4 Day Itinerary

Nestled in the mountains, Tumbarumba is accessible from the Hume Highway. It is halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, an easy five-hour drive from either location. The journey takes you through natural bushland, past lush agricultural pastures and across the Snowy Valleys. If you’re looking for a shorter trip, take a quick flight to the closest airport or catch a train (both arriving at or ) where you can hire a car to drive the last hour and a half to our small but enchanting town.

Target Market – This itinerary has been designed for couples, over 25 who are able to drive to destinations and are looking for a unique experience. However, it can easily be adapted for families as many of the activities can be undertaken by parents and children if desired. There are several accommodation options suitable for families and couples. Tumbarumba offers several free camping grounds kept in pristine condition - Henry Angel Trackhead, Paddy’s River Dam and Mannus Lake which are all on the Hume & Hovell Track or Paddy’s River Dam located in the bushland of Bago State Forest. At the heart of town there is a Caravan Park with cabins, lodges or powered RV sites and pub-style rooms at the Tumbarumba Hotel & Union Hotel. For a more luxurious option, The Tumbarumba Motel or The Club Motel offers comfortable rooms with a range of options available. While a larger family may prefer a self-contained cottage of which Tumbarumba boasts numerous options – Magenta Cottage, Tumba Cottages, Whitening Cottage, Glenburnie Cottage Farmstay, Mannus Valley B&B, Pound Creek Gallery Accommodation and Sonny’s Hut Country Escape to name a few.

Day 1: Thursday, Tour the Wine Region

Plan to start your day in Tumbarumba mid-morning with a coffee from a local café (Dare to Bite or Four Bears) along the main street, “The Parade”, followed by a stop to the Tumbarumba Visitor Information Centre. The helpful and knowledgeable staff can assist you to lock in your itinerary and provide advice, maps and brochures. While you are at the Visitor Centre, discover the rich history of the town and the significance of the gold and timber heritage of the region by browsing the free museum which shares space in this historic building. Next take some time to immerse yourself in the local boutiques, exploring the collections of beautiful creations. Starting with Artists on Parade, Twisted Willow Homestore, and finishing at Forage Merchants + Occasions where you can sign up for one of the many creative workshops on offer. Enjoy a short drive, 10 minutes out of town to Courabyra Wines where you can take to the skies with a tour from True North Helicopters. Comfortably sitting 6 passengers to fly over the perfectly sculpted mountain ranges to see the expansive dams of Blowering and Talbingo you will be in awe at the sight of the magnificent Snowy Hydro scheme from the air. On your return to the Cellar Door you can spoil yourself with sensational food that is matched only by the beautiful views. While you are dining, take your time and try some of the award-winning wines, savouring the superior notes that only the cold-climate can deliver. After sampling the unique flavours you will be left wanting more. Fill your afternoon by exploring the local vineyards; Johansen’s Wines, On The Fly, Allegiance or Obsession can offer wine-tastings to tease your palate with the incredible flavours of the region. Not only will you get to meet the growers but you will hear about the resilience of our producers who have overcome hardship after the Black Summer bushfires. Still feeling full from lunch? Grab yourself a sweet or savory picnic box from Munday’s Catering and settle in for twilight at Mannus Lake with a wine picked up along your travels. You will be rewarded with amazing sunset views, where the pink, orange and purple colours fill the sky with the reflection glimmering off the still water.

Day 2: Friday, Cycle Tumbarumba

The Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail is calling for your exploration, with 21km of vistas, gentle gradients and sweeping curves on a fully sealed surface. Didn’t bring a bike? Don’t worry! You can hire an e-bike for the whole family at Tumbarumba Bikes & Blooms or stop past Ride Tumba for all of your cycling needs. Now you are ready to get off the clock and hit the trail. It’s an easy ride from the township to the trail-head on Figures Street along the cycle paths. Setting out, all of your senses will be engaged – smell the clear country air of pine timber growing through the region, feel the bike moving under your feet and see the breathtaking scenery along your ride. Stop along the way and admire the informative history boards and marvel at the restorations from the original train line, including the incredible masterpieces that are the refurbished timber bridges. When you reach Rosewood make sure you fix that hungry appetite and enjoy lunch at Gone Barny Nursey and Eucalyptus or the Rosewood General Store before riding back along the revitalised track to Tumbarumba. Alternatively, for the more adventurous rider, test your skills on the Mountain Bike Trails, a network of flowing trails winding through bushland and plantation forest or experience the open country tracks in Tumbarumba. Surrender to the freedom of moving forward while the adrenaline hits your veins. Bringing the kids? (Or for the big kids amongst us) relax at the cycle playground available at the picturesque Tumbarumba Creekscape. Featuring a professionally designed pump track and skate park with play equipment and plenty of space to run or ride around - the perfect setting to sip a hot coffee or share some treats while watching the flowing creek, and simply living in the moment. Return for dinner at the Elms Restaurant, with lovely fine dining while overlooking views of the town in style. Or for a more casual, but still delicious meal, stop by one of the local Pubs.

Day 3: Saturday, Sample the Snowy Valleys

Immerse yourself in the past and visit the Glenroy Heritage Reserve, home to the Pioneer Womens Hut Museum and Craft Shop, just a short drive from the township. With a first- class collection full of hidden treasures this is time well spent admiring our ancestors. After filling your morning with history you can take the scenic route and head out to Yesteryear Plantations in Gilmore. This takes around one hour by car but is a must-see experience with expansive views over Blowering Dam and showcasing the eucalyptus harvesting and distilling process. You can purchase the specialty products right from the shed. Take the half-hour trip back to Batlow Hotel for lunch, the centre of the Batlow community and a newly renovated setting. Spend the afternoon following the small batch producer and cider trails in the region with a visit to Wilgro Orchards, Moats Farm and Crafty Cider sampling the beautiful crisp ciders and freshly grown seasonal produce featured in their shops. On your way back to Tumbarumba, embrace the opportunity to see a hidden-gem and drop- in at the Pilot Hill Arboretum; an incredible collection of 40 species of historic conifers and hardwood trees from all over the world. Take a walk through the forest, between the dappled light or enjoy a light picnic with your produce before returning to the township for dinner. Book yourself a table at Nest Cinema Café for dinner which offers a unique venue and experience. Here you can enjoy a movie in cosy recliner chairs while you are given in-house table service while viewing the film. In winter the crackling fire is lit, creating a relaxing feeling like a hug from a loved one.

Day 4: Sunday, Explore Local

Start your day with an early breakfast at the Tumbarumba Bakery, fuelling up before heading out for a short bushwalk on a section of the Hume & Hovell Track. Here, you can walk in the footsteps of the explorers and mindfully journey through history. Just 15 minutes’ drive from town is the Henry Angel Campground, one of three main Trackheads along the 426km walk. This particular section through Tumbarumba takes you along private farmland with remnants of our gold mining heritage surrounded by natural bushland. If you’re lucky you will discover native wildlife or be amused by the livestock living alongside the trail. When you return to your vehicle it’s a 5 minute drive from the campground to see the magnificent Paddys River Falls (15km from the town centre). This powerful waterfall flows all year round with tremendous force. Step on to one of the lookout platforms or take the walk down to the bottom of the falls and feel the cool and refreshing mist of water-spray on your face. Before venturing back to Tumbarumba, you can visit the nearby villages. Keep driving south to see the stunning Southern Cloud Lookout for a beautiful view of the valley and follow the winding road down to the Tooma Pub for lunch. Follow the along the scenic route to where you can drop in a fishing line at the Bridge Hotel while embracing the serenity between the line dropping and the anticipated bite of the Murray Cod. When you do decide to leave you will find many other experiences in the Snowy Valleys to continue your journey. Explore the northern end, heading to and over the Snowy Mountains Highway to the incredible Yarrangobilly Caves and Thermal Pools in the Kosciuszko National Park (2hrs from Tumbarumba). Or head further south to enjoy the offerings in the alpine town of for a tranquil escape. Khancoban is a historic Snowy Hydro town that is emerging as a key tourism destination, with new businesses opening to cater to a growing visitor market. Keep an eye out for our seasonal events to plan your next trip, including the Winter Bites Festival series through Winter 2021 or Tumbafest held every year on the last weekend in February.