Going out with family of two young kids 10-12....and given COVID + tobogganing and snow play is strictly prohibited in Kosciuszko National Park including all areas at Perisher during the 2020 snow season. What would one do? None of us know how to ski
Welcome to the forums Are you staying on snow at Perisher, or in Jindabyne? Snow play is allowed in KNP, just not at the resorts. You're right that tobogganing is banned, but depending on where you are staying (and your appetite for alpine driving) there could be some places to build a snowman, as long as you park in a safe place
There are two V nice walks out of Saw Pit Creek Bbq area. The one that goes under the bridge is easier (less hill climb). Take lunch & make a cruise out of it. Waterfalls are on both wanders.
Or go to the Wilderness Sports shop in the Parks building in the car park (opposite the fire station) and hire snow shoes buy a map and follow a snow shoe trail, or have a guide take you somewheres.
http://www.wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Activities#NSW Some of the stuff listed as summer activities are year round. Maybe not the water stuff.
Great tips @skifree and @Interruptedbyfireworks I am put in Jindabyne and we are first timers with snow. So far....I have accomodation, 4WD + Snow chains + clothing + tons of enthusiasm ready. Some other suggestions were 'Perisher Fireworks' if they are still happening, 'Gondola in Thredbo, ...how about Scenic Chairlift, Disc Golf in Thredbo.
Snow shoe walk thru the Snowgums, drive/sightseeing - Eucumbene dam, Scamells lookout, Snowy plains, Dalgety, Guthega, Yarrangobilly caves, fossick for gold, bike ride the track around town, fish the lake for a trout, night skiing seems less crowded.
How exciting! You should be able to get a single ticket for each of you to ride either the gondola or the Kosciuszko chairlift at Thredbo, I’m not 100% sure which one is running for sightseeing but potentially both, check out shop.thredbo.com.au for tickets. And I think they are doing fireworks on Saturday night too! I highly recommend going to Wild Brumby distillery, it’s probably booked out for meals now but it’s still a lovely location where the kids can run around and look at things, and the adults can buy some schnapps to take back to your accommodation. Crackenback Farm also have amazing food. I also second going to Eucumbene dam and yarongabilly caves - the dam is soooo big you think you’re looking at an inland ocean! And whilst I’m not sure that the caves are open to go inside yet (because of the fires, I might be wrong though) they do have a hot spring pool which is awesome. It’s a little bit of a drive for Jindy, but very scenic. Hope you have an awesome weekend!
Tobogganing is prohibited, but snow play is allowed (see NPWS website): "Is tobogganing allowed? "No. Tobogganing, sledding and snow-tubing is not be permitted throughout Kosciuszko National Park in 2020. "Due to the temporary closure of Tube Town in Perisher resort and Selwyn resort, there are no allocated areas in Kosciuszko National Park for tobogganing. "Because of the traditional popularity of tobogganing and the temporary closure of allocated areas, it is not possible to ensure safety along roadsides or physical distancing with tobogganing in other areas of Kosciuszko National Park. "Are other snow play activities allowed? "NPWS and the resorts are asking visitors not to visit the ski resorts in 2020 specifically for snow play activities. This is because there are no areas allocated for snow play or tobogganing in 2020 due to the resorts COVID Safe Operating Plan. "You can still undertake snow play activities such as sightseeing, building a snowman, throwing a snowball, going for a short walk or other similar experiences (excluding tobogganing) in other areas of the park, if you undertake these activities in a safe and suitable location." Hope that helps! Note what the NPWS website says - they're asking visitors not to visit the resorts for snow play. It's a big park, once we get some more snow there'll be plenty of places for you to safely take the kids for a bit of snow play (that doesn't include tobogganing/sledding) away from the resort areas. It is if their kids are 18+!
First activity, in the car park in daylight: FIT THE CHAINS. That way (a) you'll know they fit and (b) you won't be learning how to do it while lying on your back in the frozen slush.
