8 places to camp in and around Jindabyne

Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
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Pitch a tent among snow gums and wake up to birdsong or fall to sleep to the rush of a river with these awesome Jindabyne camping and caravanning options.

During the summer months, camping in and around Jindabyne places you at the epicentre of outdoor adventure. There’s tranquil Lake Jindabyne for boating or kayaking, and Kosciuszko National Park, where you can set off on bushwalks and mountain bike rides. Come winter, you can hunker down in a cosy cabin or rug up in your van when it’s minus temps outside and be close to Thredbo and Perisher ski resorts without breaking the budget – and close to town for drinking and dining. Here, some of the best places for camping in the Snowy Mountains and Jindabyne.

1. NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park

Best for: families, couples, central location

Make this your base for an affordable snow holiday to Perisher Valley or Thredbo or as a convenient way to explore Kosciuszko National Park. It’s located smack-bang in the middle of town, within walking distance of shops, bars and restaurants, and on the edge of Lake Jindabyne, providing a pretty backdrop – particularly at sunrise and sunset – and easy access for launching your boat or kayaks during the warmer months.

The holiday park has both unpowered and powered campsites, some dog-friendly, as well as a range of cabins and villas, from affordable cabins with no ensuites to modern tiny homes and converted shipping containers – aka Glamtainers. There’s a drying room for snow gear, a camp kitchen with a pizza oven, e-bike hire, a kids’ playground and a communal campfire.

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2. Glamping in the Snowy Mountains

a couple enjoying wine and cheese in the Snowy Mountains
Keep cosy during the winter months in the Snowy Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: couples, seclusion, off-grid

Get back to nature with a stay in this off-grid safari-style tent nestled on a 30-hectare property on the Snowy River. It’s only a 10-minute drive from Jindabyne and just 20 minutes from Kosciuszko National Park, but it feels totally secluded.

The luxe tent comprises a plush queen bed, lounge, kitchenette with coffee machine, a gas heater, and a separate shower and toilet. There are dreamy views of the mountains from bed, and two outdoor tubs to melt into after time spent on the mountain. The Snowy River is a few hundred metres from your doorstep; the gentle sound of rushing water lulling you to sleep at night.

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3. Discovery Parks Jindabyne

the cabins at Discovery Parks Jindabyne
Discovery Parks Jindabyne is a convenient base near Kosciuszko National Park.

Best for: families, views, central location

On the edge of town and Lake Jindabyne, Discovery Parks has a range of accommodation from unpowered and powered sites to modern two-bedroom cabins with fireplaces. It’s a convenient base for heading up to ski fields and into Kosciuszko National Park.

It’s a great spot for families with kids, with entertainment such as outdoor lawn games, a tennis court, playground and bouncing pillow. There’s also a sauna, which is a welcome addition post-mountain, as well as barbecues and a kiosk. But the town of Jindabyne is also a short drive away to grab a bite to eat if you don’t feel like cooking.

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4. Thredbo Diggings Campground

fly fishing in the Thredbo River
Go fly fishing for trout in the Thredbo River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, groups, nature

This Kosciuszko National Park campsite is set on Thredbo River, a 20-minute drive from Jindabyne and a short drive to the ski fields, which during the summer months become hiking and mountain biking playgrounds. Pitch your tent under the snow gums and enjoy the panoramic mountain views. There are 41 campsites suitable for tents, camper trailers and caravans, with picnic tables, toilets and barbecues. Bring drinking water and firewood for the barbecues and fire rings.

The campground is the starting point for Bullocks Track, a five-kilometre return bushwalk that traces the river. It’s also nearby Thredbo Valley Track for family-friendly bike riding, alongside the river, through eucalypt forest and over suspension bridges. Or try your hand at fly fishing in the river, which is home to brown and rainbow trout – a satisfying dinner you can cook at the campsite.

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5. Ngarigo Campground

tents within a tall alpine ash forest at Ngarigo Campground
Spend your days and nights off the grid surrounded by nature at Ngarigo. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, groups, nature

Also located within Kosciuszko National Park on the Thredbo River, Ngarigo is nestled within tall alpine ash forest. Just as with Thredbo Diggings, you can fish for rainbow and brown trout in the river or set off on a bushwalk in nearby Thredbo Alpine Village, bike riding along Thredbo Valley Track or horse riding through the Snowy Mountains.

There are 30 campsites, with suitability for tents, camper trailers and caravans. The campground features picnic tables, barbecues and toilets. Bring drinking water and firewood for the barbecues and fire rings.

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6. Snowy River Holiday Park

Best for: families, seclusion, history

This holiday park is in the historic village of Dalgety, which is the only settlement left on the banks of the Snowy River after the Snowy Electric Hydro Scheme flooded the original towns of Jindabyne and Adaminaby in the 1950s. It’s a 30-minute drive east of the new town of Jindabyne and a peaceful setting to explore Kosciuszko National Park, whether that be skiing in winter or hiking and wildlife spotting in summer.

The pet-friendly park has self-contained cabins, powered and unpowered sites, dotted on the two-hectare property. There’s a drying room for your snow gear, a communal firepit, kitchen and barbecue facilities.

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7. Kosciuszko Tourist Park

a snowy landscape with horses at Kosciuszko National Park
Be surrounded by snow gums and wilderness at Kosciuszko National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Best for: families, nature, seclusion

Australia’s highest tourist park is located within Kosciuszko National Park, close to the ski fields and a 15-minute drive from Jindabyne. Surrounded by snow gums and lush bushland, it has unpowered and powered sites, simple cabins and two- to three-bedroom chalets that sleep between six and eight. Some of the two-bedroom chalets have been recently upgraded with modern furnishings and amenities.

There is a camp kitchen, a drying room for snow gear, and many of the sites and cabins have firepits. The location of the park means that during winter it can snow here, blanketing the surrounding landscape in white.

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8. Island Bend campground

camping under the stars at Island Bend campground, Jindabyne
Camp under the stars at Island Bend campground. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, seclusion, nature

This national park campground is located near Perisher, making it a great base for bushwalking, bike riding, fishing and skiing – if you are brave enough to camp in the snow! It is perched on the edge of the Snowy River, where you can canoe or swim when it’s warm. Just up the road, Guthega Power Station is the gateway to historic huts and there is plenty of backcountry hiking.

The campground has 70 sites, suitable for tents and camper trailers, as well as picnic tables, barbecues and toilets. You’ll need to bring drinking water and firewood for the fire rings.

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Megan Arkinstall
Megan Arkinstall is a freelance travel writer who you’ll often find at the beach, bushwalking or boating with her young family. She loves reliving travel memories through writing, whether that be sipping limoncello in a sun-drenched courtyard of Monterosso or swimming with green turtles in the aquamarine waters of Tropical North Queensland.
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a tiny home in the snow at Big Yard Escapes, Jindabyne accommodation
Jindabyne

17 incredible stays in and around Jindabyne

From cosy cabins nestled in the mountains to ultra-modern houses just walking distance from town, here are some of the best places to stay in Jindabyne and its surrounds.

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Slowing down in Moree: a guide to the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia

(Credit: Destination NSW)

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    The Artesian Spa Capital of Australia offers the perfect destination to escape the grind and reset.

    The world moves more slowly in Moree, and that’s how it should be. Here, country charm and heritage buildings fill the town’s wide streets. While the surrounding farmland mixes with lush riverways to create a fascinating landscape.

    But the biggest pull? Moree is known as the Artesian Spa Capital of Australia. It’s truly a place to slow down and disconnect, all an easy train ride from Sydney.

    Soak in Moree’s artesian water

    kids at Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
    Dive in to Moree’s artesian waters.

    Moree is not your typical wellness retreat, replacing pretence with casual and easy. Blessed to be sitting above the Great Artesian Basin, it feeds the town (and surrounding villages) with hot, mineral-rich water. Loaded with minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulphur, this water is believed to help with skin health, joint function and tissue repair.

    And the town’s crown jewel, Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, has reopened after extensive upgrades. This state-of-the-art aquatic centre offers accessible facilities with multiple artesian baths of varying temperatures between 38 and 41°C.

    Feel like exploring a little further? About an hour’s drive from Moree, the village of Boomi also offers public access to this same artesian water. Pop into Boomi Artesian Pool to make the most of a 25-metre cold pool, a wading pool and a hot artesian spa pool.

    Just an hour west of Boomi, you’ll also find Mungindi Hot Artesian Pool, another relaxing place to rejuvenate for the afternoon in the mineral-rich water.

    Moree’s best stays

    woman swimming ta Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre
    Stay right by Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre.

    There are several motels within walking distance of the aquatic centre, so you linger longer in its therapeutic waters. A day pass not enough? Really soak in the benefits of Moree at three local stays with their own artesian baths.

    Gwydir Thermal Pools Resort boasts five artesian pools for motel and caravan park guests, ranging in soothing temperatures from 34 to 39 degrees. And that includes a 25-metre lap pool.

    The Phoenix, Artesian Spa Resort & Accommodation features outdoor artesian thermal pools and six indoor artesian spas, all 34 to 42°C, plus regular pools for guests staying in their accommodations.

    While the Artesian Spa Motel matches 46 comfortable budget rooms set across five acres of landscaped grounds, with direct access (for guests) to its own natural artesian hot thermal pool.

    Moree’s location at the crossroads of the Newell and Gwydir Highways makes it the ideal resting place for those road tripping through country NSW. With plenty of accommodation options, including farm stays, quaint bed and breakfasts and affordable motels.

    Delving into nature around Moree

    aerial of moree
    Find plenty of natural beauty in and around Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Beyond the baths, find calm in Moree’s nature. Soak up the impressive Gwydir River from the peaceful Tareelaroi Weir Recreation Area. Popular with locals, this scenic spot is perfect for fishing, kayaking and picnics. Delve into local history at the Terry Hie Hie Picnic Area – a significant Gamilaroi cultural site. The picnic area is still used today as a ceremonial gathering ground, with educational signage sharing the history of the Gamilaroi People and the mission which used to reside here in the early 20th Century. Follow the Yana-y Warruwi Walking Track to explore the area’s box pine forest.

    Combine nature and culture at the Jellicoe Park Open Spaces Aboriginal Art Trail along the scenic Mehi River Walk. Find artworks from local Indigenous artists across a range of different mediums, like carved logs, engraved and painted sandstone and scar tree paintings.

    A taste of Moree

    meal at Moree Country Club
    Sit down for a tasty meal after a game of golf. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Taste the best of local cafes as you wander past the Art Deco architecture of Moree’s tree-lined main streets. Join the locals each morning at Brooker Trading Co as they line up for their morning java. Stay for classic breakfast dishes like eggs benedict and Dutch pancakes, or arrive later in the day for a hearty lunch menu. Inside a gorgeous Art Deco building, 61 Balo is another tasty breakfast option, with pet-friendly service. The recently renovated Cafe Omega is another popular stop for fresh, hearty meals – the chicken burger is a particular crowd pleaser – all served with a smile.

    Get inspired as you wander the CBD’s Mural Trail, stopping at some of Moree’s six art galleries along the way. Bank Art Museum is a must-see, housed in the town’s heritage bank building and home to a collection of First Nations art, plus a changing calendar of touring exhibitions.

    Bank Art Museum Moree
    Step inside the gorgeous Bank Art Museum Moree. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    Get active with a round on the beautiful riverside course at Moree Golf Club (and refuel afterwards at the delicious onsite restaurant) or a game of bowls at Moree Services Club’s state-of-the-art facility. Visit on the last weekend of September to join (or watch) Run the Plains, Moree’s annual two-day running festival.

    Known as ‘white gold’ country, Moree is Australia’s most productive agricultural region. Visit from April to September to join a cotton farm tour and get to know one of Moree’s major exports.

    However long you choose to stay, there’s plenty to soak in around Moree.

    Start planning the ultimate escape at visitmoreeplains.com.au.