Alpine Way.

Stuart-Jan · Veteran Member

Alpine Way.

dazz49 · Senior Member

I was up that way 4 years ago and if I remember correctly no vans or semis allowed on road to thredbo and then on to jindabyne. We left our vans in a camp before tom groggan. The road has too many sharp hairpins and is very steep in places. Just getting to the camp travelling in second gear down hill we needed to pull up and let our brakes cool down. Cheers daz

dazz49 · Senior Member

The camp we left our van at was Geehi. Beautiful spot. Then a day trip to Thredbo.

PeterD · Guru

Your question always results in in controversy. Yes there is a sign when coming from Jindabyne to indicate the road is not suitable for large vehicles and trailers. However the rangers on the park entrance make no attempt to dissuade you from travelling over the road. They issue you with a pass for two hours to negotiate through to Khancoban if you do not hold a parks pass for the area.

The road is not a full specification two lane road for some sections. However if is wide enough for two large vehicles to pass with care. If you keep close to the LHS and slow down so oncoming traffic can dodge you then you should have no problems. The Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia has some good information on the gradients to expect. I have set the link up to take you there and shows where the steepest part of the road. That steepest gradient is near the Murray 1 Power Station, not the ascent up to Dead Horse Gap. The narrowest section of road is also along there.

I have towed both ways without any problems. One time was in company with two larger vans. None of us experienced problems. It is a little more taxing than the GAR as it is a little narrower in some sections and some curves are sharper. The GAR has a centre line the whole road whereas the Alpine road does have some sections without one. It is not a road for the faint hearted but if you feel you are a competent and confident driver then go forth and enjoy the drive.

Stuart-Jan · Veteran Member

Thanks for that information. I would still be tempted but it has occured to me that if there is a gate to pass through into the National park & I have pets ( 2 cats ) in the car with me the rangers will probably say no way.

Given that I have that problem I am looking for alternatives. Not a great one for Freeways and will be leaving ACT on the main Highway north anyway.. So looking at Snowy Mountain Highway. Tumut to Adaminaby. Is this Suitable for towing vans along & is there any National Park Issue.

PeterD · Guru

Stuart-Jan wrote:
Thanks for that information. I would still be tempted but it has occured to me that if there is a gate to pass through into the National park & I have pets ( 2 cats ) in the car with me the rangers will probably say no way.

The Alpine Way is a public thoroughfare. That is why you are allowed to pass through free. Being a public thoroughfare you are permitted to take pets and livestock along that road. You are just not allowed to take your pets out of the vehicle. The group I travelled with (mentioned above) had a dog in one of the vehicles and was not challenged. If you wish to go through just don't stop and let your cats wander. Tell the rangers you have pets and you have no intention of stopping to let them out and you should be OK.

There are many other national parks people take pets through. You would not be able to go north from Sydney if you were not permitted to take them through a national park. There are many of the local farmers take their dogs through the Warrambungles when going to town in Coonabarabran.

-- Edited by PeterD on Friday 2nd of February 2018 11:57:50 PM

Stuart-Jan · Veteran Member

PeterD wrote:
Your question always results in in controversy. Yes there is a sign when coming from Jindabyne to indicate the road is not suitable for large vehicles and trailers. However the rangers on the park entrance make no attempt to dissuade you from travelling over the road. They issue you with a pass for two hours to negotiate through to Khancoban if you do not hold a parks pass for the area.
The road is not a full specification two lane road for some sections. However if is wide enough for two large vehicles to pass with care. If you keep close to the LHS and slow down so oncoming traffic can dodge you then you should have no problems. The Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia has some good information on the gradients to expect. I have set the link up to take you there and shows where the steepest part of the road. That steepest gradient is near the Murray 1 Power Station, not the ascent up to Dead Horse Gap. The narrowest section of road is also along there.
I have towed both ways without any problems. One time was in company with two larger vans. None of us experienced problems. It is a little more taxing than the GAR as it is a little narrower in some sections and some curves are sharper. The GAR has a centre line the whole road whereas the Alpine road does have some sections without one. It is not a road for the faint hearted but if you feel you are a competent and confident driver then go forth and enjoy the drive.

So I ended up Wandering around the upper reaches of the Murray. Made my way to Tumut and then along the Snowy Mountains Highway to Cooma. Glad I did as I got to see the diverse environments there are up on the high planes. Then did a 1 day Circuit. Cooma _ Kiandra- Khancoban-Jindabyne- Cooma. ( without the van that is.)

Just as you posted the Rangers at Khancobin actually told me that Caravans are taken over the Alpine way Quiet regularly. I tend to think that the first climb out of Khancoban is probably the most testing due to the steepness of some climbs/descents & the narrow sections in places. I noticed another sign at Tom Groggin which is a little surprising as that is some of the best road of all. Rangers also mentioned that many Caravans were being taken up the other route from Khancobin to Kiandra because of the sign at the bottom of the Alpine Way and the fact that there is no sign at the bottom of this route. IMO this is the road that is unsuitable for Caravans. The drop down into Tumut Ponds & the climb up the other side is much worse than anything along the Alpine Way.