Things to do in Cooma, NSW: Best attractions and walks

The best things to do in Cooma, NSW, are the Snowy Mountains Hydro Discovery Centre and NSW State Correctional Gaol Museum. But the gateway to the Snowy Mountains also offers good walks and photo stops.

5 best things to do in Cooma, NSW

The best things to do in Cooma, NSW, are:

Learning about the incredible Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme at the Snowy Mountains Hydro Discovery Centre.
Get prison stories and history at the NSW State Correctional Gaol Museum.
Take in heritage buildings and natural beauty on the 5km Lambie Town Walk.
Check out local art at the Raglan Gallery and Cultural Centre.
Enjoy the views from the Nanny Goat Hill Lookout.

Where is Cooma, NSW?

Cooma, NSW, is a former gold rush town that acts as the gateway to the Snowy Mountains.

It is not usually seen as a destination in its own right, with most visitors just passing through on the way to Jindabyne and the ski resorts at Thredbo and Perisher. It’s a 116km drive from Canberra.

Book in advance for the cheapest rates on Cooma accommodation.

Things to do in Cooma, NSW: Snowy Mountains Hydro Discovery Centre

However, there are a few things to do in Cooma that are worth considering. Top of the list of Cooma attractions is the Snowy Mountains Hydro Discovery Centre, which delves into the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. This system of dams, lakes, pipes and power stations is rightly regarded as an engineering marvel.

The Snowy Mountains Hydro Discovery Centre is one of the best things to do in Cooma, NSW.

What to do in Cooma: NSW State Correctional Gaol Museum

The NSW State Correctional Gaol Museum is also surprisingly interesting.

It covers the history of prisons in New South Wales, taking in prisoners’ stories and how practices have changed from the convict era to the present day.

Lambie Town Walk in Cooma, NSW

Other things to do in Cooma include the Lambie Town Walk, a self-guided trail that takes in heritage buildings and beauty spots such as Lambie Gorge. The walk is about five kilometres long, and should take most people just over an hour.

There’s also the Raglan Gallery and Cultural Centre inside the former Lord Raglan Inn, should you want to take a look at locally-made art.

Should you just want a walk and a photo stop before tackling the Cooma to Jindabyne drive, however, the best spots are the Nanny Goat Hill Lookout and Mount Gladstone Lookout.

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.

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