Things to do in Jindabyne, NSW

The best things to do in Jindabyne, NSW, include trout fishing in Lake Jindabyne, Harley Davidson rides, helicopter flights and backcountry skiing tours

Jindabyne, NSW, is a Snowy Mountains town that acts as a service hub for the nearby ski resorts of Thredbo, Perisher and Crackenback. It is close to Mt Kosciuszko and many skiers prefer to stay in Jindabyne, then drive in to the slopes.

If you don’t come while it’s snowing in Australia, however, there are a few things to do in Jindabyne besides skiing. Indeed, the main advantage of Jindabyne is that it is below the snowline. It is the starting point of the Alpine Way, which weaves through the Snowy Mountains towards Khancoban.

Things to do in Jindabyne, NSW: Lake Jindabyne

The main attraction in Jindabyne is Lake Jindabyne. This was created for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme by the installation of the Jindabyne Dam. Indeed, the town as we know it didn’t exist before the Dam. There was a tiny village, but that was flooded and covered by the lake. The new town was built on the lake shore in the 1960s.

Trout fishing in Lake Jindabyne is one of the best things to do in Jindabyne, NSW. Photo courtesy of Destination NSW.

There are several scenic lookouts over Lake Jindabyne, but the best way to enjoy the lake is walking around it. There are several walking and biking trails around the Lake Jindabyne Foreshore. Eventually, they’ll be linked up into one coherent trail looping round the entire lake.

Things to do in Jindabyne, NSW: Gaden Trout Hatchery and Pallaibo Walking Track

Lake Jindabyne is also very popular for boating and, in particular, trout-fishing. Jindabyne is one of the undisputed trout-fishing capitals of Australia. You can also take a tour of the Gaden Trout Hatchery, should you wish to see how the trout-breeding process works.

The 5.5km Pallaibo Walking Track in the Kosciuszko National Park is very close to the Gaden Trout Hatchery.

Jindabyne activities and tours

But aside from skiing, the best things to do in Jindabyne are adventure activities. Alpine Trike Rides offers tours on the back of a Harley Davidson Heritage Trike, and Snowy Mountains Helicopters offers scenic helicopter flights over the mountains.

Alpine Access runs avalanche training courses and backcountry cross-country skiing tours. Thredbo Valley Horse Riding offers horse riding tours in the mountains. And K7 Adventures offers a range of activities, including guided walks, rock-climbing, abseiling and mountain-biking.

Jindabyne restaurants and Wildbrumby Distillery

Jindabyne restaurants include Bacco, which serves Italian dishes, and Takayama Restaurant Bar, which offers Japanese food. Both are in the Nuggets Crossing Shopping Centre.

You can also stop for gin, schnapps and vodka at the Wildbrumby Distillery in Crackenback. The Distillery has its own sculpture garden if you want to pretend the drinking is educational. If beer’s more your thing, then one of Australia’s best craft breweries is inside Jindabyne’s Banjo Patterson Inn. The Kosziuszko Brewery is famous for its 4.5% Kosciuszko Pale Ale.

Top Jindabyne accommodation options include the NRMA Jindabyne holiday park, the Lake Jindabyne Hotel and the Jindy Inn.

TV fans, meanwhile, might like to know that the first season of SAS Australia was filmed in nearby Berridale.

If coming for the skiing, the Jindabyne to Thredbo and Jindabyne to Perisher drives take about half an hour.

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