Alpine Way is an ideal road trip in Australia
Australia, oceania
123 km
1,597 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: the Alpine Way in New South Wales, Australia. Seriously, it's got to be one of the most scenic drives *ever*, with views stretching south into the Victorian Alps. They say it's one of the highest and windiest roads in Oz!
Back in the day, this was an old cattle route used by stockmen, but now it's a fully paved road (thanks to upgrades in the 90s) stretching 123km from Jindabyne to the border of New South Wales and Victoria.
This is a *mountain* road, folks. We're talking steep sections, hitting a 13% gradient in spots! You'll climb to 1,597m (5,239ft) above sea level at Dead Horse Gap, high in the Snowy Mountains.
Heads up: this road is usually open year-round, but winter can bring closures. Conditions change FAST, so be prepared. If you're rolling in a two-wheel drive between June and the October long weekends, snow chains are a must between Thredbo and Tom Groggin. Honestly, they might be needed elsewhere too! The area's harsh, so they spend a lot of time keeping the road in good shape. Watch out for rockfalls after it rains, though!
Set aside 2.5 to 4 hours to cruise the whole thing. The views are knockout. Think rugged mountains, panoramic vistas, the works!
Just a heads up, some parts between Khancoban and Thredbo are narrow and steep. This isn't a route for trucks, buses, or huge caravans. But if you're up for an adventure, you won't regret this drive!
Where is it?
Alpine Way is an ideal road trip in Australia is located in Australia (oceania). Coordinates: -28.1579, 133.2615
Road Details
- Country
- Australia
- Continent
- oceania
- Length
- 123 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,597 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- -28.1579, 133.2615
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