Beyond the slopes: A 48-hour culinary adventure in the Snowies
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A trip to the Snowies is usually a given for Canberrans during the winter, but the best adventures won’t be found in the mountains – they’ll be found on a plate.
Known for the amazing skiing and snowboarding that draw travellers from far and wide, the Snowy Mountains are also home to a growing food scene. But with views of the mountains and alpine lakes, this is one food tour that will transport you in more ways than one.
Here’s how to spend 48 hours in the Snowy Mountains on the ultimate foodie getaway.
3.30 pm: Check into Crafters Luxury Eco Accommodation
If you’re making the trip out to Crackenback, a luxury escape awaits in the form of two gorgeous cabins secluded in 13 acres of pristine alpine bushland beneath Crackenback Peak.
Offering complete privacy, not only are the cabins at Crafters Luxury Eco Accommodation 100 per cent off the grid, but they are also incredibly luxurious, combining the best of nature with modern-day comforts – ideal for a romantic getaway. Overlooking rolling bushland (complete visits from native wildlife), my partner and I were booked into Cabin One and from the moment we walked in, it felt like we’d left Canberra far behind.
Scenic and serene, in the golden afternoon light, it was hard not to spend hours gazing at the unspoilt bushland, which was simply a step through the glass sliding doors of our bedroom. And while there was a fully equipped kitchen, we weren’t too worried about cooking or heading out for a meal. After all, we had a bottle of Kosciuszko Pinot Noir and Snowy Way Brewing Co beers waiting for us alongside a decadent grazing platter from Thorn and Snow, complete with four different types of cheeses, fresh fruit, mushrooms and kimchi.
What more do you need? A soak in an outdoor woodfired hot tub, apparently, which was waiting outside, followed by a long, hot shower that made use of the double shower heads.
With Mother Nature doing most of the heavy lifting at Crafters – including an abundance of Australian botanical toiletries that took the shower to the next level – by the time we fell into bed, we were firmly under its spell. We decided to leave the blinds open to watch the stars and wake up with the sunrise.
And yes, it was very romantic.
7.30 am: Breakfast at Cuisine Restaurant, Lake Crackenback
Breakfast with a view is a must, and with the reopening of Cuisine Restaurant at Lake Crackenback just in time for the colder months, fine mountain dining at its best is just 10 minutes down the road. Open from 7.30 am, here they serve what I’d call ‘classic’ à la carte Australian breakfast –think house-made granola, eggs ‘your way’ and their version of a big breakfast, aptly named the Summit Sunrise Breakfast – all incorporating local produce.
A long, leisurely breakfast overlooking Lake Crackenback and the Snowy Mountains was a relaxing way to start our mountain escape. While we had a whole lot of eating to pack into our day, if you’ve got time, it would be rude not to book into the iconic spa.
A hot tip? For anyone planning a winter getaway with the family, I noticed they’ll also be bringing back their Buffet Breakfast from 28 June until 31 August (priced at $30 per adult and $20 per child), perfect for some bang for your buck.
11.15 am: Sip the Snowies Tour Experience
The best way to enjoy the Snowies? Ask a local. And that’s exactly how the Sip the Snowies tour experience began. Founded by Jen – who has been involved in managing some of Sydney’s most iconic venues – the tours began in 2023 after she realised she wanted to share her passion for the region’s quality food and drinks.
Driving groups around Jindabyne, Crackenback, Thredbo, Dalgety and beyond, all of her tours can be customised, depending on what you’d like to do or see – whether it’s to shop local boutiques or sip on local wine. All we knew when she picked us up outside the cabin was that we’d be going on a massive foodie adventure.
Pointing out important sights and telling us about the Snowies as she drove us to the first location, it was obvious from the minute we got into the Sip the Snowies van we’d be in for a day packed with food, drinks and warm country hospitality.
11.45 am: Meet You Halfway
A good coffee is a non-negotiable, and luckily, Jen knew just the spot to take us to caffeinate us for the day ahead – and it was also conveniently located just across the road from our first stop.
Located halfway between Cooma and Jindabyne in Berridale, Meet You Halfway is an unassuming little coffee van. But don’t let it fool you – with locals constantly stopping, it’s also a bustling little hub that’s home to one of the best matcha lattes I’ve had.
Looking like it would be just as at home on the beach, with a small gallery and shop next door, it’s cool, fun and feel-good with a friendly vibe that can’t be replicated in a café.
Founded by Jindy-born-and-raised locals Fen and Jase, Meet You Halfway serves up hot and cold drinks ranging from classic coffee to salted caramel hot choc and iced strawberry matcha. They also have grab and go goodies available – because nothing goes better on a cold day than a four cheese toastie with sundried tomatoes and ham – and of course I had to try the gluten free almond, ricotta and lemon cake.
In three words? Oh. My. God. Very rarely will I go for cake (unless it’s chocolate), but my weakness is any form of lemon cake, and this blew my mind. Licking the fork clean, I asked Jase and Fen where they sourced it from and – to my delight – they made it themselves. My one regret is not asking for the recipe.
12.15 pm: Shut The Gate
I wasn’t kidding when I said our first stop was across the road. A short stroll away, on the other side of Jindabyne Road in Berridale, was Shut The Gate.
Owned and operated by Rasa and her husband Richard, this small wine producer packs a mighty punch. Incredibly knowledgeable about wine, the couple come from the Clare Valley in South Australia, but after falling in love with the Snowies, they decided to open a second cellar door to enjoy the alpine lifestyle. Splitting time between the two regions (during our visit, Richard was in South Australia), Rasa said it was ‘stupidity’ that got them into wine, but it was obvious from the moment we walked in that it’s pure passion.
Combining a wine bar, premium providore, gourmet grocer and liquor store into one, a tasting here will have you sipping on everything from dry Clare Riesling to Tempranillo (plus a few extras chucked in).
Ending the session with an amazing grazing platter in their sun-soaked garden (all made from the local products they stock) it would have been too easy to spend the whole day there talking with Rasa.
2.30 pm: Wildbrumby Distillery
No trip to the Snowies would be complete without visiting Wildbrumby, home to award-winning schnapps, gin and vodka just 22km from Australia’s highest peak. And while I have tried some of their products before, sipping on them in the alpine air where they are distilled is a completely different experience.
We sipped our way through all 10 of their Austrian-inspired schnapps, trying everything from the mouthwatering butterscotch to the fresh peppermint (which tasted like a liquid-candy treat).
But it’s not just schnapps at Wildbrumby. Also home to Austrian-inspired food and contemporary art, we nibbled on Beef Gulasch and Pork Kassler while enjoying some amazing cocktails – for me, the Movie Night (butterscotch schnapps, brown butter washed vodka, chocolate bitters, and popcorn) and for my partner, the Schnapperol Spritz (gin, baked apple schnapps, Australian Italian bitters, and Fever-Tree blood orange soda). But with plenty of non-alcoholic options on the drinks menu, this venue is a gem worth visiting.
3.45pm: Bar Lula
At this point, I thought I couldn’t fit any more in. But how could we refuse an invitation to the soft opening of Jindabyne’s newest wine bar? Especially when it was Rasa greeting us at the door.
That’s right – Bar Lula is also owned and operated by Rasa and Richard of Shut The Gate. Named after a former employee who moved away, the small wine bar is warm and full of light, transporting you from the streets of Jindabyne to a haven of wine.
Offering small plates, appetisers, and charcuterie boards along with an extensive cocktail list (I can recommend the Tommy’s Margarita), they’ll be open seven days a week to bring sophistication to the Snowies. After only an hour here (in which several more snack plates and cocktails were consumed), I think this will be a fast favourite.
4.45 pm: Holly Go Lightly
Simply known as ‘Holly’s’ to the locals, this is Jindabyne’s equivalent of Assembly or Capital Brewing Co – a cool watering hole, complete with live music, beer garden and casual eats.
Serving beers, wines and cocktails along with American-style street food like burgers, crispy chicken wings, poutine, and more, it was no surprise to find it busy on a Friday night.
Too full to stomach any more food, instead we enjoyed a quiet, final drink before retreating to Crafters for a long, deep sleep, once again looking up the stars as we drifted off.
The Snowies might be known for its wildlife walks and majestic mountains, but after 48 hours eating and drinking my way through the region, it turns out the most unforgettable winter experiences aren’t always found on the slopes.
Looking for more inspiration on where to eat and drink in the Snowies? Make sure to check out snowymountains.com.au for a full guide.
