Heading to Thredbo from Sydney, the unknown road can be quickly become your friend when you capitalise on all the top spots to stop for a break to stretch the legs. ?Depending on your budget and tastes, expand your search for Snowy Mountains restaurants to include cafes and wineries so you can enjoy the best of the outdoors and indoors with these places of note.
1. Southern Highlands wineries
The least scenic section of this otherwise scenic adventure is the first hour escaping the ?big smoke? of Sydney.
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Winery pit stop[/caption]
Once you?re off the M5 from the city, or the M2 and M7 from the north of Sydney, and heading south on the Hume highway you become privy to the beauty of the cattle farms, horse studs and properties, apple orchards and great wineries.
Between Sydney to Canberra there are many little?wineries?sprinkled about accessible from the Hume Highway. Great for a leg stretch, a cellar door purchase, a coffee, cake or a meal. Several of note are?Eling Forest Cellar Door and Cafe,?12537 Hume Highway Sutton Forest, Open 8am to 4.30pm and?Sutton Forest Estate Wines?off the Hume Highway 21 Black Horse Lane Sutton Forest, open 10am to 5PM Friday to Sunday,?phone 02 4878 9278.
2.Picnic at Lake George
Depending on your personal vintage, travellers may have witnessed Lake George south of Canberra either covered over entirely with water (essentially looking like a LAKE), or as a large, empty multitude of cow paddocks home to a bevy of bovines. Either way, it is predominantly picturesque and worthy of a roadside picnic on its banks. Stick to designated rest stops for obvious traffic hazzard reasons.
3. Silo Cafe
Shar from Sydney heads to the snow regularly and always enjoys a stop at Silo Cafe not only to stretch the legs. ?It?s my absolute Fave. I get the poached eggs in walnut celery cheese wash. Amazing. Not to mention their coffees, pasteries and other goodies?. Located at 36 Giles St Kingston open 7am to 4pm from Tuesday to Saturday.
4. Pha?s Thai?Kitchen?in Cooma Restaurants in Thredbo include the Alp Thai but if you get the need for an Asian cuisine fix on the way stopover at Pha's Thai Kitchen in Cooma for lunch or dinner. [caption id="attachment_6498" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Stop for a Thai meal in Cooma[/caption]
?This is a locally renowned Thai restaurant where the recommended dishes include: Tiger Cry, Banana Curry and Seafood Laksa. Located at Shop 6 (next to the Visitor?s Centre), 121 Sharp St Cooma. 11am till 2.30pm and 5pm to 9.30pm. Phone 02 6452 5489.
5. Mario?s Mineshaft
Mario's Mineshaft has been an institution for Thredbo pizza for several generations, and worth the drive to Jindabyne to get it. For many the mere sniff of margherita pizza upon entering the front door brings an impromptu alpine grin to the face. It is in town at 2 Snowy River Avenue phone (02) 6456 2727 and is worth the salivation. Open 5pm to 11pm.
6. Picnic on the banks of Lake Jindabyne
If you?re a history lover, or just a romantic in search of days gone by, you?ll enjoy pulling up alongside this man made lake and sharing a picnic lunch or dinner.
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Lake Jindabyne[/caption]
You can source picnic fare at the nearby supermarket in Jindabyne at Nugget?s Crossing. A good spot to stop for supplies of water and personal items for your snow resort holiday. A popular family pastime is to gaze out over the lake, enjoying the odd sailing boat drift by and imagine where you believe the old town centre of Jindabyne to be. It is actually located beneath the present?Lake Jindabyne?legend has it the old church spire can be seen by intrepid scuba divers, if you dare.
7. Jindabyne Seafood
If fish and chips is more your thing than fancy Thredbo restaurants, Jindabyne Seafood is worth a small detour of just a street or two from the main road of Jindabyne. At 4/1 Snowy River Avenue, it is always popular and reasonably priced. The public toilets are just across the laneway, put in your order and get the kids sorted while your sole sizzles. Sit outside for an infusion of vitamin D or sit inside if the weather turns chilly. The Jindy Prawn burger is not too shabby either.
8. Dogs N Stuff
Visitor Zac Wilson says Dogs N Stuff is his go-to snack place when he?s down town in Jindabyne. In particular the pizza toppings on the hot dogs are winners and hit the spot. 3/3 Gippsland St Jindabyne open 6.30pm - 9pm or from 7am week days. Phone 026 4560211. Good place to take kids, particularly those in need of using ?outside voices? at all times.
9. Sundance Bakehouse and Tea Rooms
Always packed with customers, the smell of freshly baked goods from Sundance Bakehouse and Tea Rooms might draw customers in sooner than the urge for coffee. Pick up a lamington, some rolls for your holiday, coffees and a few pies. Shop 13 Nuggets Crossing, Jindabyne. Phone 02 6456 2951
10. Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery
A distillery of distinction, the Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery is the only one of its kind in Australia as it distills schnapps not rum. Open from 10-4pm it attracts visitors to its Austrian breakfast and lunch fare as well as its coffee. It is located on the road between Jindabyne and Thredbo on the Alpine Way and open all year round. Phone ?02 6457 1447.