Pender Lea Chalets

By Car By Air Chain Hire Driving in the snow Contact Us National Park Entry Climate Maps

By Car

Your ticket to a Snowy Mountains escape is just 5.5 hours drive from both Sydney and 6.5 hours from Melbourne. If you’re cruising to the mountains from Sydney once on the Eastern Distributor there are only a few sets of traffic lights to Pender Lea. From Melbourne the fully sealed Kosciuszko Alpine Way is your scenic window, as you wind through the spectacular Kosciuszko National Park.

Printable Directions to Chalet 1 & 2          

Printable Directions to Chalet 3 & Chalet 4

Printable Directions to Pender Lea Post Office

Printable Directions to Pender Lea Cottage

Printable Directions to the Bedsitter Studio

Printable Directions to "The Hilton"

Printable Directions to "Park Cabins"

Sydney
 5 - 6.5 hours 500km (approx.)
 
Melbourne
 5.5 - 7 hours 500km (approx.)
 
Canberra
 2.5 hours 180km (approx.)

Driving from Sydney
Follow the Hume Highway from Sydney then just south of Goulburn take the Federal Highway and travel south to Canberra. This section of the trip is on a mainly divided road. At Canberra follow the signs to the Monaro Highway to Cooma. The road then joins the Kosciuszko Rd that you follow through the town of Berridale and onto Jindabyne. Just past Jindabyne Town Centre take a left onto the Alpine Way to Thredbo. From the Thredbo turn off it will take you approximately another 10 minutes or 10.56 kms.   Pender Lea is located on the right hand side of the Alpine Way. 

Driving from Melbourne
Follow the Hume Highway from Melbourne to Wodonga. Take the Murray Valley Highway "To Wodonga / Tallangatta" exit and follow the signs "To Tallangatta" Then after passing Wodonga follow the signs to Tallangatta again on the Murray Valley Highway. You pass through the village of Koetong onto Corryong. Drive through Corryong and take the "Khancoban" turn off on your right. Once in Khancoban you are only 96kms from Thredbo. From here the drive is truly spectacular as you take in awesome views of the Main Range and discover the beauty of the Kosciuszko National Park. The roads are clear for most of the year but when a big snowfall hits, chains may be required for some 2-wheel vehicles.

An alternate route from Melbourne is the Kosciuszko Alpine Way, which lets you experience the wonder of the Snowy Mountains as you wind along the great Murray River. Your journey will take you through quaint country towns dotted with historic huts, homesteads and buildings. You can marvel at the power of the Snowy Scheme, take in views of the Main Range, Wymah Punt over Lake Hume, lakes Eucumbene and Jindabyne, and even freshen up with a dip in the Murray itself. The diverse wildlife of the Kosciuszko National Park makes this experience truly memorable.

Once you have driven through the mountains you will come out on top of the breathtaking peaks.   Drive past the Thredbo turn offs and continue down the Alpine Way.   The drive from Thredbo takes about 15 minutes and is approximately 24 kms  The entrance to Pender Lea is on the left hand side of the road.

By Air

Cooma airport is approximately 1 hour from Pender Lea and is serviced by Regional Express Airlines.

Rex Airlines have a number of great airfares to the snow, starting from $129.00 one way including taxes. 

If you choose to fly to the Snowy Mountains you will need to hire a car for the duration of your holiday.  You can hire a car from Cooma or Canberra airport

Qantas and Virgin Blue service Canberra Airport from major Australian cities. Canberra Airport is a 2½ hour drive from Thredbo.

Cooma
Regional Express 13 17 13
www.rex.com.au 

Canberra (45 minute flight from Sydney)
Qantas: 13 13 13
Regional Express: 13 17 13
Virgin Blue: 13 67 89

Chain Hire

Nearly 100 percent of the time you will not need chains to get to Pender Lea, although if you are coming from Victoria it is advisable and you can pick them up in Khancoban.  The National Parks and Wildlife Service requires that all 2 wheel drive vehicles must carry chains when entering the Kosciuszko National Park.  Fitting chains can be a tricky business so be sure to listen closely to any instructions you are given at the Service Station.
Chains can be hired in Cooma or Jindabyne at most service stations. 

Driving in the snow

To ensure a safe journey to the snow give your jalopy a little extra care before leaving home.  Make sure you have anti-freeze in your car before you head to the cold country.
Check you car battery is in good order with no leaks around the points if the battery is old the cold will probably finish its life.  The last thing you want is fresh snow on the hill and a flat battery.  Very importantly check your tyres, make sure they have good grip on their treads for wet and icy conditions.

Driving in the snow and ice conditions requires extreme caution.  Keep an ear and eye out for the latest road conditions and drive accordingly.  The local radio stations have road condition updates every 15 minutes when it is snowing.

For further tips on driving in the snow please visit the RTA  for some great tips.

Contact Us

1056 Alpine Way Jindabyne
Thredbo Po Box 82 Thredbo NSW 2625

Phone: 02 6456 2088

Reservations 1800 352 088
Fax: 02 6456 2088

Email:  holidays@penderlea.com.au

Website:  www.penderlea.com.au

National Park Entry

Pender Lea is located just outside of the Kosciuszko National Park.

In order to access the Kosciuszko National Park you will need to purchase an access sticker which you must display in your car window otherwise you will be fined. 

These passes cost $27.00 per day in winter (from the beginning of June long weekend to the end of the October long weekend) and $16.00 a day in summer.   If you are planning on staying longer than a week or visit other national parks through out the year your most economical option is to buy an annual All Parks Pass which costs $190.00.  You can purchase your pass at the entrance to the park or at the NPWS Visitors Centre located in the heart of Jindabyne.

If you choose to catch the Ski Tube to Perisher Blue your national park entry fee is included in your train fare.

For further information contact National Parks and Wildlife Service Snowy Region Visitors Centre on 132701 or 02 6450551

Climate

The climate in the mountains is cool, crisp and refreshing. 

During summer we enjoy mild temperatures as the rest of Australia bakes in the sweltering heat.  Rise above it all and escape to the mountains with comfortable highs of 22 degrees c.  On our hottest days the lower attitude towns and villages may have temperatures that climb into the mid 30’s.  Through out the year we experience cool nights letting you enjoy a restful sleep. Always pack some warm clothes in summer as mountain weather is extremely unpredictable. In 2006 Pender Lea celebrated a magical white Christmas and 2 days later we were splashing around in the lake as temperatures climbed into the high 20’s.

The Snowy Mountains have four distinct seasons.  As the temperatures begin to drop in autumn the European trees in our towns and villages transform into a rich tapestry of scarlet reds, vivid yellows and rustic browns.  The days are mild and sunny with picture perfect blue skies – an exquisite time of year.

1056 Alpine Way
Jindabyne
Crackenback NSW 2627
PO Box 82
Thredbo NSW 2625

Phone: 02 6456 2088
Fax:02 6456 2088
Email: info@penderlea.com.au
Website: www.penderlea.com.au

Pender Lea is 10.6 Km from Jindabyne ( after the turn off onto the Alpine Way)