27 June 2007

Snowplay around Canberra

| Sammy
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With the healthy snowfalls currently occuring in the Canberra region, i’m looking for somewhere to take the Queensland relatives to experience their first natural snow.

The first thought was Corin Forest, but their website still lists that they are closed due to insufficient snow.

I suspect this may not be accurate, given the large amount of snow on the Brindabella’s this week.

I believe the three best options (in preferred order) are:

* Towards Corin Dam. This road is usually closed in winter just past Corin Forest.
* Around Piccadilly Circus. Mt Franklin road is currently closed, suggesting this is a good option.
* South through Tharwa toward Adaminaby

Has anyone driven in these areas within the last day, and care to comment?

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Franklin road is okay if it’s open. You can still get a 2WD up there, but its just a bit slushy. Once you park the car, it’s a 1.5km walk to the trigpoint at the summit, and IMO, it’s entirely worth it. Absolutely beautiful view, and enough snow to have a bit of fun with.

“’m looking for somewhere to take the Queensland relatives to experience their first natural snow.”

Oh your poor QLD relatives!
I shall be shortly feeling their pain.

Bummer – sounds like a bit of an effort. Last time I went to mt franklin there was snow on the road well before the gate. I can’t even remember what year that was tho…

Tried the Mt Franklin road last year. Stopped at the gate. Walked with the kids for a few klicks through multo-mud and then met someone who said it was still a fair way. Spent an hour or so around a little fire and bailed. (Take matches)
Apparently Mt Franklin was Canberra’s first ski field, with a lodge built just over the ACT border. But this was burnt down in the 2003 fires, as told by a friendly ranger who came along.
Selwyn is pretty straightforward to get to, and the drive up through Namagi National Park from Tharwa is very nice but long and rough, compared to taking the tar via Cooma, which seems an amzing amount of doubling back, but is still way quicker. Interestingly it seems from Selwyn’s website that they no longer offer “the only toboggan lift in Australia”. Towing a kid back up hill on a toboggan will see you truly knackered in just a couple of trips – highly NOT recommended. So a real shame that they’ve closed this option off.
Re: Corin, their website has not been updated since beginning of 2006 season, so I wouldn’t bank on much luck there – very ordinary operation (entrepreneural opportunity going beggin there). Their toboggan run is very short too.
In essence, last year I tried to get the kids to “close” snow, and spent a whole day seeing absolutely no snow. I should have just driven them to Selwyn or even better – straight to Perisher where you are guaranteed snow (iffy at Thredbo without going up a lift) and there are other things there to do too.

Canberra Connect are claiming that Corin Rd is not closed, at any point.

Mt Franklin Rd may be closed – but Bulls head always has heaps of snow – and thats rigth adjacent to teh closed Mt Franlkin Rd – turn left at Picadilly Circus. Its uually a bit of a circus – so watch out for the RWD cowboys.

If you go early in the day and beat the crowds – there is a good chance you will see Kangaroos in the snow – spectacular..

Usually go there in a 4WD so can not vouch for traction quality on frozen mud. Take care.

spelling: care.
I think taking your car on the Boboyan Rd is just obvious.

I heard the Corin Road was closed due to snow and ice. The radio (Mix 106) was not explicit about whether it was the gates near Corrin Forrest or the entire road. Corin is probably the best and easiest option.

Adiminaby and south of Tharwa is a nice idea, but the Boboyan Rd is closed, as it usually is in Winter. Even if you can drive a fair way, the road in my experience is pretty bad when it gets at all wet, much less snowy. Not the easiest option so take car if you choose it.

Mt Franklin, you won’t get far. That would be the ultimate for snow, but it’s a long walk if the road is closed.

I should point out that while the snow falls have been good, all this more recent rain means the snow may be slushy in those intermediate areas such as Corin and south of Naas. Any one know how good the snow is?

What would be the shortest drive to see snow on the ground?

Just head up to Crookwell.

just head towards adaminiby and drive till it’s white..

for some proper snow at reasonable prices you can try Mt Selwyn

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