There’s No Day Like Snow Day

dtc said :

dvaey said :

150? From Tuggeranong to Adaminaby is just a touch over 85km. I guess if you took the long way thruogh Cooma, you’d add an extra 70km to the trip, but thatd be like heading from Canberra to Yass on a quick trip to Sydney.

Is this via the Bobeyan Road? How is that to drive – isnt much of it gravel (thus requiring either much slower speeds or an ‘off road’ car)? And presumably with the potential for some snow or at least mud

Drove my AWD subaru sedan to Adaminaby via Bobeyan Rd a couple of weeks ago. There was snow on the road and a few trees down, but took it easy and no hassle at all. Much of the road is unsealed and quite muddy. You need to be very sensible and smooth, and will spend a lot of time driving at around 60km/h. It’s a very interesting drive, though, with some great scenery and plenty of snow.

If you just want to get there, though, the trip via Cooma is easier and quicker, just longer.

KB1971 said :

Nope, Monaro Highway. Bobyan Road is much shorter about 80km from Lanyon but as you say 1/2 of it is dirt & is usually passable by a 2wd car but it gets settling snow around Mt Clear & is quite often closed this time of year. It is also quite rough, hilly & windy so your average speed is lower. It takes me about 1:15 to 1:30 to travel it although I have not been across there in my new car (non turbo diesel Nissan Patrol slug vs newer Pathfinder) which would be much faster as I wont be snatching second on the big hills.

The road was open 2 weeks ago (since the posting on here about the road being closed). The last few times Ive travelled up that road, Ive been in 2wd and we even had a late model commodore in our convoy once which handled the road with very little problem. There are a couple of corrugations and cattle grids that you have to keep an eye out for, but when you can save an hour and 70 km on the trip, its worth it.

KB1971 said :

Knowing how most people drive in Canberra, the safest route is via the Monaro, this is why I suggested it.

The Monaro seems to be filled with snow tourists this time of year, leading to accidents like the major one near bredbo last weekend that closed the highway in both directions. Taking the less used roads and visiting the less used parts of the snow will generally improve your snow experience, from what Ive learned

I’d love to take the kids to see some snow, and the shorter the drive the better, but I can’t see an 85km route on the Monaro from Tuggers to Adaminaby on Google Maps. It’s either 154km on the Monaro via Cooma, or 94km on the Bobeyan Road. Could I ask for a bit more info on how you’re getting from Tuggers to Adaminaby in just 85km via the Monaro? Thanks!

dtc said :

dvaey said :

150? From Tuggeranong to Adaminaby is just a touch over 85km. I guess if you took the long way thruogh Cooma, you’d add an extra 70km to the trip, but thatd be like heading from Canberra to Yass on a quick trip to Sydney.

Is this via the Bobeyan Road? How is that to drive – isnt much of it gravel (thus requiring either much slower speeds or an ‘off road’ car)? And presumably with the potential for some snow or at least mud

Nope, Monaro Highway. Bobyan Road is much shorter about 80km from Lanyon but as you say 1/2 of it is dirt & is usually passable by a 2wd car but it gets settling snow around Mt Clear & is quite often closed this time of year. It is also quite rough, hilly & windy so your average speed is lower. It takes me about 1:15 to 1:30 to travel it although I have not been across there in my new car (non turbo diesel Nissan Patrol slug vs newer Pathfinder) which would be much faster as I wont be snatching second on the big hills.

Knowing how most people drive in Canberra, the safest route is via the Monaro, this is why I suggested it.

dvaey said :

150? From Tuggeranong to Adaminaby is just a touch over 85km. I guess if you took the long way thruogh Cooma, you’d add an extra 70km to the trip, but thatd be like heading from Canberra to Yass on a quick trip to Sydney.

Is this via the Bobeyan Road? How is that to drive – isnt much of it gravel (thus requiring either much slower speeds or an ‘off road’ car)? And presumably with the potential for some snow or at least mud

KB1971 said :

150km will get you to Adaminaby or to Berridale. Not much snow there.

150? From Tuggeranong to Adaminaby is just a touch over 85km. I guess if you took the long way thruogh Cooma, you’d add an extra 70km to the trip, but thatd be like heading from Canberra to Yass on a quick trip to Sydney.

We did a 3hr round-trip up the back of Franklin a week or two ago, and that included changing a flat tyre while the kids had a snowball fight.

dvaey said :

We are a mere 3 hour drive from a type of cold

3 hours driving to the snow? Are you in a golf cart or something? Head out to Uriarra, youre looking at maybe 90min round-trip. Even to Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia, youre looking at a 150km drive. 3hrs would probably get you pretty close to the vic ski fields.

For people going to the snow, there are much better/cheaper options than the high-priced resorts, unless youre happy to spend an arm and a leg to enjoy natures freebies.

150km will get you to Adaminaby or to Berridale. Not much snow there. Cabramurra is a good 1-1.5 hours from Adaminaby (in the dry) & Perisher is a little over 60km from Berridale.

I posted in the other snow thread, be self sufficient & it wont cost a lot for some great snow this year. Canberra people are just going to have to accept that the local snow is not reliable not readliy accessable.

Stop whinging people & get out there as its a bumper year this year.

We are a mere 3 hour drive from a type of cold

3 hours driving to the snow? Are you in a golf cart or something? Head out to Uriarra, youre looking at maybe 90min round-trip. Even to Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia, youre looking at a 150km drive. 3hrs would probably get you pretty close to the vic ski fields.

For people going to the snow, there are much better/cheaper options than the high-priced resorts, unless youre happy to spend an arm and a leg to enjoy natures freebies.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

ConanOfCooma said :

If you are after close snow, and don’t have a 4WD, head through Cooma and take the Adaminaby turn off – Drive until you see snow. If you want big stuff to play in, drive further.
.

cheers mate

You could also head up to Bulls Head, with any luck tue road will be open to Mt Franklin Chalet. There should be enough snow up there for you at the chalet & you should be able to get up there easy enough in a 2wd car as it’s been dry for a week.

Conan: I agree with you, following a Magna with ACT plates home last evening at 70-80 out of Bredbo, as soon as we hit the overtaking lanes heading over to Collington she sped up to 90-95 ish. I then had to speed to get around as it was only safe to pass on overtaking lanes last night due to traffic. I really don’t understand this mentality, if you are doing 80 before the overtaking lane, stay at 80 so the people who want to do 100 can pass safely.

To the OP, bus trips are the go. They are comfortable & you don’t have to deal with the traffic. Makes for a great day.

A good post. It had me thinking about that episode of Fawlty Towers where the wife of the American guest says that where they live is a few minutes away from both the snow and the surf. You can get in the car here and be skiing within two hours, or on the beach within the same amount of time.