By Steve Cuff

FROM that first moment you take the detour away from the bustling highway towards the more subdued but exceptionally scenic Snowy Valleys, you will now have a clearer understanding of the term, the grass is greener on the other side of the hill.

The Snowy Valleys have released a new and inspiring video that captures the imagination of all the adventures you can experience once you take that fork in the road.

What will be evident when you arrive this summer is a change in scenery. Vegetation is staging a remarkable resurgence from the devastating bushfires of last summer.

The local folk who reside here, the businesspeople and residents they have put that behind them now and are looking onwards. Yes, they are a resilient bunch to say the least.

Surely if they can pick themselves up from the blackened ruin and be optimistic for the future, we as a collective can summon that extra effort to support them through visiting this wonderful regional area.

The Snowy Valleys Way is a magnificent touring route stretching from Gundagai all the way to Beechworth in Victoria with mandatory mini detours along the route. The ever-changing scenery from one town to the next, the exquisite offerings that nature displays, they are inspiring and should be viewed by all.

Tourism is not the number one industry here but is steadily growing. To show their faith of increasing visitation, a new café has opened in the quite town of Adelong. You can stop at the MKS Café and give them a lift in their new venture.

The Adelong gold ruins is a fascinating story where gold thrived in the later 1800’s, fortunes were made, and now you can wander through the ruins and imagine the glory days. With a rising gold price, there are  plans to mine the Adelong gold project mullock dumps, with investigation continuing.

Tumut is a lively country town and surrounded by all the qualities for a great holiday. Their massive waterways are a haven for watercraft, fishing and just general relaxing. The Tumut River runs through the centre of town with numerous locations to absorb the flowing atmosphere.

In recent years it was often hard to find a café open on a Sunday, now you have choices with Kat’s Whiskers in Russell Street, the Coffee Pedaler on the main Wynyard Street and Harvest by the River at the Tumut Racecourse, all wonderful eateries.

Blowering Dam is perfect for camping and be sure to drive to the actual dam wall. Golfers are well catered for at the Tumut Golf Club and mountain bikers have great terrain and trails in the forest near town. The Tumut River Brewery will complete any day with a cold craft ale.

At Talbingo take the drive to the Tumut 3 Power Station, Talbingo Dam and stop at the Snowy Hydro display centre in town for lunch. The caravan park has brand new cabins with the best views, a perfect location to stay.

From Tumut to Batlow you notice the bushfire impact with timber cleared. The trees that survived now sprout a new layer of green that bursts from every seam.

Batlow is prime apple and cherry country, and what better way to support country farms than by stopping at roadside stalls and cellar doors. Wilgro Orchards and Mouats Farm are close to each other and offer the best of apples, plus cherries in December and January. Is there a bigger and juicer cherry found elsewhere?

These orchards felt the full force of the bushfires but talk with any of the owners and it is back to work and business as usual, but obviously still impacted heavily.

At the height of the Batlow fires, the Batlow Hotel owners Matt and Linda stood strong and once the regional travel restrictions were enacted prior to winter, have used their time productively and renovated the hotel. Counter lunches were always great in the courtyard, but now you may want to admire the inside improvements while you dine.

Tumbarumba lost one of their iconic attractions with the Sugar Pine Walk destroyed. This short walk among tall pines will always be remembered, and obviously hard to replace. But there are moves to find other new attractions.

The new Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail is one such success story. Riders have embraced the trail and travelled from afar to ride this most scenic 22km return trail. Book ahead for bike hire at Blooms and Bikes in Tumbarumba and enjoy any of the Tumba eateries or Gone Barny at Rosewood.

A Tumbarumba visit is never complete without the compulsory vineyard experience. Courabyra Wines not only continue to acquire prestigious awards for their wines, but their cellar door is one of the most popular destinations. It is imperative you book well in advance so you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, plus superb food and wine. They now open on Friday and Saturday evening.

In town the Tumbarumba Elms Motel is the place to stay and dine. Apart from cosy rooms within walking distance of the main street, be sure to book at the Elms Restaurant, the best of the best.

The visitor centre has all information on sightseeing options but allow a few hours to stop at Paddys River Falls and walk down and round the falls for various magnificent views. You can venture near the impressive falls and in the height of summer be sure to sooth in the rock pools below.

Stop at the Southern Cloud memorial towards Tooma, and for a country style pub the Tooma Inn for a weekend drive is suggested. For isolation at is finest, stay at the Brigham guest house, a superbly renovated venue.

Khancoban is the most picturesque of towns and one where relaxation is taken to the next level. With water frontage on the Khancoban Pondage, it is the gateway to the western side of the Kosciuszko National Park. See page 24 for more details.

To view the Snowy Valleys video and find more information, visit the website www.visitsnowyvalleys.com.au.