Tumut 2020 - Day 1 - Kazza's Australian Holidays

Woke up on time, but didn't have much time to do any more Tumut research. I did book the motel for the weekend though. We headed off around 8:45, stopping to get petrol and snacakages, and left Belconnen by 9:00. Wandered south, taking photos out the window of Michelago, Bredbo and Cooma that I'd never taken photos of before.

When we turned onto the Snowy Mountains Highway after Cooma there was a sign saying chains must be carried. Which was going to be a problem if we had to hire them since we wouldn't be coming back this way. hrmmm. I also didn't know if they'd charge us to drive through the Koscuisko National Park.

I once drew a picture very similar to this on my computer using Paint

Our first stop was Adaminaby. Don't think I'd ever been before. I managed to reproduce all four of Dad's photos that he took in 1961 - nearly sixty years ago. The only difference in the town in that time? The trees!

The Big Trout

Adaminaby panorama

Adaminaby Memorial Hall

St John's Anglican Church

Then we headed down to Old Adaminaby, but the view of Lake Eucumbene isn't all that exciting.

Lake Eucumbene

Chapel at Township Point

Then it was up and over the main ranges. Where there was snow! So much snow! Although it masked the devastation from the bushfires. The trees in the Snowy Mountains always seem to struggle at the best of times, and now everything is just black. So sad. But the road was completely dry (it was sunny and something like 18C) so had no issues driving through. We did stop at one point to play in the snow.

Snowy Mountains

Sawyer's Hut

The bleakness of the bushfire ravaged Snowy Mountains

Snow by the Eucumbene River

Crossing the Eucumbene River

Looking up Link Road and Bullocks Head Creek near Kiandra

Snowy Mountains

Down down down into Talbingo, where we stopped in town for fish and chips for lunch.

new york, paris, talbingo, london

Stu and our lunch

Headed up river to go see Talbingo Dam. We couldn't get up to see the top of the power station intakes because the road was closed, presumably because of bushfire damage, but did have a good long wander round the bottom to see Tumut III Powerstation, and across the dam wall.

Riverside cottages in Talbingo

Tumut 3 Switching Yard

Tumut 3 inlet pipelines

Tumut 3 Power Station

Tumut 3 inlet pipelines

Tumut 3 Power Station

Talbingo Dam

View from Talbingo Dam

Talbingo Reservoir

Talbingo Dam

Talbingo Dam and Reservoir

Inlet for Tumut 3 Power Station

Talbingo Dam

Back downstream, tried to get photos Jounama dam, but there's nowhere good to get any decent shots of it. Although looking at the satellite now, possibly foreshore road on the southside might give some views - if it's not blocked off like other stuff in the area.

Jounama Pondage

Jounama Dam

Tumut River below Jounama Dam

Jounama Pondage

Tumut River below Jounama Dam

Jounama Dam

By this time it was nearly 4pm and the light was fading fast, so we decided to skip Blowering Dam and head straight for Tumut. Went straight to the motel and checked in. Nice modern room, and we ponied up for the big bed ;)

Blowering Reservoir

Our room at Amaroo motel

Relaxed for a bit, then headed out to find some dinner. Ended up having Thai from Kinnaree Thai, which operates out of the Commercial Hotel. It was quite nice.