MELBOURNE TO WANGARATTA

Welcome to our fantastic new tour through the stunning Snowy Mountains. With chauffeured pickup from home, we are transferred to meet our O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours coach and crew. Heading off, we travel north to Euroa for our lunch stop. From here we make our way to Wangaratta for our first night’s accommodation.

OVERNIGHT:  Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway, WANGARATTA

THE ALPINE WAY

This morning we travel up into the beautiful Victorian High Country, passing through the historic goldrush towns of Beechworth and Yackandandah. We view the southern end of Lake Hume and continue via the relocated town of Tallangatta. At Corryong we enjoy lunch and a visit to the Man from Snowy River Museum. Taking in more spectacular views this afternoon, we cross the upper reaches of the Mighty Murray and join the Alpine Way, which twists and rises revealing sweeping valleys and snow gum forests. We make our way up into the Majestic Snowy Mountains and the Kosciuszko National Park. Our destination is Thredbo Village, which sits tucked beneath Australia’s highest mountains. Thredbo is a lively Alpine Village surrounded by rugged ridge lines and crisp mountain air. We meet our hosts and settle in for the first of four very comfortable nights in the charming heritage-listed, Thredbo Alpine Hotel.

OVERNIGHT:  Thredbo Alpine Hotel, THREDBO VILLAGE

EXPLORING THREDBO

Nestled in the heart of the Snowy Mountains, Thredbo is known for it’s stunning scenery, relaxed mountain lifestyle and year round adventure.  This morning our hosts will show us around the Village, helping us become acquainted with the boutique shops, services, walks, rides and other features available.  We’ll enjoy a guided stroll along side the Thredbo River keeping an eye out for local bird life and native flora. Our guide will point out key landmarks, share a little about Thredbo’s history as a ski resort and highlight some of the best spots to return to during our stay. Also this morning we’ll take a gondola ride, all the time taking in the spectacular views. This afternoon we take a short drive further along the Alpine Way to a little gem in the mountains, the Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery. Here we learn the interesting story of the highest distillery in Australia, taste some sensational schnapps and perhaps wander the sculpture park with a coffee. We return to the Thredbo Village for some free time before a lovely dinner.

OVERNIGHT:  Thredbo Alpine Hotel, THREDBO VILLAGE

WALK TO THE TOP OF AUSTRALIA!

Today is our chance to walk to the summit of Australia’s highest Mountain, Mount Kosciuszko. Only steps from the hotel is the Mount Kosciuszko Express chair lift. A comfortable 15 minute ascent takes us to Austrlalia’s highest restaurant and the starting point of the amazing 13.5 km return walk to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko. We’ll split up into small groups, each with a guide, and begin this incredibly well designed board walk. Some folk will walk to the summit and back over about 4-5 hours, and others will stroll/walk as far as they are comfortable with.  Nearly all of the walk is on a slightly elevated, well designed metal board walk with a gravel walk for the last 20-30 minutes walk to the summit. The boardwalk is such that it won’t  get slippery should there be rain on a walk. In any case everyone will be awe inspired by the magnificent scenery and the fact that they are walking along the top of Mount Kosciuszko. We have time to rest this afternoon and process our achievements!

Lunch at own expense and arrangement

OVERNIGHT:  Thredbo Alpine Hotel, THREDBO VILLAGE

SNOWY MOUNTAINS DISCOVERY DAY

Today we venture beyond Thredbo and deeper into the breathtaking Snowy Mountains, discovering more of the region’s remarkable landscapes and engineering achievements. Our first stop is the alpine town of Jindabyne, nestled on the shores of the lake and surrounded by sweeping mountain views. From here, we travel across the unusual and lonely landscape to Lake Eucumbene, the largest reservoir in the Snowy Scheme and a vital part of one of Australia’s greatest hydro-engineering projects. We’ll pause at Eucumbene Dam, where we can enjoy a walk along the impressive dam wall, standing high above the waterline and taking in panoramic views across the vast lake and surrounding ranges. Next, we visit the informative Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma. Here we can explore the interactive displays and gallery, learning about the incredible vision, workforce and innovation behind the Snowy Mountains Scheme. On our return journey to Thredbo Village, we’ll unwind with a visit to Shut the Gate Wines near Berridale, a charming cellar door offering a selection of cool-climate wines to taste before heading back to the mountains.

OVERNIGHT:  Thredbo Alpine Hotel, THREDBO VILLAGE

THREDBO TO LAKES ENTRANCE

Today we start our brilliant alpine-to-coast journey. This route feels like travelling through layers of old Australia, from high country peaks to wide river flats and finally the sea. Descending from the mountains, the dramatic alpine slopes soften into rolling high plains. By the time we reach Dalgety, the landscape opens wide with big skies, and the winding Snowy River cutting quietly through the countryside. Dalgety feels like a forgotten chapter of history, once proposed as Australia’s capital, now peaceful and timeless. Turning towards Bombala we cross the softly undulating Monaro Plain. Bombala is known as platypus country. We now head south on the Monaro Highway to Cann River, then west to Lakes Entrance for our final night on tour.

OVERNIGHT: Bellevue on the Lakes, LAKES ENTRANCE

LAKES ENTRANCE TO HOME

With a leisurely start, we travel through picturesque cropping and dairy country via Maffra and Heyfield, arriving back to Melbourne mid afternoon where our chauffeurs will be waiting to hear of our adventures and take us safely home—all part of the O’Shannessy’s Quality Tours special service.