We headed inland as we had a campground booking in Kosciuszko National Park.
One night stopover at Bredbo - where we stayed behind the local pub. A free site, so in appreciation, we dropped in for a meal. Bit 'chilly bin' in Bredbo - overnight minimum was -0.5° meant we had to pull out the winter woolies earlier than expected.
Onwards to Ngarigo Campground along the Alpine Way just out from Jindabyne in Kosciuszko National Park. Free to camp but you must book and pay a $6 booking fee in addition to a National Park Pass which costs $17 per day. We stayed 3 nights - a good test out of our recent upgrades for off-grid sustainability.
 |
| Site 1 at Ngarigo Campground |
Day 2 weather was great (0° to 15°), virtually no wind. We took the short drive to Thredbo Village intending to do the walk from Thredbo to Mt Kosciuszko summit (if we could make it) which is approx 13km return. However, we bailed on the idea when the lady at the chairlift warned us there were 80kph wind gusts at the top. So then we took a drive further along the Alpine way in the direction towards Khancoban. Along the way, we drove through several km's of what we assumed to be bushfire ravaged country - just miles and miles of deadwood forest. Plenty of regrowth is evident but it's going to take some time to restore it back to its former self.
 |
| Bushfire damage - I assume 2019 |
 |
| Dr Forbes Hut, Geehi. (https://khuts.org/index.php/huts/kosciuszko-national-park/dr-forbes-hut) |
After smoko at the Geehi Rest Area, we turned around for 'home'. After a late lunch, we took a drive in the other direction up to Charlotte Pass to take in the sights of the alpine country.
 |
| Golden light enhanced the colours of this twisted old Snowgum |
 |
| View of Mt Kosciuszko from Charlotte Pass lookout. (It's the smallest distant hump in the centre of frame) |
Day 3 started out beautiful weather again - at least at campsite. We took the chairlift to the top station of Thredbo village. From there we decided to take the shorter 4km return walk to the Mt. Kosciuszko Lookout. Well that decision soon turned into an ordeal for me! The walk was a well formed track 2km uphill the whole way and a 50 to 70kph head wind.
Anyway, it was worth it.
 |
| Return walk from the lookout |
 |
| Mt Kosciuszko as seen from the lookout |
After the walk, we enjoyed a welcome lunch in the highest restaurant in Australia, the Eagles Nest. Ham and Cheese toasties are to die for! Second best one I've ever tasted.
On the way back to our car at Thredbo Village, an old relic drove around the corner and into the servo for a fill up. I approached the old bloke and asked permission to take a photo. No worries. Then, later, when we were back at camp he rocked up to camp for the night.
I had a chat to John about his rig and he was only too pleased to tell me about it. It's a modified Model T Ford which he has drived all around Australia. Has a Cortina engine in it. Never seen a lick of paint in its life. He camps in the back of it.
 |
| John and his baby |
After our stay in the National Park, we head off to the Nation's Capital.
