12 Reasons to Visit the Snowy Valleys in Summer

There is no shortage of ways to enjoy the outdoors in our Snowy Valleys home, nestled in the surrounding mountains of Kosciuszko National Park. We've managed to narrow down a list of 12 reasons to visit the Snowy Valleys during the summer. 

1. Hiking

An abundance of hiking options in the Snowy Valleys and the surrounding mountains of Kosciuszko await. We don’t know where to start! The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is your best starting point for planning where to go for a hike. For a little inspiration, Long Plain has plenty of options for day hikes or multi-day trips. From Long Plain, local gems like Blue Waterholes, Coolamine Homestead and Cooinbil Hut can be explored. Learn more about Long Plain here. 

2. Fly Fishing - Rivers and Streams

One of the most popular reasons to visit the Snowy Valleys is for the world-class fly fishing on offer. Mere metres from the store is the Tumut River, one of the finest tail-water trout rivers in NSW. A little further up the road, an hour or so, renowned alpine water like the Eucumbene, Murrumbidgee and Yarrangobilly Rivers, to name a few, await.

3. Fly Fishing - Lakes

The Snowy Valleys and the surrounding mountains of Kosciuszko are not just home to some of the best trout rivers and streams in Australia. Lakes like Blowering, Talbingo and further up the mountains, Eucumbene and Tantangara, also provide excellent fishing year-round. Recently, we released a three-part series with Mickey Finn where he catches and cooks trout caught on Lake Eucumbene. 

4. Mountain Biking

Weave through exciting MTB single track, chase white lines on quiet country roads with spectacular vistas or grind some gravel on the back roads. There is also the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail, with 21km of sealed track with gentle gradients and sweeping curves. The local MTB park, found on the edge of town near the golf course, is home to over 20km of single track with a wide variety of terrain for all levels. Kosciuszko National Park is also waiting to be explored by bike. An option close to town is Venables Hut, more info here. 

5. Waterfalls

There is a waterfall tucked away in just about every corner of the Snowy Valleys. Adelong Falls, Paddy’s River Falls, Landers Falls, and Cave Creek Falls, to name a few. One of our favourites is Blowering Cliffs Waterfall, just a 20-minute drive away and a pleasant walk. 

6. Blowering Dam 

Blowering Dam is a special spot for us all here at Tom’s Outdoors and for many different reasons. For some, it is a go-to camping destination. Others spend their time chasing trophy Murray Cod and for others, it is perfect for an afternoon paddle to soak up the sun. Blowering is one of the largest Dams in NSW. The Dam is stocked with Murray Cod, Golden Perch and Silver Perch with some trout and other species present. There are plenty of accessible campgrounds (book ahead with National Parks) and boat ramps surrounding the water. 

7. Trail Running

With so many tracks and trails for hiking and biking come a multitude of trail running options. The local MTB park is popular amongst locals wanting to stretch their legs on some single track. Tumut is lucky to have a local running club, the Tumut Trotters, who meet weekly for social training runs. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram. 

8. Paddle

Throughout the Snowy Valleys, there is a paddling option for every type of paddler. Spend warm sunny weekends cruising along Blowering Dam in a kayak or on-board a SUP. Wind yourself down the Tumut River, stoping for a fish along the way. If you prefer something with more adrenaline, hit up the Goobarragandra for some fast-paced rapid action. The team here at Tom’s recently spent the afternoon at the Junction for what we call "product testing". The Junction is where the Tumut River meets the Goobarragandra River. The surrounding grassy banks are perfect for a summer picnic and swim. 

9. Packrafting

Inflatable rafts, otherwise known as packrafts, are the latest and greatest way to get out on the water without the hassle of heavy lifting, trailers, ratchet straps and all the rest. Packrafts make it easier than ever to explore Australia's untouched waterways and places otherwise inaccessible. With so many waterways in the Snowy Valleys, come so many options for packrafting. Choose from a multi-day trip down the Tumut combined with fishing or a Snowy Mountains packraft/bike/hike venture. Or, since packrafts are so light, multiple runs down a set of rapids like the ‘chute’ on the Goobarragandra River can be done, as we did here. 

10. Hume and Hovell

The Hume and Hovell track winds some 426km through Australian colonial and indigenous history, between Yass and Albury. A section close to home for us starts at the Thomas Boyd Track head. Cross the Norm Harris bridge and follow the track some 4 km as it weaves in between the spectacular Goobarragandra River and rolling hills of farmland, winding up at the Jack Cribb Suspension Bridge. Visit the Hume and Hovell's website to plan your walk.

11. Camping

The camping options in the Snowy Valleys and surrounds are literally endless, with an entire national park to remote camp and a multitude of well-equipped campsites through Kosciuszko and nearby Forestry reserves. For information on camping in Kosciuszko National Park, visit NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Information on camping in State Forests can be found here. Find some camp cooking inspiration here, since arguably the best part of camping is the food. 

12. Tom’s Outdoors

Finally, you should visit the Snowy Valleys to visit us! You can find our shop at 52 Fitzroy St in Tumut. We’re on the Snowy Mountains Highway, on the way to the mountains! We all love to talk gear and love hearing about what adventures you planned in the area. Or, if you need a hot tip on where to go, we can get you going in the right direction. Learn more about us here.