The Snowy Mountains Trek: Safety Tips Your Mum Won’t Tell You

Aaanyway. If you want something romantic, the nights are cool enough to sit by a roaring fire without getting heat stroke! You can take the wife or girlfriend horse riding during the day – and take off on your bike for a nice long ride . Plan a picnic or two, and plenty of walks to stretch your legs out (‘the Snowies’ are about five hours from Sydney, which although is not a full day’s ride, can still be difficult depending on the weather – be prepared for closures of minor roads, and even some major thoroughfares, and snow can fall even in the warmer months).

In the summer, there are plenty of things to do during the day so there’s no excuse to be bored when you want a break from the bike. There are wineries, festivals and plenty of outdoor activities. In winter, of course, you can ski (or, if you’re like me and don’t ski, just ride around on the chairlifts all day and wile away the afternoon in one of the local pubs). Care needs to be taken in Winter as black ice can form on roads, some roads can be closed, and the weather can turn pretty mean quite quickly – always be prepared by getting an up-to-date weather report before you leave your accommodation, and take along plenty of supplies and warm gear in case it does get nasty. Check local road conditions and if in doubt, don’t. There are plenty of nice drives, so if one road is closed, there’ll be another (safer) route to take. For example, the drive taking in Bredbo, Cooma, Berridale, Thredbo, Batlow, Tumut and Adaminaby is not to be missed and offers plenty in each town so you can do the whole stop-revive-survive thing. Beware too of fees to enter the national parks – it might be handy to carry some extra change; obviously it’s more expensive in winter.

The Snowy Mountains are so much more than snow and mountains (although, that is a big part). It’s a ride you must do at least twice – once in the cooler months and once when it warms up again.

BIO: What better way to escape than on a motorcycle? The sense of freedom feels more complete on two wheels, and riding doesn't transport you to a destination; it is the destination. When hitting the open road, make sure you have motorcycle insurance. You can compare bike insurance quotes online and get the policy that suits you.

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Having decided to take an indefinite career break, Hugh is touring Australia in his ute and paying his way by writing freelance.

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