My Holiday to the My Holiday to the Snowy MountainsSnowy Mountains

By Emily BaileyBy Emily Bailey

On Thursday the 23On Thursday the 23rdrd of July my grandma, of July my grandma, dad, mum, sister and I traveled by car to the dad, mum, sister and I traveled by car to the Snowy mountains for a fun filled holiday. We Snowy mountains for a fun filled holiday. We went because I had finished my OC test and went because I had finished my OC test and

it was my surprise from my parents for it was my surprise from my parents for studying really hard.studying really hard.

We were heading to Jindabyne which is around five We were heading to Jindabyne which is around five hours drive from Sydney. We stayed at a place hours drive from Sydney. We stayed at a place

called Highland Lodge farm stay. It was really great called Highland Lodge farm stay. It was really great as there were chickens, ducks, geese and even a as there were chickens, ducks, geese and even a

big turkey. In the paddock there were three horses, big turkey. In the paddock there were three horses, their names were Lily who is the mother, Raine who their names were Lily who is the mother, Raine who is the daughter of Lily (she was the pushy one) and is the daughter of Lily (she was the pushy one) and Jindy. There were also two dogs Molly the fox terrier Jindy. There were also two dogs Molly the fox terrier

and Ella the jack russell.and Ella the jack russell.

We stayed in a one bedroom unit that slept six We stayed in a one bedroom unit that slept six people. When you look outside there is a people. When you look outside there is a

playground with swings, a cubby house, a pole that playground with swings, a cubby house, a pole that has a tennis ball attached, a BBQ, pizza oven and a has a tennis ball attached, a BBQ, pizza oven and a outdoor dining table to eat on. There was even an outdoor dining table to eat on. There was even an

open fire pit area where you can roast open fire pit area where you can roast marshmallows or keep warm on chilly Winter nights. marshmallows or keep warm on chilly Winter nights. Highland Lodge farm stay was a great place to stay.Highland Lodge farm stay was a great place to stay.

After we unloaded the suitcases from the car it was After we unloaded the suitcases from the car it was time to head into town to get our ski gear which we time to head into town to get our ski gear which we

hired from ‘‘The Base’’. Dad reckons it’s the hired from ‘‘The Base’’. Dad reckons it’s the cheapest in town and they are really friendly too. cheapest in town and they are really friendly too.

The staff helped us into our boots and had us The staff helped us into our boots and had us decked out in all our gear in no time at all. My sister decked out in all our gear in no time at all. My sister

and I hired skis while dad hired the snowboard. and I hired skis while dad hired the snowboard. Mum and Grandma didn’t get any skis as they like Mum and Grandma didn’t get any skis as they like to stay out of the cold weather (boring). We next to stay out of the cold weather (boring). We next

went shopping at Woolworths spending about $100 went shopping at Woolworths spending about $100 on food and supplies. We traveled back to our room on food and supplies. We traveled back to our room and had dinner, we had big breakfast (for dinner) and had dinner, we had big breakfast (for dinner)

that my dad made, it had bacon, eggs baked beans, that my dad made, it had bacon, eggs baked beans, lettuce, avocadoes, fried onions and tomatoes. After lettuce, avocadoes, fried onions and tomatoes. After dinner we went to bed as it was already late and we dinner we went to bed as it was already late and we were all so tired from the long drive especially Dad.were all so tired from the long drive especially Dad.

In the morning it was time to head up to the In the morning it was time to head up to the mountain. We drove to Perisher Resort which is in mountain. We drove to Perisher Resort which is in the Kosciusko National Park and 30 minutes drive the Kosciusko National Park and 30 minutes drive from Jindabyne. It was a fine day although a bit from Jindabyne. It was a fine day although a bit

windy. We first took the Village Eight chairlift a few windy. We first took the Village Eight chairlift a few times which takes you up to the top of Front Valley times which takes you up to the top of Front Valley (a beginners slope) so we could find our feet on the (a beginners slope) so we could find our feet on the

skis. Next we boarded the Gunbarrel express skis. Next we boarded the Gunbarrel express chairlift. This lift takes to the very top and from chairlift. This lift takes to the very top and from

there you can ski all around the resort. We headed there you can ski all around the resort. We headed towards Blue Cow as Mum and Grandma had found towards Blue Cow as Mum and Grandma had found a seat in the Cafe so we enjoyed lunch there. We a seat in the Cafe so we enjoyed lunch there. We continued to ski for the remainder of the day and continued to ski for the remainder of the day and eventually headed back to the farm just on duskeventually headed back to the farm just on dusk..

The next day we again headed to Perisher but this The next day we again headed to Perisher but this time it was different because it was snowing. On the time it was different because it was snowing. On the way up there was a big traffic jam from all the cars way up there was a big traffic jam from all the cars that had to stop and put snow chains on. Dad was that had to stop and put snow chains on. Dad was

smiling because he knew he didn’t need to fit smiling because he knew he didn’t need to fit chains as we were in a 4WD. It looked like some chains as we were in a 4WD. It looked like some drivers didn’t know how to fit the chains properly drivers didn’t know how to fit the chains properly and this is what caused the traffic jam. We even and this is what caused the traffic jam. We even

saw some chains in the middle of the road that had saw some chains in the middle of the road that had fallen off a car earlier. On the mountain the wind fallen off a car earlier. On the mountain the wind was so strong that I couldn’t even ski downhill at was so strong that I couldn’t even ski downhill at

times. Most of the lifts were on hold from the strong times. Most of the lifts were on hold from the strong winds. We had fun anyhow because the snow was winds. We had fun anyhow because the snow was nice to play in and of course we built a snowman nice to play in and of course we built a snowman

too.too.

That evening we enjoyed a BBQ for dinner and sat That evening we enjoyed a BBQ for dinner and sat in front of the open camp fire and toasted in front of the open camp fire and toasted

marshmallows. We gazed up into the night sky and marshmallows. We gazed up into the night sky and saw a billion stars and listened to some music too. saw a billion stars and listened to some music too. As this was going to be our last night on the farm As this was going to be our last night on the farm

Mum said we could stay up as late as we liked, but Mum said we could stay up as late as we liked, but we eventually went to bed and it turned out to be we eventually went to bed and it turned out to be

early anyhow as we were all so tired from our early anyhow as we were all so tired from our adventures that day.adventures that day.

Our last day in the Snowies was upon us and we Our last day in the Snowies was upon us and we spent most of the day in Smiggins because it was spent most of the day in Smiggins because it was

sheltered from the strong winds. We rode the J bars sheltered from the strong winds. We rode the J bars and a few T bars as well. Eventually it was sadly and a few T bars as well. Eventually it was sadly time to leave the snowies and head home. We time to leave the snowies and head home. We

made our way back towards Sydney stopping in made our way back towards Sydney stopping in Canberra for the night and stayed in an apartment Canberra for the night and stayed in an apartment near Lake Burley Griffin. Then in the morning we near Lake Burley Griffin. Then in the morning we

drove the last leg arriving safely home just on three drove the last leg arriving safely home just on three o’clock in the afternoon.o’clock in the afternoon.

My favorite part of the trip was staying on the farm, My favorite part of the trip was staying on the farm, the animals were so friendly and there was lots of the animals were so friendly and there was lots of

new born animals as well which were so cute. I also new born animals as well which were so cute. I also like when the snowflakes would drop into my hands like when the snowflakes would drop into my hands and I watched them melt and sometimes I even ate and I watched them melt and sometimes I even ate

the snowflake.the snowflake.I love the Snowy Mountains and look forward to my I love the Snowy Mountains and look forward to my

next visit in a years timenext visit in a years time..

The EndThe End