One of the snowy mountains’ most beloved locations, Jindabyne is a must-stay holiday destination that is packed with incredible restaurants, scenic spots and activities that are bursting with real character. Located near Mount Kosciuszko National Park and just a stone’s throw from Perisher, it is a hot spot for avid skiers during the winter months but transforms into a hikers’ paradise in the summer months thanks to its central location. Five hours out from Sydney’s CBD, or two hours from Canberra, there are a wealth of transportation options to get you in and out with comfort.

As the summer months begin to heat up, now is a great time to pack those bags and discover all that this great town has to offer. To help get you started on your journey, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite things to do in Jindabyne in the summer. So get those carry-ons zipped up, grab an icy pole to cool off and start taking some notes for your ultimate Snowy Mountains summer getaway!

1. Conquer Australia’s Highest Peak, Mount Kosciuszko

Source: Sydney Uncovered

Mount Kosciuszko is the darling of Australian mountaineering and there’s really no contest when it comes to hiking peaks in Australia. Thanks to the location of Jindabyne, Mount Kosciuszko can be accessed with ease through the Main Range circuit. Even though Mount Kosciuszko is accessible to hike late into Autumn and can be experienced with snow-capped peaks, there’s nothing quite like hiking in the snowy mountains in summer.

Swapping the dense shrubbery with golden, sun-soaked landscapes creates a unique hiking experience that is absolutely worth the 24km hike in warmer conditions. Due to the altitude of Mount Kosciusko, there is still a chilly bite to the wind when you hit the peak, so don’t forget to pack a jacket despite the summer sun.

2. Cool off in Lake Jindabyne

Source: NRMA Parks and Resorts

We all know how those summer sizzling afternoons come around in the High Country, and what better way to keep fresh than by spending a day at Lake Jindabyne? A popular spot for fishing, water-skiing and sailing, the offshoot of the Jindabyne Dam is the perfect spot to park for a day of relaxation in nature’s playground.

If you’re looking for places to stay in Jindabyne near the lake, there are great stay options at the Lake Jindabyne Hotel. Offering lakeside rooms this is the perfect place to park for the night whether you’re flying solo, or with a smaller family for the weekend. The hotel offers an affordable range of stay options, so we highly recommend checking out their website to find what stay suits you best.

3. Soak in the surroundings with the Thredbo Chairlifts

Source: Visit NSW

Operating in full force during the winter months, the Thredbo chair lifts still get a workout in the summer months and they offer a special visual experience, unlike any other attraction. A short drive from Jindabyne, the chairlifts are $45 to ride as many times as you want throughout the day. Just 15 minutes of riding up the snow mountains on these chairlifts offer an unparalleled experience that is utterly mesmerizing on a clear summer’s day.

These chairlifts are a great way to break up a day filled with exploring everything a Thredbo summer has to offer. It’s also a great opportunity to get to the stunning Eagles Nest restaurant, one of the most unique places to eat in Jindabyne, being the highest-located restaurant in Australia. Rather than sweating up a storm to get a well-deserved feed, you can ride in style on the Mount Kosciuszko chairlift and wine and dine at the Eagle’s nest with ease.

4. Sunday sippers at the Wildbrumby Distillery

Source: Visit NSW

If Gin is your thing, look no further than the Wildbrumby Distillery for all your Sunday session needs. Wedged neatly between Jindabyne and Thredbo, the Wildbrumby Distillery is one of the more unique Jindabyne attractions that lends itself to full immersion for total enjoyment. In saying this, if gin or vodka tasting doesn’t really excite you, the Distillery Door cafe still offers a beautiful place to enjoy a decadent lunch in stunning surroundings.

We’d recommend booking a table well in advance, as this is a place that can get packed in the summer due to its popular name and reputation. If you’re sussing out events in late Jan, Wildbrumby will be putting on a show on the 26th of January, with plenty of taste-testing, live music and summer vibes in their atmosphere sculpture gardens. An event definitely to book in the calendar.

5. Cruise through the valleys with a Jindabyne bike ride 

Source: Tracks Less Travelled

Jindabyne has plenty of options to traverse the stunning vistas and surroundings, but for our pick of moving around, we can’t go past hiring a bike and cruising through town. There is just something special and almost nostalgic about hopping on a bike, with the summer sun beating down and taking in all that the Australian high country has to offer. You can even get adventurous and hire a few mountain bikes and try your hand at traversing the hills and peaks, although we do recommend having some sturdy bikes and some experience as it is not an easy task.

Bike Hire in Jindabyne is not limited, with plenty of bike shops offering a wide range of biking options to take on the different landscapes and roads around Jindabyne. Hire fees generally range from $30.00-$40.00 p/hour for adults and $20.00 p/hour for kids, and are largely based on the style and type of mountain-biking you intend to do, for eg; a slow, scenic trail or a speedy downhill mountain track. If you’re keen to spend the day exploring the various trails and tracks, then opt for a day hire which will give you 8 glorious hours of cycling adventure whilst still being budget-friendly.

Whichever hire you decide to go with, we recommend making the round trip through the Jindabyne terrain park to take in all the beautiful surroundings and gently winding roads alongside the stunning Lake Jindabyne.

Jindabyne is a gem in the heart of the High Country, offering an expansive itinerary of opportunities to make the most out of a snowy mountains getaway. If you’re planning a snowy mountains summer holiday in early 2023, be sure to check out the upcoming events for Jindabyne and surrounds, such as Jindabyne’s Summer Markets, the Thredbo Blues Festival and ‘Taste of the Snowies’ food & wine festival.

Planning a trip to Perisher next ski season? Stay at Eiger Chalet and gain access to one of Australia’s greatest ski resorts. With a host of stay options for any party size, Eiger offers a truly unique skiing experience in the heartland of Australia’s great snowy mountains region.

Eiger is a family-owned and operated, traditional Swiss Style on-snow Chalet with a German / Austrian influence. As one of the original boutique ski Chalets in Perisher, you can expect a truly authentic stay with warm and cosy rooms that are fully furnished and equipped with private ensuites and guest amenities, and of course, boasting views of the snow-filled valleys. Explore the accommodation today.