Thredbo is approximately 2 ½ hours by car from Canberra, 5 ½ hrs from Sydney, 7-9 hrs from Melbourne, 12 ½ hrs from Adelaide and 16 hrs from Brisbane ( or 4 ¾ by plane but more about that later.)

From Melbourne to Thredbo the Alpine Way provides a very scenic trip in summer. In winter it can, however, be a slow trip due to snowfalls and ice on the road. Chains must be carried in winter. A safer alternative may be the Hume Hwy or via Gippsland.

Aeropelican have taken over from REX airlines to once again offer an air service from Sydney to Snowy Mountains airport in Cooma. (Stop Press - April 2010 - services commence on 11 June 2010 with ticket prices starting at $129 one way incl taxes).
During winter months there are 3 return 60 minute flights per day. A shuttle bus will then transport passengers on to Thredbo.

From Sydney to Canberra the road is, of course, a well-trodden one. As such it is multi-lane the whole way.

From Canberra to the Snowy Region, the Monaro Highway which takes you through to Jindabyne has had many upgrades in recent years making it an enjoyable drive. There are lots of worthwhile stops on the way if you have time, eg. pancakes or a wood-fired pizza in Bredbo, wineries, the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme Visitors' Centre in Cooma, Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery ( on the Alpine Way ), Crackenback Farm/Cottage for a great meal or some gifts ( Alpine Way ) - just to mention a few.

About 1km after you've passed through Jindabyne you'll come to a well-signposted left-hand turn to Thredbo. The Paddy Palin store is on the right-hand side of the road here and Jindabyne is you're last chance to pick up any back country gear before heading to the mountains via Alpine Way.

From this turn off, the Alpine Way will gradually take you up the valley to Thredbo. It is advisable for 2wds to carry chains in winter as they will be compulsory in the event of heavy snowfalls. After about 20kms you will pass the Lake Crackenback resort and the ski tube on your right. Shortly thereafter you'll arrive at the entrance to the Kosciuszko National Park where you'll pay your N.P.W.S. entry fee. From there it is only about another 11kms until you arrive at Thredbo. Take the 2nd entrance off the Alpine Way and continue down that road until the first intersection. Candlelight Lodge will be almost directly in front of you. If the lodge's parking spots are full, we can help you unload your car and then direct you to the village car parks.

For Queenslanders, the drive to Thredbo can form an enjoyable extension to the skiing holiday. Whether you take the Pacific Hwy, the New England Hwy or the Newell Hwy, there are some very worthwhile stopovers to choose from. However, if time is of the essence, it does have obvious setbacks. We find the 1.5 hr direct flight Brisbane to Canberra followed by a 2.5 hr bus trip to be a more relaxing and time-efficient start to the holiday.

Several of the larger bus companies run a service from Canberra to Thredbo. There are also a few smaller firms which run shuttle bus/car services on the same route. These have the added advantage of flexibility in that they can meet the interstate planes as they arrive and will then ferry you direct to Candlelight's door with no stops in between unless requested. It gives you a chance to sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery and picturesque towns you pass through on the way. You can leave Brisbane on the 8.00 to 8.30am flights direct to Canberra and arrive at Candlelight by 1.00pm.

From Adelaide, Perth, Darwin or Hobart, the same bus services mentioned previously can also be booked to meet planes arriving in Canberra. Alternatively, a stopover in Canberra followed by a pick-up from your hotel allows you to enjoy a visit to some of the many attractions Canberra has to offer. The War Memorial and Parliament House are always popular ones but are only two of many worthwhile ones.

We can provide you with contact details for any of these services. If you wish, we can also make the bookings on your behalf. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions which may help you to get a smooth and stress-free start to your Thredbo skiing holiday.