A guide to the best things to do in Thredbo

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It’s activity central all year round, so use our guide to get amongst the best things to do in Thredbo.

The Snowy Mountains village is home to Australia’s longest ski runs, but there’s plenty more going for Thredbo than its famed snow-dusted slopes. A question we often hear is ‘Can you go to Thredbo and not ski?’ and the short answer is heck yes. A mecca for adventure seekers, offering mountain biking, fly-fishing and everything in between, plus incredible dining experiences and serene camping, Thredbo thrives no matter what the weather report’s doing. Check out our ultimate list of things to do in Thredbo.

1. Go skiing and snowboarding

People skiing down a slope in Thredbo.
Hit the slopes. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Thredbo’s number one calling card, hands down. Keen skiers and snowboarders have long been drawn to New South Wales’ alpine village and its world-class slopes.

Home to more than 50 ski runs suitable for beginners, intermediates, and the advanced, plus a terrain park complete with jumps and rails, and various flare runs and fireworks displays, there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

But activity isn’t just relegated to groomed pistes. There are plenty of things to do in Thredbo’s backcountry too, with several local operators offering specialised tours.

2. Make tracks on the Thredbo Alpine Coaster

vertical heights on the Thredbo Alpine Coaster, Thredbo, Snowy Mountains
Feel the adrenaline rush on the Thredbo Alpine Coaster. (Image: Destination NSW)

Open all year round, the Thredbo Alpine Coaster is the first continuously running operation of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Flying down a hill for 1.5 kilometres and dropping guests off at Alpine Way, the ride swishes and swerves at a speed of up to 40km/h, with every passenger able to control their own pace. Zoom through tunnels, cross bridges and cop non-stop streaming wind gust as you sit back and let the rails do your heavy lifting. Kids must be over the age of eight to ride solo but if they’re age three, they can slide in tow with mum or dad.

3. Cycle Thredbo Mountain Bike Park

cycling at Thredbo Mountain Bike Park,Snowy Mountains
Explore Thredbo’s rugged terrain on two wheels. (Image: Destination NSW)

Thredbo’s rugged terrain transforms into the Thredbo Mountain Bike Park during the warmer months, where dirt ribbons weave down the mountainside among the rocky scrub and everything’s accessible by chairlift.

The linked network of cross-country trails has something to suit every skill level, from absolute beginner to consummate bikeaholic. There’s even a skills park, clinics available for all ages, and MTB programs for little ones when the sunny season ramps up.

4. Explore after dark on a Snowshoe Night Tour

During the winter months, Thredbo invites safe night exploration through its seasonal Snowshoe Night Tour . In 2025, it’s on from July 4 until August 22, but check the website each ski season for up-to-date scheduling. Sign up to jump aboard a ski gondola at sunset before an after-dark hike charts the region’s history and cultural significance. Each tour lasts about 2.5 hours in total and is led by an experienced guide with groups capped at just six people.

5. Go hiking in Kosciuszko National Park

frost over the vegetation along the Mount Kosciuszko Summit walk
Kosciuszko National Park is overflowing with scenic hiking trails. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Kosciuszko National Park is littered with scenic hiking trails, best accessed in late spring and summer when wildflowers speckle the mountainside, local wildlife surfaces to feast on the scrub, and glacial lakes emerge from their icy winter forms. The most beautiful Thredbo camping spots, riddled with walking trails, are worth consideration in summer, too.

Trace the contours of the Snowy Mountains on the Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk, which leads to the top of Australia’s highest peak. Wander leisurely through a forest with a mossy creek on the Meadows Nature Track or pack a picnic and take to the Pallaibo walking track, shaded by dry eucalypt forests where you’ll spy waterfalls and maybe even chance upon platypuses, wedge-tailed eagles and crimson rosellas.

6. Abseil and rock climb indoors and outdoors

rock climbing and abseiling in Thredbo
Explore Thredbo from a different perspective.

Explore the so-called ‘rooftop of Australia’ from a different perspective: by scaling and rappelling down the granite tors above Thredbo. Everyone from kids aged four years old and upward, through to skilled climbers and abseilers, can take to the region’s rock walls with local operators Integral Climbing Adventures , who offer full- and half-day adventures. Those who’ve never abseiled before and prefer a guaranteed soft landing can try their hand at Thredbo Leisure Centre ’s indoor Bouldering Wall, positioned atop squishy mats for safe daredevil manoeuvring.

7. Snowshoe during peak snow season

Those in the market for a little ‘soft’ adventure should try a Snowshoe Tour during the daylight hours. You’ll soak up the serenity of the Australian Main Range’s winter wonderland yet still work up a sweat. Three-hour tours typically run with experienced guides from June to October, and they explore powder right throughout the region with a maximum group size of six.

8. Tee off at the Thredbo Golf Club

two people playing golf at Thredbo Golf Club
Practice your swings at the scenic nine-hole course.

Breathe in the fresh alpine air at Australia’s highest golf course, the Thredbo Golf Club . The scenic nine-hole course runs alongside the Thredbo River, around the base of the mountain, and is surrounded by wildflowers and lined with eucalyptus trees. You might even spy some native wildlife as you’re channelling your inner Greg Norman. The season typically starts in November, once winter’s frost has loosened its icy grasp.

9. Go fly-fishing for trout in the Thredbo River

Thredbo River Fly Fishing, Snowy Mountains
Catch wild trout in the Thredbo River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Cast a line and hook wild trout on the winding Thredbo River (some local catches have even weighed in at nearly five kilograms), with newbies needn’t feeling deterred from getting in on the action. The team at Clearwater Fly Fishing Guides offers lessons, as well as full- and half-day excursions for those keen to try. The team, led by Craig whose been successfully sniffing out local waters for more than 25 years, also venture into Lake Jindabyne, where the suckers roam freely there, too.

10. Skateboard at Thredbo Skate Park

a boy practicing how to skateboard on a mini ramp at Thredbo Skate Park
Try fancy tricks on the mini ramps at Thredbo Skate Park.

Pack the skateboard (or scooter, or bike) and make for the Thredbo Skate Park , located at the Village Green.

Situated next to public barbecues, picnic tables and a large grassy area, it features banks, a flat rail, mini ramps and some speed bumps to help you nail fancy tricks.

11. Feast at one of Thredbo’s top restaurants

a family enjoying scones and hot chocolate at Eagles Nest Restaurant, Thredbo
Sip hot chocolate at Eagles Nest Restaurant. (Image: Destination NSW)

Attracting visitors from right around the globe means catering to the pickiest of tastebuds, which is why Thredbo is crammed with authentic international cuisine and some of the most unique dining experiences in the country. From stalwarts like the weather-dependant Eagles Nest at the top of the Kosciuszko Chairlift, Australia’s highest restaurant, and Candlelight Lodge serving up European-inspired cheese fondue, to newer offerings including Izakaya which pays homage to the energy and flavours of Tokyo, you could very easily spend your entire trip hopping between restaurants, forgetting which hemisphere you’re in.

12. Go camping in Kosciuszko National Park

Immerse yourself in the greatest of outdoors during the warmer months with a stay at one of the best Thredbo camping spots. Several beautiful campgrounds within Kosciuszko National Park offer down-the-road access to Thredbo village and rich, barely touched alpine forest in which to lose yourself in. Sleep under the stars in camper trailers, caravans and tents before waking to the Thredbo River (perfect for tubing or more fly-fishing), an array of walking and biking trails and pure natural magnificence.

13. Road trip the Kosciuszko Alpine Way

al fresco dining at Wildbrumby Distillery, Thredbo
Make a pit stop at Wildbrumby Distillery. (Image: Destination NSW)

Get behind the wheel and explore the Snowy Mountains region along the endlessly impressive Kosciuszko Alpine Way, a 100-kilometre stretch that journeys from Cooma, a charming country town one-and-a-half-hour’s drive from Canberra, to Khancoban, famed for its scenic waters and gentle water sports. If you only have time to do a portion of the trip, hitting the road and heading to Jindabyne offers plenty of rewards including a pit stop at Wildbrumby Distillery , who specialise in schnapps, and incredible views of the looming mountains.

14. Go back to basics with winter ski lessons

New to this winter wonderland and keen to learn the right way? You’re in luck. In 2025, the Thredbo team revamped their learn-to-ski offerings, introducing lessons from $99 per adult and $129 per child. Each two-hour adult lesson is led by expert instructors, with the options of combined lift and lesson packages available for first timers. Kids’ lessons go for three hours, so while they’re gone, extended mulled wine o’clock for the grown-ups, perhaps?

15. Join a skiing or snowboarding tour of Thredbo

skiing in the slopes of Thredbo Resort
Visit in ski season to carve up the slopes at Thredbo. (Image: Destination NSW)

Let an expert spill everything there is to know about the ski resort’s rich history as you glide your way with a Guided Mountain Tour . The small-group tours, which don’t go over seven people at a time, run for three hours during the winter months and require participants to be either intermediate or advanced in the way of skiing or snowboarding. Guides also promise to reveal the mountain’s secrets which you’d probably never even consider as you’d typically fly past them on your way down the slopes.

16. Prepare to feast like a Bavarian

lunch at the Merritts Mountain Haus
Feast on traditional Bavarian cuisine at the Merritts Mountain Haus. (Image: Thredbo Resort)

Another highlight of the winter months, the Merritts Mountain Haus Feast is an annual jolly good time celebrating traditional Bavarian cuisine.

An authentic dinner is served inside Merritts Mountain House, right at the top of Merritts Gondola, and once you’re done stuffing yourself with the likes of pretzels with smoked butter, roast pork knuckle, crispy pork belly, sauerkraut, cured meats, apple strudel and more, you’ll head back down the mountain on your skis or snowboard in the dark. A truly unique and very special thing to do in Thredbo.

17. Try your hand at disc golf

Never heard of it? Don’t let that deter you. Thredbo’s disc golf is a family-friendly, weather-dependent sport staged at the Thredbo Golf Club when powder covers the course and regular golfers hibernate. Eighteen holes are set up right across the nine-hole golf course and the aim is to sink it, only you’re using a flying disc and your hands rather than a tiny ball and a club. They also run the game at Friday Flat during the summer months so you can indulge all year round.

18. Find your Zen at Thredbo Alpine Hotel

a couple relaxing at Thredbo Alpine Hotel, Snowy Mountains
Get cosy at the chalet-style Thredbo Alpine Hotel. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start your day with Thredbo yoga if you’re visiting during the summer school holiday period. Weekly yoga sessions, staged at Thredbo Alpine Hotel, typically run from December to January from 7am until 8am daily, inviting holiday makers to salute the sun in style. The team provides yoga mats, bolsters, blocks and straps so you don’t need to awkwardly cram any of it into your luggage — just make sure you book online before you set your alarm to ensure you’ve nabbed a spot.

19. Let it all hang out on the Alpine Bungee

They’re a kid favourite, often spotted in shopping centres, and now Thredbo plays home to its own permanent bungee trampolines every school holidays. Put a smile on their dials down at Valley Terminal on Friday Drive where you’ll spot the Alpine Bungee set up from Friday to Sunday. You need to weigh in at 15 kilograms or more to get into the action but there are no age restrictions. Watch your little ones squeal with delight as they soar safely above the ropes, fully strapped in via secure harnesses.

20. Soothe your lobes with live music

al fresco dining at Thredbo Alpine Hotel, Snowy Mountains
Dine al fresco with lush views at Thredbo Alpine Hotel. (Image: Destination NSW)

The perfect remedy to a long day on the slopes in winter is a session of live music to get you loosey goosy. Several spots offer a top-notch afternoon-into-evening fix including the River Inn’s beer garden and Lounge Bar at the Thredbo Alpine Hotel. If you’re up for a big one, winter also brings out local and internationally acclaimed DJs, who typically hit the decks at Alpine Bar as part of Thredbo’s renowned party scene.

Discover the best things to do in neighbouring Jindabyne

Originally written by Chloe Cann with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Chloe Cann
Chloe Cann is an award-winning freelance travel and food writer, born in England, based in Melbourne and Roman by adoption. Since honing her skills at City St George's, University of London with a master's degree in journalism, she's been writing almost exclusively about travel for more than a decade, and has worked in-house at newspapers and travel magazines in London, Phnom Penh, Sydney and Melbourne. Through a mixture of work and pleasure, she's been fortunate enough to visit 80 countries to date, though there are many more that she is itching to reach. While the strength of a region's food scene tends to dictate the location of her next trip, she can be equally swayed by the promise of interesting landscapes and offbeat experiences. And with a small person now in tow, travel looks a little different these days, but it remains at the front of her mind.
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7 great day trips from your Coffs Coast homebase

Make this dazzling stretch of beaches and natural wonders your home base for a grand adventure

Whether you’re setting out solo, bringing a mate, or packing in the whole family, no road trip along Australia’s East Coast is complete without at least a few days spent exploring the Coffs Coast. A stunning stretch of NSW coastline nestled between ancient high-elevation rainforests and magnificent, undiscovered beaches, Coffs offers amazing biodiversity, stunning natural beauty, and heaps of local charm, without the crowds. Pull up in Coffs Harbour , your perfect home base for these unforgettable day-trips.

1. Southern Beaches

The Coffs region boasts 30 of Australia’s most beautiful, unspoiled beaches, directly abutting a dramatic tableau of mountains and rainforests. Drive South of Coffs Harbour to find up-and-coming surf destinations where it’s still possible to catch an empty wave. First up is the picturesque Sawtell village . Wander the famous fig-tree-lined main street packed with laid-back places to eat and drink. Enjoy panoramic views and seasonal whale sightings at Bonville Headland on the Southern end of the beach.

Nearby Bongil Bongil National Park boasts seven kilometres of empty beach, along with hiking and cycling trails through beachfront rainforests – keep an eye out for koalas living in the trees. Boambee Beach and Boambee Creek Reserve are great for families, with shallow waters perfect for kayaking and SUPing, plus an off-leash dog beach.

family eating lunch in sawtell
Experience small-town charm in Sawtell.

2. Orara Valley Tourist Trail

The Orara Valley Tourist Trail has it all: hinterland bushwalks, birdwatching, horse riding, pristine swimming holes and rolling green pastures dotted with dairy farms and historic villages. And it’s only 15 minutes west of Coffs Harbour.

Sample produce at a roadside stall, stop into Coramba Hotel for a quintessential country pub lunch, or try the Idle in Cafe in Nana Glen for coffee and scones. Then spend the afternoon kayaking the Orara River or mountain biking on Mt Coramba. If you’re feeling adventurous, follow the 4WD touring route along the Orara Escarpment in Bindarri National Park , a rugged landscape with dazzling views that winds through untouched eucalypt rainforests and waterfalls.

A family sitting by the Orara Valley Tourist Trail.
Explore the green heart of Coffs.

3. Dorrigo National Park

Enjoy a classic day trip from Coffs to forest bathe in some of the oldest subtropical rainforests in the world at Dorrigo National Park, part of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests. These million-year-old ecosystems promise rare bird sightings, towering strangler figs, and epic walking tracks and picnic spots. Try the 6.6 km Wonga Walk to experience dreamy Crystal Shower Falls (where you can walk behind the falls) and the Skywalk Lookout, which offers spectacular views of the valley and coast. Then stop in Dorrigo town for a homey lunch. It’s worth noting that a section of the road between Ulong and Dorrigo – which dates to the 1880s – is unsealed, adding to the area’s end-of-the-earth allure but making travel difficult in adverse weather conditions. Alternatively, head to Dorrigo via the delightful township of Bellingen .

Three people standing at the SkyWalk lookout.
Wander the Skywalk.

4. Northern Beaches

For another tranquil expanse of sun, sand and surf breaks, head north to Woolgoolga (Tourism Australia’s Best Mainland Beach for 2025. Taste the coffee and local-produce breakfast at one of several cafes, then spot whales during their migration season along the Woolgoolga Whale Trail to the headland. Emerald Beach offers clear blue waters and another headland walk, perfect for taking in views of South Solitary Island, a dramatically rocky-cliffed island with a historic lighthouse. Red Rock, some 40km north of Coffs and named for its striking coastal rock formations, boasts a gorgeous estuary reserve that’s perfect for languorous days spent picnicking, swimming, fishing, and connecting with the relaxed local pace.

Freshly caught seafood by the beach, with sparkling ocean views.
Enjoy fresh seafood overlooking Woolgoolga Beach.

5. Jetty precinct

You could easily spend a whole day exploring the Jetty precinct – from its foreshores to the marina to Muttonbird Island. Start with fresh fish and chips from local institution Coffs Harbour Fisherman’s Co-op , before browsing the popular Harbourside Markets held every Sunday on the foreshores.

Take a scenic walk along the breakwall to Muttonbird Island , a cultural and ecological treasure with panoramic views and rich Gumbaynggirr heritage. The Giidany Miirlarl Education Space shares the island’s ancient stories, or join a guided moonlight tour to see the seasonal return of the muttonbirds.

Back at the Jetty Strip, find a buzzing mix of cafes, bars and restaurants with cuisines from around the world, open from morning until late. Don’t miss The Jetty Pavilion , a favourite for its unique menu blending modern Australian cuisine with vibrant world flavours.

walk to muttonbird island from coffs harbour
Walk the path where land meets sea and sky.

6. Grafton

Head inland from mid-October to early November to catch Grafton’s jacaranda season, when the town’s streets and parks are covered in purple. Even better, time your trip between 24 October and 2 November to attend the famous Jacaranda Festival, with special food items, performances and more. At any time of year, follow the self-guided Grafton Heritage Trail to discover the town’s historic buildings, landmarks and stories. Or get the blood pumping with a trip along the longest mapped white-water trail in Australia – the Clarence Canoe and Kayak Trail. Book a tour with Exodus Adventures .

woman walking through jacaranda trees in grafton
Time your Grafton trip to see the jacarandas in full bloom. (Image: @myclarencevalley)

7. Nambucca

Just south of Coffs Harbour sits Nambucca, the ideal town for a relaxed, coastal day trip. Hire a canoe, kayak or boat to explore over 80 kilometres of waterways stretching from the hinterland to the ocean. For those who prefer to stay on dry land (or double up their adventure for the day), stretch your legs along the V-Wall – a scenic coastal walk along the Nambucca River – dotted with boulders painted by the community, sharing messages, art and local stories. Stop along the way to buy Sydney rock oysters direct from local farmers, or try your own hand at fishing. Before heading back to Coffs, refuel on fresh seafood and wood-fired pizzas at Matilda’s in Nambucca .

a boat zooming through Nambucca Heads
Explore Nambucca’s waterways. (Image: Seen Australia)

Visit coffscoast.com and download the Coffs Coast Explorer App for more daytrips and trails.