Lake Eucumbene as part of the country’s important Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. In fact, it was put on the map twice, having been relocated to make way for the new waterway. Today, Adaminaby is not only the gateway to all manner of winter activities, but it’s also the trout fishing centre of New South Wales, and offers plenty of watersports, bushwalking, and horseback riding.

Adaminaby is a town of four seasons, which is to say there really is no bad time to visit. The elevation means that snow regularly dusts the streets as well as the surrounding peaks, a major draw for winter sports enthusiasts from June through October. When the frost melts, wildflowers, daffodils, and blossoms blanket the countryside in spring, creating a colourful backdrop for hikers through the region’s vast national parkland. It’s a similar story in autumn, except replaced with fiery autumnal hues. Meanwhile, mild summer temperatures herald clear blue skies ideal for all manner of outdoor activities, from horseback riding to trekking to cycling and fishing.

Fishing

Australia loves big things, whether oversized statues of pineapples or gigantic prawns. In Adaminaby, the draw is a 10-metre-high Big Trout, a symbol of the superb fishing available here in crystal-clear rivers and Lake Eucumbene. If you’re a keen angler, be sure to visit in spring for the Snowy Mountains Trout Festival.

Yarrangobilly Caves

Located in a 12-kilometre-long karst region along the Yarrangobilly River Valley north of Kosciuszko National Park, this wondrous cave system cocoons 400-million-year-old limestone stalactites and stalagmites. Close to the caves is a natural thermal pool that’s 27 degrees Celsius year round, perfect for a quick dip, even if you’re surrounded by snow.

Cycling

This part of New South Wales is a mecca for cyclists, offering textbook mountain-bike experiences across dirt tracks and sealed roads. For a solid workout, test the Thredbo Valley Track, with routes through Kosciuszko National Park and along the Thredbo River. Another highlight is the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail, its sealed and safe tracks following the region’s onetime rail line.