This Snowy Mountains campervan road trip from Sydney suits couples and small families who want a proper change of scenery: the national capital, the highest country in Australia, then a slow run home along the far south coast. Allow 9 to 12 nights and plan it for the warmer months, November to April.
At a glance
- Distance: about 1,222 km as a loop
- Driving time: around 17 hours in total, spread over the trip
- Suggested nights: 9–12 (the itinerary below uses 10)
- Best time: November to April. In winter the alpine roads can need snow chains, so this is a warm-season trip.
- Park entry: you need a national park vehicle entry pass for Kosciuszko National Park, which includes Thredbo and the road there from Jindabyne
- Starts and ends: Manly, Sydney
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Manly to Canberra
300 km, about 3 hours 50 minutes. Head out through the city and down the Hume, then onto the Federal Highway past Lake George. Stay at a caravan park in Canberra, where you'll have hot showers and toilets.
Day 2: Canberra rest day
No driving. Spend the morning at Parliament House, then cross to the National Gallery of Australia. Park once and walk between them. Second night at the same caravan park.
Day 3: Canberra to Jindabyne
177 km, about 2 and a half hours. The Monaro Highway takes you south through Cooma and across open, treeless high plains. Stay at a caravan park in Jindabyne, ideally one on the lake.
Day 4: Jindabyne rest day
Take it easy by Lake Jindabyne. Paddle, walk the lakeside track, and buy your Kosciuszko vehicle entry pass online if you haven't already. Second night in Jindabyne.
Day 5: Jindabyne to Thredbo
36 km, about 30 minutes, on the sealed Alpine Way. Get to Thredbo early, ride the chairlift and do the Mount Kosciuszko summit walk (details below). Spend the night at Thredbo Diggings campground, a NSW National Parks site on the Thredbo River just down the road from the village. Book through NSW National Parks.
Day 6: Thredbo to Eden
216 km, about 3 hours 10 minutes. Drive back through Jindabyne and across the Monaro, then drop off the tablelands to the coast. The descent is long, steep and winding in places, so use a low gear and take your time in a tall van. Stay at a caravan park in Eden.
Day 7: Eden to Merimbula
25 km, about 25 minutes. Morning at the Eden Killer Whale Museum and a look over Twofold Bay, then a short hop north. Afternoon on the Merimbula boardwalk with a feed of oysters. Stay at a caravan park in Merimbula.
Day 8: Merimbula to Narooma
108 km, about 1 and a half hours. Break the drive at Central Tilba for lunch and a wander. Stay at a caravan park in Narooma.
Day 9: Narooma rest day
Book a Montague Island tour for the morning, then spend the afternoon on the Narooma breakwall looking for seals. Second night in Narooma.
Day 10: Narooma to Batemans Bay
69 km, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Stop at Mogo on the way for the wildlife park and the old gold-rush main street. Stay at a caravan park in Batemans Bay or on the beaches just south of town.
Day 11: Batemans Bay to Manly
291 km, about 4 hours 20 minutes. Follow the Princes Highway north. To break it up, our South Coast and Jervis Bay guide has plenty of places to add an extra night.
Best stops along the way
Parliament House
Entry to the building is free and so are the guided tours; check current tour times on the day. Walk up to the grassed roof for views down Anzac Parade to the War Memorial.
National Gallery of Australia
The national art collection, with Australian, First Nations and international works. General admission is free, though big touring exhibitions are usually ticketed.
Lake Jindabyne
A large, clear lake right on the edge of town, with a shared path around much of the shoreline. The water stays cold even in summer, so a wetsuit makes a swim far more pleasant.
Mount Kosciuszko
From Thredbo, the chairlift takes you most of the way up, then it's roughly 13 km return to the summit on a raised metal walkway. Allow 4 to 5 hours. The weather turns quickly at 2,228 metres, so pack a warm layer, a rain jacket, sunscreen and water even on a hot day, and check the last chairlift down before you set off. There are toilets at Rawson Pass, about 1 km below the summit.
Eden Killer Whale Museum
This museum tells the story of Eden's shore-based whaling and the orcas that worked alongside the whalers, including the skeleton of the famous Old Tom. From September to November, humpbacks pass close to Twofold Bay. A November trip catches the end of the season.
Merimbula boardwalk
A flat, easy boardwalk runs along the edge of Merimbula Lake, with mangroves, clear shallows and plenty of birdlife. The area is known for rock oysters grown in the local lakes and estuaries, so buy a dozen straight from a farm shop if you can.
Central Tilba
A heritage-listed village of timber shopfronts under Gulaga mountain. Come for the local cheese and ice cream. Parking fills at lunchtime, so use the signed area at the edge of the village and walk in.
Montague Island
About 9 km off Narooma, the island (Barunguba) is home to a large fur seal colony, little penguins and a historic lighthouse. It's only reachable on guided boat tours from Narooma, which need booking ahead and can be cancelled if the sea is rough.
Mogo
A small village on the Princes Highway with a wildlife park and a gold-rush era main street of shops and cafés. Check the wildlife park's current times before you go.
Tips for doing this trip in the Allure van
- Plan your toilet stops. The van has no toilet, so choose caravan parks and campgrounds with amenities.
- Hot showers come from the caravan parks. The van's indoor and outdoor showers are cold water only. Use caravan park showers and save the outdoor shower for rinsing off after the beach.
- Stick to sealed roads. Every road in this itinerary is sealed. Many side roads in Kosciuszko and the coastal national parks are unsealed or 4WD only, which doesn't suit a long high-roof 2WD van. In Canberra, avoid multi-level car parks.
- Travel November to April. In winter, 2WD vehicles usually need to carry snow chains in Kosciuszko National Park. Summer nights up high still get cold, so bring warm layers.
- Stock up before the park. The fridge and 360Ah of lithium battery power mean a night at Thredbo Diggings is easy without a powered site. Shop in Cooma or Jindabyne first.
- Travelling with a dog? Pets are welcome in the van, but dogs aren't allowed in national parks, including Thredbo Diggings, so plan the mountain nights around that. See the full layout on the van page.
FAQ
How many days do you need for a Snowy Mountains road trip from Sydney?
Allow at least 9 nights for the full loop through Canberra, the mountains and the Sapphire Coast. If you only have 4 or 5 nights, go to Jindabyne and Thredbo via Canberra and return the same way. Stay 14 nights or more and every night drops to $130 instead of $150.
Do you need a park pass to drive to Thredbo?
Yes. Thredbo is inside Kosciuszko National Park, so you need a vehicle entry pass. You can buy one online through NSW National Parks or at the park entry station. Campground fees are separate, and sites usually need to be booked through NSW National Parks.
Can you drive a campervan to the Snowy Mountains in winter?
We don't recommend it. From about June to early October you'll usually need to carry chains in a 2WD and roads can be icy. Go between November and April.
Can you free camp on the Sapphire Coast?
Rules vary by council, and camping on town streets and beachfront car parks is not allowed. Caravan parks and booked national park campgrounds are the reliable option. If you'd like help mapping out stops, try our trip planner or browse our other Sydney campervan road trips.
When you've picked your dates, check availability and we'll have the van ready for you in Manly.