{"id":35250,"date":"2025-03-01T16:58:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T07:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/?p=35250"},"modified":"2025-07-01T18:23:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T08:53:19","slug":"5-must-see-and-do-things-in-cooma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/5-must-see-and-do-things-in-cooma\/","title":{"rendered":"5 must-see and do things in Cooma"},"content":{"rendered":"

5 must-see and do things in Cooma<\/h1>\n

Cooma, perched on the edge of the Snowy Mountains in southern New South Wales, is far more than just a stop on the way to the ski fields. With a rich past tied to the Snowy Hydro Scheme, this historic town is full of surprises\u2014whether you’re chasing fresh mountain air, fascinating engineering feats, or good old country charm.<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re passing through or planning a stay, here are five unmissable things to do in Cooma.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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View from the Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre<\/p><\/div>\n

Learn the power story at Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre<\/h2>\n

This is where Cooma\u2019s true heartbeat lies. The Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre isn\u2019t just a museum\u2014it\u2019s a celebration of one of Australia’s greatest infrastructure projects. Through interactive displays and engaging videos, you\u2019ll learn how the Snowy Mountains Scheme transformed not just the landscape, but post-war Australia too. There\u2019s a caf\u00e9 on-site, and the staff are full of local knowledge\u2014worth a yarn if you’ve got the time.<\/p>\n

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Visitors out enjoying the Lambie Town Walk<\/p><\/div>\n

Take a stroll back in time on Lambie Town Walk<\/h2>\n

Step into the past with the Lambie Town Walk<\/strong>, a well-marked heritage walk that winds through some of Cooma\u2019s<\/a> oldest precincts. With 19 signposted stops, you\u2019ll pass historic churches, classic stone buildings and the original correctional centre. It\u2019s an easy walk with loads of character\u2014bring your camera and let the old town charm you.<\/p>\n

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Nanny Goat Hill Lookout<\/p><\/div>\n

Soak up sweeping views from Nanny Goat Hill Lookout<\/h2>\n

It may have a quirky name, but Nanny Goat Hill Lookout<\/strong> delivers the goods when it comes to big sky views. A short drive or walk from the town centre, it\u2019s a brilliant spot to take in Cooma’s rooftops and the rolling countryside beyond. Keep an eye out for the sculpture of a goat perched near the edge\u2014it\u2019s a local icon.<\/p>\n

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Cooma Monaro Railway precinct<\/p><\/div>\n

Visit the heritage-rich Cooma Monaro Railway<\/h2>\n

Train buffs and history lovers, don\u2019t miss this one. The Cooma Monaro Railway<\/strong> precinct has lovingly restored rolling stock and a charming station house dating back to the 1880s. The volunteers are passionate and happy to share tales of the rail\u2019s heyday. Check in advance to see if any special events or train rides are on while you\u2019re in town.<\/p>\n

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View over the Monaro Plains from theMount Gladstone Lookout<\/p><\/div>\n

Relax and admire the Monaro Plains from Mount Gladstone Lookout<\/h2>\n

Just west of town, Mount Gladstone Lookout<\/strong> serves up one of the best views in the region. On a clear day, you\u2019ll see the Snowy Mountains<\/strong> to the west and the sweeping plains to the east. There are picnic tables and walking tracks too, making it a solid spot to unwind with a sandwich and a thermos of tea.<\/p>\n

Practical information<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Location:<\/strong> Cooma, Snowy Monaro Region, NSW<\/li>\n
  • Getting there:<\/strong> About 1.5 hours\u2019 drive south of Canberra on the Monaro Highway<\/li>\n
  • Best time to visit:<\/strong> Spring and autumn for mild weather; winter for snow-related activities nearby<\/li>\n
  • Dress code:<\/strong> Casual, but bring layers\u2014even summer nights can get cool<\/li>\n
  • Safety:<\/strong> Cooma is safe and easy to navigate. Lookouts can be breezy\u2014pack a windbreaker<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35255,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":17,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[635,476],"class_list":["post-35250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-snowy-mountains","tag-cooma","tag-travel-guides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35250"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35259,"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35250\/revisions\/35259"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ourdustybackroads.com\/odbProd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}