8 places to camp in and around Jindabyne

Pitch a tent among snow gums and wake up to birdsong or fall to sleep to the rush of a river with these awesome Jindabyne camping and caravanning options.

During the summer months, camping in and around Jindabyne places you at the epicentre of outdoor adventure. There’s tranquil Lake Jindabyne for boating or kayaking, and Kosciuszko National Park, where you can set off on bushwalks and mountain bike rides. Come winter, you can hunker down in a cosy cabin or rug up in your van when it’s minus temps outside and be close to Thredbo and Perisher ski resorts without breaking the budget – and close to town for drinking and dining. Here, some of the best places for camping in the Snowy Mountains and Jindabyne.

1. NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park

Best for: families, couples, central location

Make this your base for an affordable snow holiday to Perisher Valley or Thredbo or as a convenient way to explore Kosciuszko National Park. It’s located smack-bang in the middle of town, within walking distance of shops, bars and restaurants, and on the edge of Lake Jindabyne, providing a pretty backdrop – particularly at sunrise and sunset – and easy access for launching your boat or kayaks during the warmer months.

The holiday park has both unpowered and powered campsites, some dog-friendly, as well as a range of cabins and villas, from affordable cabins with no ensuites to modern tiny homes and converted shipping containers – aka Glamtainers. There’s a drying room for snow gear, a camp kitchen with a pizza oven, e-bike hire, a kids’ playground and a communal campfire.

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2. Glamping in the Snowy Mountains

a couple enjoying wine and cheese in the Snowy Mountains — Keep cosy during the winter months in the Snowy Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: couples, seclusion, off-grid

Get back to nature with a stay in this off-grid safari-style tent nestled on a 30-hectare property on the Snowy River. It’s only a 10-minute drive from Jindabyne and just 20 minutes from Kosciuszko National Park, but it feels totally secluded.

The luxe tent comprises a plush queen bed, lounge, kitchenette with coffee machine, a gas heater, and a separate shower and toilet. There are dreamy views of the mountains from bed, and two outdoor tubs to melt into after time spent on the mountain. The Snowy River is a few hundred metres from your doorstep; the gentle sound of rushing water lulling you to sleep at night.

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3. Discovery Parks Jindabyne

the cabins at Discovery Parks Jindabyne — Discovery Parks Jindabyne is a convenient base near Kosciuszko National Park.

Best for: families, views, central location

On the edge of town and Lake Jindabyne, Discovery Parks has a range of accommodation from unpowered and powered sites to modern two-bedroom cabins with fireplaces. It’s a convenient base for heading up to ski fields and into Kosciuszko National Park.

It’s a great spot for families with kids, with entertainment such as outdoor lawn games, a tennis court, playground and bouncing pillow. There’s also a sauna, which is a welcome addition post-mountain, as well as barbecues and a kiosk. But the town of Jindabyne is also a short drive away to grab a bite to eat if you don’t feel like cooking.

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4. Thredbo Diggings Campground

fly fishing in the Thredbo River — Go fly fishing for trout in the Thredbo River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, groups, nature

This Kosciuszko National Park campsite is set on Thredbo River, a 20-minute drive from Jindabyne and a short drive to the ski fields, which during the summer months become hiking and mountain biking playgrounds. Pitch your tent under the snow gums and enjoy the panoramic mountain views. There are 41 campsites suitable for tents, camper trailers and caravans, with picnic tables, toilets and barbecues. Bring drinking water and firewood for the barbecues and fire rings.

The campground is the starting point for Bullocks Track, a five-kilometre return bushwalk that traces the river. It’s also nearby Thredbo Valley Track for family-friendly bike riding, alongside the river, through eucalypt forest and over suspension bridges. Or try your hand at fly fishing in the river, which is home to brown and rainbow trout – a satisfying dinner you can cook at the campsite.

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5. Ngarigo Campground

tents within a tall alpine ash forest at Ngarigo Campground — Spend your days and nights off the grid surrounded by nature at Ngarigo. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, groups, nature

Also located within Kosciuszko National Park on the Thredbo River, Ngarigo is nestled within tall alpine ash forest. Just as with Thredbo Diggings, you can fish for rainbow and brown trout in the river or set off on a bushwalk in nearby Thredbo Alpine Village, bike riding along Thredbo Valley Track or horse riding through the Snowy Mountains.

There are 30 campsites, with suitability for tents, camper trailers and caravans. The campground features picnic tables, barbecues and toilets. Bring drinking water and firewood for the barbecues and fire rings.

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6. Snowy River Holiday Park

Best for: families, seclusion, history

This holiday park is in the historic village of Dalgety, which is the only settlement left on the banks of the Snowy River after the Snowy Electric Hydro Scheme flooded the original towns of Jindabyne and Adaminaby in the 1950s. It’s a 30-minute drive east of the new town of Jindabyne and a peaceful setting to explore Kosciuszko National Park, whether that be skiing in winter or hiking and wildlife spotting in summer.

The pet-friendly park has self-contained cabins, powered and unpowered sites, dotted on the two-hectare property. There’s a drying room for your snow gear, a communal firepit, kitchen and barbecue facilities.

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7. Kosciuszko Tourist Park

a snowy landscape with horses at Kosciuszko National Park — Be surrounded by snow gums and wilderness at Kosciuszko National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Best for: families, nature, seclusion

Australia’s highest tourist park is located within Kosciuszko National Park, close to the ski fields and a 15-minute drive from Jindabyne. Surrounded by snow gums and lush bushland, it has unpowered and powered sites, simple cabins and two- to three-bedroom chalets that sleep between six and eight. Some of the two-bedroom chalets have been recently upgraded with modern furnishings and amenities.

There is a camp kitchen, a drying room for snow gear, and many of the sites and cabins have firepits. The location of the park means that during winter it can snow here, blanketing the surrounding landscape in white.

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8. Island Bend campground

camping under the stars at Island Bend campground, Jindabyne — Camp under the stars at Island Bend campground. (Image: Destination NSW)

Best for: families, seclusion, nature

This national park campground is located near Perisher, making it a great base for bushwalking, bike riding, fishing and skiing – if you are brave enough to camp in the snow! It is perched on the edge of the Snowy River, where you can canoe or swim when it’s warm. Just up the road, Guthega Power Station is the gateway to historic huts and there is plenty of backcountry hiking.

The campground has 70 sites, suitable for tents and camper trailers, as well as picnic tables, barbecues and toilets. You’ll need to bring drinking water and firewood for the fire rings.

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Discover the best things to do in Jindabyne

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

8 places to camp in and around Jindabyne

Pitch a tent among snow gums and wake up to birdsong or fall to sleep to the rush of a river with these awesome Jindabyne camping and caravanning options.

1. NRMA Jindabyne Holiday Park

2. Glamping in the Snowy Mountains

3. Discovery Parks Jindabyne

4. Thredbo Diggings Campground

5. Ngarigo Campground

6. Snowy River Holiday Park

7. Kosciuszko Tourist Park

8. Island Bend campground

17 incredible stays in and around Jindabyne

No time to hibernate: experience the best of winter in NSW

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

The Tweed

Blue Mountains

Southern Highlands

Penrith