Snowy River Festival, Australian Alps
Spring is festival season in the Australian Alps where you get to meet the locals and enjoy their distinctive high country lifestyle and challenging adventures.
The one-day SnowyHydro Upper Murray Challenge starts in Khancoban and is one of Australia’s most scenic, challenging and friendly multi-sport events. The challenge includes mountain biking on fire trails, paddling the Swampy Plains and Murray Rivers and running a gruelling cross country course before finishing in Corryong.
Mansfield’s High Country and Spring Arts Festival comprises more than twenty events from art exhibitions, to unique and quirky community events and, of course, being the home of the Man from Snowy River films – lots of horses. The event feature heritage initiatives, art exhibitions, performance, music, bush markets, a grand parade, fireworks and Melbourne Cup picnic race meeting, food and wine events. The region’s fire brigades also take part in the moving ‘Torchlight Parade’.
Jindabyne’s Snowy River Festival during November sees all the tried and noted riders from Snowy River and beyond muster at The Station in Jindabyne for the region’s premier heritage event. There’s action-packed horse skills and associated heritage events throughout the three day event, including tent pegging, bush poetry, Australian Lighthorse Brigade, High Country art, mountain brumbies, country music, Waler and Clydesdale horses, and culminating in the signature event as riders battle it out for the Snowy River Stockman’s Challenge title.