I planned to explore the Snowy Mountains Discovery Center in Cooma today. Upon waking up, I observed that all the other caravans, campers, and cars had already departed. The night before, about six vehicles had occupied this space. Now, at 10 am, I found myself alone in this vacant expanse of gravel. After applying some gel to my hair, brushing my teeth, and taking care of morning necessities, I reflected on my decision to settle at a rest area approximately 20 kilometers north of Cooma yesterday. As a testament to my journey, I decided to capture an image of my living space in Australia.
Backpacking by Car
Each time I chose to sleep in the car, I had to rearrange my belongings, shifting them to the front seat to create space on the back seat. Typically, I would leave everything on the front passenger’s seat, but the Toyota Corolla has a weight sensor that triggers the alarm for unfastened seat belts. I vividly remember the first time it happened; although I didn’t mention it in the previous report, it occurred on that particular day. While driving at 80 kilometers per hour, the alarm suddenly blared, causing me initial confusion and concern about a potential issue with the car.
After 5 minutes of continuous ringing, the alarm’s rhythm would change to a more frequent beep rate: PIEP PIEP PIEP PIEP. It startled me, and I decided to pull over to figure out what was wrong. Once the speed was near zero, the alarm would stop making noise. I felt perplexed because there were no warning signs illuminated on the dashboard display related to oil, motor temperature, or the car battery. Fortunately, I noticed the seat belt alarm for the front passenger seat, located not on the dashboard but right next to it. The front passenger seat proved to be highly sensitive, as the only item on it at that moment was my camera (weight: 1 kilogram). Since then, I couldn’t place anything on the seat, as the alarm would trigger when accelerating.
Anyway, back to my initial story. Whenever I had to sleep in a rest area, I would place everything (my backpack and box of clothes) in the front passenger seats. I typically aimed to arrive before twilight due to kangaroos and other animals that might cross the roads. Additionally, my rental contract prohibited night driving. Once settled, I would retrieve a cold coke from the cooler and some snacks (mostly chocolate or donuts). With everything in place, I would grab my laptop and turn it on, ensuring it was fully charged as the battery lasted approximately 5-6 hours. Last night, all I did was watch How I Met Your Mother.
Back to Cooma’s Library
Once I completed my morning routine, I departed from the rest area and drove back to Cooma. My first stop was the library to charge my laptop for the upcoming evening, and while charging, I could research some things on the internet. I spent two hours at the library and was quite productive, making significant progress on my previous blog articles. During my time there, I engaged in a great conversation with a local Australian guy. He shared his experiences with skydiving and bungee jumping, attempting to convince me to do the same once I arrived in New Zealand.
Following my visit to the library, I headed to the shopping mall. At Target, I made a fantastic find – the socks I desired for only 2 dollars per set, and each set contained three pairs of socks. It was incredible, especially considering that just a few days ago, I had considered purchasing one pair of socks for 10 dollars at a Woolworths supermarket. In total, I acquired six pairs of socks for 4 dollars. Subsequently, I visited Woolworths supermarket, where I purchased a pack of ice and some snacks. As I planned to camp in Kosciuszko National Park tonight, I needed provisions, so I bought bread, jam, and chocolate.
Information is Key
I departed and opted to visit the information center across the street. It’s remarkable how abundant tourist information offices are in Australia – a valuable resource. They provided details about the park fee for Kosciuszko, which amounted to 16 dollars per day. Because of the timed ticket system, the lady recommended obtaining a ticket at the park border rather than in the town located 30 kilometers ahead of the National Park.
I expressed my gratitude to the lady for all the information, maps, and her kindness. Afterward, I returned to my car. It was approximately 3 pm, and I was eager to explore Cooma’s main attraction, the Snowy Mountains Discovery Centre, also known as the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre. This exhibition focuses on the Snowy Mountains Scheme, an extraordinary water management engineering project implemented between 1949 and 1974. Given the significance of water management in the Netherlands, where half the country is below sea level, I found the center particularly intriguing.
The Snowy Mountain Discovery Center
Inside, I roamed the exhibits and gained extensive insights into the Snowy Mountains Scheme. But what exactly is this scheme? Mount Kosciuszko National Park, one of Australia’s largest national parks, experiences winter snowfall annually. As summer approaches (currently in autumn), the accumulated snow begins to melt. To harness this natural process, the scheme involved constructing 16 major dams, 7 power stations, 145 kilometers of tunnels, and 80 kilometers of aqueducts.
This comprehensive infrastructure guides controlled water flow through the power stations to generate electricity. On average, the Snowy Mountains Scheme contributes to the production of 4500 gigawatt hours of clean, renewable energy every year.
The water, after serving its purpose in generating electricity, follows two main paths. Some of it will return to the Pacific Ocean through the Snowy Mountain River, while another portion is diverted for irrigation in the areas below the Snowy Mountains. This intricate water management system ensures a sustainable and multifaceted use of this vital resource. Later in the afternoon, my journey would lead me to cross one of the scheme’s remarkable features—the Jindabyne Lake, passing over one of the dams in the process.
While at the center, I watched a captivating mini-movie in the theater that showcased the remarkable building project. Intrigued by the details, I explored the center further, reading additional information. After spending an hour until 4 pm, I decided to leave. The highlight of the Snowy Mountains Scheme Discovery Center was that it was free, haha.
Journey to Jindabyne
Next, I embarked on a 100-kilometer drive to Thredbo, aiming to reach my destination before nightfall. First, I headed to the gas station. Afterwards, I purchased a substantial sandwich from Subway, intending to enjoy it as my dinner upon reaching my destination.
On a small gravel road outside Cooma, where I had to drive slowly due to construction, I seized the opportunity to capture some pictures of the surrounding area. Once past the gravel road, the subsequent roads were truly breathtaking. I picked up speed and reveled in the scenic beauty.
After approximately 45 minutes, I reached Jindabyne just in time to capture a photo of the lake before me! Had I been one minute later with the camera, I would have missed the shot. Anything for the perfect picture.
A Dash Through Jindabyne
A few minutes later, I crossed the expansive dam. I had the intention of capturing a photo, but an impatient car behind me was tailgating, urging me to accelerate (though I was already driving at 80 kilometers per hour in a 100 km/h zone). Given the circumstances, I couldn’t risk taking a picture. Eventually, as I passed through Jindabyne, I decided to make a brief stop for a restroom break and refreshment. Parking in front of some small restaurants, I crossed the road to find a small park adjacent to the lake, known as Banjo Paterson Park. I opted to take some pictures there.
As I strolled through the park, I noticed a statue in the distance. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it depicted Sir Paul Edmunt Strzelecki, a Polish explorer who had identified the highest peak in Australia, Mount Kosciuszko. Interestingly, the explorer did not bear the name Kosciuszko; he chose it because he believed the mountain resembled the tomb of the Polish hero Kosciuszko. My journey was leading me to that very mountain, as tomorrow I planned to embark on a climb to its summit. Despite the hike being relatively easy, the impending adverse weather conditions promised to make it quite challenging.
Unraveling the Mystery of a Thousand-Dollar Reward
After concluding my drink, I retraced my steps to the nearby restaurants and located a public toilet. As I entered, my attention was drawn to a wanted sign displaying a reward of one thousand dollars. Initially, a sense of alarm crept over me, entertaining thoughts of a potential serial killer on the loose. However, as I read the sign further, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. The reward was actually intended for identifying vandals and not for apprehending a serial killer. ‘Only in Australia,’ I mused.
I strolled past the various restaurants, perusing the menus showcased outside. ‘No way I’m shelling out that much money for a burrito,’ I pondered. It triggered memories of a restaurant in Ubud, Indonesia, where I enjoyed two incredible burritos in one evening at a fantastic Mexican bar.
Mount Kosciuszko National Park
I got back to my car and resumed my journey; from this point, it was another 45 minutes to reach the entrance of Mount Kosciuszko National Park.
I continued driving, and as I progressed, the landscape underwent a transformation, revealing distant mountains (see picture one). It was an incredible experience traversing through this National Park. After covering 2 kilometers within the National Park, I reached a small office where I paid 16 dollars for a 24-hour entry pass.
After driving 5 kilometers, I spotted a sign for the campground and made a right turn. Before settling in for the night, I took some final pictures of the camping spot (see pictures 3 and 4) and prepared my car. However, the toilet block turned out to be quite unpleasant with an overwhelming smell. It was one of those compost eco-toilets seen in movies, and the odor was intolerable. I preferred the idea of peeing in the bushes rather than using that compost toilet. In the evening, I spent my time watching How I Met Your Mother until around 1 am. Tomorrow’s plan to visit the mountains would depend on the weather; if it rained, I hesitated to hike to the top.
