Cooma to Thredbo drive: Distance, time & best attractions
The best stops on the Cooma to Thredbo drive include Berridale and Jindabyne. By car, the distance from Cooma to Thredbo is 98km, with a driving time of 1h14m.
The Cooma to Thredbo drive takes you from the hub town of the Snowy Mountains to the top ski resort in New South Wales.
Things to do in Cooma include paying a visit to the NSW State Correctional Gaol Museum and Snowy Mountains Hydro Discovery Centre.
For the best Cooma accommodation, look here. To book Thredbo accommodation, head here.
Cooma to Thredbo distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Cooma to Thredbo is 98km. That makes for a driving time of around 1h14m.
The best stops to add to a Cooma to Thredbo road trip itinerary are Berridale and Jindabyne.
Where to stay in Cooma
The best Cooma accommodation picks are:
- For a solid motel with cheap rates: iMotel Cooma.
- For a heated indoor pool: Kinross Inn.
- To be within walking distance of restaurants: Nebula Motel.
Cooma to Thredbo drive: Cooma to Jindabyne
From Cooma to Jindabyne, it’s another 63km, starting out on the Snowy Mountains Highway. The Nanny Goat Hill Lookout and Mount Gladstone Lookout make for good views in the early part of the journey.
The Cooma to Thredbo route then turns down the Kosciuszko Road just after the Metro Roadhouse. It’s mainly uphill into the Australian Alps from here, and Berridale is the only settlement of any note. There are a few accommodation options and skiwear shops in Berridale, before skirting the eastern shore of Lake Thredbo.
Things to do in Jindabyne include Harley Davidson tours, helicopter rides and trout fishing. The drive from Jindabyne to Thredbo takes about half an hour.
Top Jindabyne accommodation picks include the NRMA Jindabyne holiday park, the three star Lake Thredbo Hotel and the Jindy Inn.
Cooma to Thredbo road trip: Jindabyne to Thredbo
The distance from Jindabyne to Thredbo by car is about 36km. The truly windy part of the Alpine Way comes later, so this doesn’t take an enormously long time. You’re looking at a Jindabyne to Thredbo journey time of about 31 minutes.
The largely route follows Wollondibby Creek until Crackenback. Here you can visit Crackenback Farm or enjoy a tasting session at the Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery.
Just outside Crackenback, you can go on a trail ride with Thredbo Valley Horse Riding.
From here the Alpine Way continues past the Lake Crackenback Resort and enters the Kosciuszko National Park. The Thredbo Diggings Campground is just off the route by the Thredbo River, and there are several excellent walking trails in the Thredbo Valley.
Once in Thredbo itself, the ski lifts head up the slopes from the town centre. Come outside of the winter months, and you can use the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift to get to the starting point of the Mt Kosciuszko hike. This trail takes you to the top of Australia’s highest mountain.
